Delineation and morphometric analysis of catchmentareas of Chohal, Damsal, and Dholbaha Dams usinggeospatial techniques

Abstract

A study was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, to evaluate the morphometric characteristics of the catchment areas of Chohal, Damsal, and Dholbaha dams, located in the Shivalik foothills of northwestern India, using geospatial techniques. Catchments were delineated using high- resolution ALOS PALSAR DEM in ArcGIS 10.4.1, and morphometric parameters were analyzed to assess watershed geometry, drainage network, relief, and hydrological behavior for effective land and water management. Dholbaha, the largest basin (53.92 km2), exhibits the highest drainage density (2.61 km/ km2), stream frequency (1.81 km- 2), and compactness, indicating rapid runoff and limited infiltration. Damsal (21.96 km2) shows the highest basin relief (239 m) and moderate elongation, reflecting steep slopes and significant vertical erosion potential. Chohal (16.39 km2), the smallest basin, has simpler drainage and gentler slopes, favoring infiltration and moderated runoff. Uniform hypsometric integral values (0.50) indicate comparable geomorphic maturity. Overall, Dholbaha is the most hydrologically responsive and erosion-prone, while Chohal and Damsal support slower runoff, providing critical guidance for targeted watershed management strategies.