Limnological Study of Asan Wetland in Relation to Water Quality in Doon Valley,Uttarakhand,India

Abstract

Asan wetland is one of the biodiversity hotspot and ecologically sensitive habitat in Doon valley and this important Bird Area has been notified as an ‘Asan Conservation Reserve’ in Uttarakhand, India. Its water is used for drinking, irrigation, boating and recreation. In view of the above, an attempt was made to study certain limnological parameters to assess the nutrient status for its suitability from ecological point of view, drinking and irrigation purpose. The limnological parameters were seasonally examined following standard methods. Total 72 water samples were collected from eight sampling stations. Study revealed that most of the parameters were in the limit of standard except some parameters like BOD and COD (higher in monsoon season). NO₃⁻ and PO₄³⁻ were found higher which can cause eutrophication in the water body. The wetland water was found to be slightly alkaline (pH 7.6) except in monsoon season and moderately hard (122.4 mg/l). Physico-chemical parameters indicate prevalence of good quality of water except in monsoon season in Asan wetland.