HR: 1330h
AN: NB33O-09    [Abstracts]
TI: Land use and Water Quality Changes of the Nakkhu Khola River, Kathmandu, Nepal
AU: * Singh, M
EM: ms1328@txstate.edu
AF: Department of Biology-Aquatic Station, Texas State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, TX 78666 United States
AU: Bryceson, I
EM: ian.bryceson@noragric.nlh.no
AF: Agricultural University of Norway, P.O. Box 5001, NO 1423 As, As, 5001 Norway
AU: Arsuffi, T L
EM: ta04@txstate.edu
AF: Department of Biology-Aquatic Station, Texas State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, TX 78666 United States
AB: The Nakkhu Khola river, which is one of tributaries of the River Bagmati flowing through the heart of Kathmandu valley, was studied to evaluate the effect of land-use changes on the river water quality and public perception. The land-use patterns show increasing urbanization in the order of up>mid>downstream. We analyzed selected physico-chemical parameters including temperature, transparency, velocity, pH, specific conductivity, total alkalinity, nitrate-nitrogen, total ammonia, total phosphate, chloride, Biological Oxygen Demand and Chemical Oxygen Demand at up, mid and downstream stations during monsoon and post-monsoon. The result showed decreasing water quality conditions downstream. Community surveys at residents from corresponding river sites indicate no use of river water for drinking and contrasting perceptions along the river on causes of degradation. Physico-chemical studies integrated with biological criteria are needed to assess further water quality changes in Nepal rivers associated with anthropogenic development.
DE: 1803 Anthropogenic effects
DE: 1845 Limnology
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly