191-Environmental in-Stream Flow Requirements for the Brahmani River, Orissa, India.

Abstract

In-stream flows are essential determinants of channel morphology, riparian and aquatic flora and fauna, water quality estuarine inflow and stream load transport. The ecological and environmental in-stream flow requirements should be estimated to make the exploitation and utilization of water resources in a highly efficient and sustainable way and maintain the river ecosystem good health. River Brahmani in Orissa, India is an important river having high socio-economic values. It plays a great role in the development of eastern states of India and the health of the ecosystem of the region. The objective of this study is to estimate the environmental in-stream flow requirements for improving the Brahmani River's ecological and environmental condition and develop the river healthily. Concerning the main ecological and environmental functions of the Brahmani River, the environmental in-stream flow requirements for each sampling station including minimum In-stream Flow Requirements (IFR) for aquicolous biotopes maintenance and stream self-purification were estimated in this paper. The methods to estimate the in-stream flow requirements for stream self-purification and in-stream flow requirements for sediment transportation has been tested for its applicability in Brahmani river. The results mainly include in-stream flow requirements for self-purification and sediment transportation in each typical year.