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Abstract

Water erosion caused by accelerated anthropogenic activities has been perceived as the major source of sediment flow in Himalayan catchments. Keeping this in view, the sediment flux data measured at the outlet of the Sainj and the Tirthan watersheds in the Lesser Himalayan region was analysed. Rainfall behaviour coupled with existing forest cover, snow bound and glaciated areas with rocky outcrops in the Sainj watershed could result in more sediment yields as compared to the Tirthan. It was observed that the sediment flux from the Sainj watershed was 1.5 times more than the Tirthan watershed. Also, the sediment transport from both watersheds showed an increasing trend in the monthly, seasonal and annual flux during the study period (1981–2004). This increase could be attributed to the intensification of anthropogenic activities related to land surface disturbance besides the rainfall and existing land use and land cover practices. The detected changes in sediment flux resulting from such human activities have significant implications which necessitate appropriate soil and water conservation measures in these watersheds.