Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
continental weathering due to anthropogenic
pressure, intense development activities in the
basin area and untreated effl uent from municipal
and domestic sewage into the lake. The semiarid
conditions of the area, saline and alkaline soil/
groundwater conditions and weathering of the
silicate rock exposed in the drainage basin are
assessed as the reasons for the supply of major
ions (Ramesh and Ramachandran
2005
).
The assessment of the pollution parameters
recorded at random intervals determined that
water is polluted and needs remedial measures
(Kumar et al.
2004
). Water hyacinth growth has
been found and the lake bottom is also covered
with a thick mat of submerged vegetation, with
the presence of fl oating microalgae which are
detrimental to the public health.
pH value varies from a maximum of 8.4 on
the surface to a minimum of 7.8 at the bottom.
Maximum nitrogen concentration is 0.941 at
1 m below the surface and 0.523 at the bottom
of the lake. The lake water is reported to be
polymictic, and there is a lack of true thermo-
cline. The lake water temperature varied from
a minimum of 19 °C in January to 29.4 °C in
June at the surface and correspondingly
16.8 °C and 28.5 °C at the bottom of the lake.
Eutrophication has occurred in the lake due to
algae bloom (dominant species are microcys-
tis on the surface and macrophytes sub-
merged). Urbanisation around the lakes has
increased in nutrients on account of leaching
from agricultural activities (Pamecha
2000
).
The fauna recorded in the lake are 200
planktons, benthos and fi shes. Macrophytes
that merged in the lake are fl oating macro-
phytes, the submerged macrophytes and the
phytoplanktons. The lake surroundings have
sparse vegetation cover, but several species of
plants in the periphery of the lakes. Lake Bari
at one end touches Sajjangarh Wildlife
Sanctuary. This lake acts as a mega water hole
for the spillover animals of the surroundings. It
was named Jiyan Sagar after Maharaja Raj
Singh, its mother name Jana Devi by whom
this lake was built, but because it is in close
vicinity of village Bari, it is popularly known
by this name. The lake has a surface area of
1.25 km
2
and has an embankment 180 m long
and 18 m wide. The maximum depth of the
lake is 150 m.
A total of 32 bird species belonging to 18
families were found; among these, 20 species
were resident, 2 species were summer migrants
and 10 species were counter migrant. An
attempt has been made to analyse and compare
the habitats of three lakes in order to under-
stand as to why the number of bird species in
all the lakes is almost similar, in spite of the
fact that there is a lot more anthropogenic activ-
ity in lakes Fateh Sagar and Pichhola as com-
pared to Lake Badi (Singh et al.
1990
).
Status in Lake
Fateh Sagar
Sl. no.
Parameter
Status in Pichhola
Status in Lake Bari
1.
Presence of tall trees
in the vicinity of water
bodies
Common
Common
Less common
2.
Presence of island
Many
Many
NIL
3.
Presence of seeds
Patchily present
at few places
Patchily present at few
places
Absent
4.
Width of water body
Quite more
Quite more
Narrow
5.
Depth of water at
water line
Shallow zone
is quite spread
Shallow zone is quite
spread
Less shallow zone restricted
towards the southern tip only
6.
Presence of crocodiles
None
None
Few
7.
Presence of railing
Present
Present
Absent
8.
Algae blooms
Present
Present
Interestingly absent
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