An interdisciplinary approach to understanding water resources in the Jhikhu Khola catchment, Nepal
Description
Water resources are central to people’s livelihoods in many rural, agricultural settings in Nepal but are often managed by traditional, informal systems that have not adapted to emerging social, economic and physical pressures. Due to significant seasonal variation in water availability and a lack of alternative sources, water quality is an undervalued aspect of water resources management in Nepal. Fieldwork was undertaken in the Jhikhu Khola catchment on the periphery of the Kathmandu Basin, where there are strong market connections to Kathmandu and its unique, flat valley floor makes it suitable for intensive cropping. The Jhikhu Khola catchment is a case study of how increased agricultural intensification and demand for water may play out in other locales on the periphery of the Kathmandu Basin. There has been previous research into water resource use and management in the Jhikhu Khola catchment but no substantial work has been done for 14 years. The aim of the research was therefore to characterise water resources and how they are currently managed. The study utilised interdisciplinary research methods that included water quality sampling and semi-structured interviews with water users within the catchment but also included interviews with regional experts. Water quality was found to be degraded downstream of intensive agriculture, where there was also over extraction occurring. The interviews provided insight into how the 2015 Gorkha earthquake displaced people in the Middle Hills region of Nepal and as a result people have moved to the comparatively less affected Jhikhu Khola catchment. This has exacerbated demand for water and has created unequal access between upper and lower riparian regions, further complicating the design of potential water management. The study found that there is a benefit to viewing water quality as a common pool resource because recognising the interlinked aspects of the social setting and physical characteristics can help develop effective management practices. Overall, the study emphasises the importance of interdisciplinary research to develop a broader understanding of water resources.
An interdisciplinary approach to understanding water resources in the Jhikhu Khola catchment, Nepal
Water resources are central to people’s livelihoods in many rural, agricultural settings in Nepal but are often managed by traditional, informal systems that have not adapted to emerging social, economic and physical pressures. Due to significant seasonal variation in water availability and a lack of alternative sources, water quality is an undervalued aspect of water resources management in Nepal. Fieldwork was undertaken in the Jhikhu Khola catchment on the periphery of the Kathmandu Basin, where there are strong market connections to Kathmandu and its unique, flat valley floor makes it suitable for intensive cropping. The Jhikhu Khola catchment is a case study of how increased agricultural intensification and demand for water may play out in other locales on the periphery of the Kathmandu Basin. There has been previous research into water resource use and management in the Jhikhu Khola catchment but no substantial work has been done for 14 years. The aim of the research was therefore to characterise water resources and how they are currently managed. The study utilised interdisciplinary research methods that included water quality sampling and semi-structured interviews with water users within the catchment but also included interviews with regional experts. Water quality was found to be degraded downstream of intensive agriculture, where there was also over extraction occurring. The interviews provided insight into how the 2015 Gorkha earthquake displaced people in the Middle Hills region of Nepal and as a result people have moved to the comparatively less affected Jhikhu Khola catchment. This has exacerbated demand for water and has created unequal access between upper and lower riparian regions, further complicating the design of potential water management. The study found that there is a benefit to viewing water quality as a common pool resource because recognising the interlinked aspects of the social setting and physical characteristics can help develop effective management practices. Overall, the study emphasises the importance of interdisciplinary research to develop a broader understanding of water resources.