Watershed management

A method of water conservation is known as watershed management. A watershed is a geohydrolgical unit draining to a common point by system of drains. 

People and livestock are important part of watershed and their activities. A watershed is also known as drainage basin or catchment area in which all water flowing into it goes to a common outlet. Watershed is not a simple hydrological unit but also socio-political economical entity which plays an important role in determining food, water, social and economical security. 

Watershed management is an integration of technologies with the natural boundaries of drainage area  for optimum development of land, water and plant resources. The main objective of watershed management is proper use of all available resources of a watershed for optimum production with minimum hazards to natural resources. 

We can describe objectives of watershed management as-

• > Controlling damaging runoff, degradation and conserving soil and water
• > To manage and utilise runoff water for useful purposes 
• > To enhance and protect water resources 
• > To increase infiltration of rain water 
• > To improve groundwater recharge 
• > To moderate the flood peaks at downstream areas

Several measures to control are used as-

• > Construction of farm ponds, check dams or earthen embankment 
• > Establishment of permanent grass and vegetation
• > Providing vegetative and stone barriers 
• > Construction silt tank den-tension 
• > Terracing, contour bunding, grass land and farming are other measures in watershed management