Sasthamcotta Lake

Coordinates: 9°02′08.2″N 76°38′12.8″E / 9.035611°N 76.636889°E / 9.035611; 76.636889
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Sasthamkotta Lake
ശാസ്താംകോട്ട കായൽ (
Karunagapally
and Sasthamkotta
Official nameSasthamkotta Lake
Designated19 August 2002
Reference no.1212[1]

Sasthamcotta Lake or Sasthamkotta Lake, also categorized as a wetland, is the largest fresh water lake in

wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention
since November 2002. [3]

Access

The lake is located at a distance of 25 km from

Karunagapally, at a distance of 8 km, is the closest town to the lake. A ferry service across the lake transports people between West Kallada and Sasthamkotta.[2][3]

Topography and geology

Except for an earthen embankment of 1.5 km length which separates the lake from the paddy fields on its southern side, bordering the alluvial plains of the Kallada River, all other sides of the lake are surrounded by hills which are steep and form narrow valleys. In the south and southwestern parts of the lake there are a number of smaller water bodies and waterlogged areas.[2][4] The present area of the lake is 375 ha since large part of the lake is reported to have been occupied for agriculture.[5] Rock formation of mainly

Geomorphological divisions of the basin area of the lake comprise a) the undulating uplands which have fairly thick vegetation of mixed crops and plantations, b) the valley fills of laterite alluvium and colluvial deposits with low level areas which are intensely cultivated and thickly populated and c) the flood plains/alluvial plains of the Kallada River on the south that are mostly cultivated.[2]

Hydrology

There are no visible tributaries feeding the lake but springs at the bottom of the lake are stated to be one of the source which supply water throughout the year; volume of water in the lake is estimated to be of the order of 22.4 million cum.[5][6] A thick 10–20 m mantle of kaolinite rich (derivative of laterite) soil around the lake is stated to check flow into the lake and the theory is now that the lake is also rain fed; the lake water level is recorded to be higher at the end of the monsoon season.[2] The average annual rainfall in the area is 2398 mm and mean annual temperature varies between 26.7 °C and 29.16 °C.[2] Ground water table in the area is reported at depth of 3.89 m. After accounting for estimated evaporation loss of 5 MCM (

million cubic metres) and water utilized for domestic use of 8 MCM (at a pumpage rate of 22 MLD), the two together account for about two-thirds of the inflow.[2]

Water quality

The lake water is reported to be free of

sediments studied[2]
by World Wildlife Fund (WWF), India are briefly as noted below.

Quality for surface water (average values):

  • Surface water: pH 7.25; EC 63.00 Millimhos/cm; PO4 – P 4.93 Micro gm. / l ; Ca 7.01Micro gm. / l; Na 4.33 Micro gm. / l; Fe 41.57 Micro gm. / l and Mn 12.11 Micro gm. / l.
  • Interstitial water: pH 7.20; PO4 – P 1.11 Micro gm. / l; Fe 59.1Micro gm. / l and Mn49.00 Micro gm. / l
  • Sediments: Organic C 8.95%; PO4 – P 1690.00 Micro gm. / l; Fe 17724.27 Micro gm. / l and Mn 86.36 Micro gm. /l

Water quality test results indicate that the lake water conforms to standards of drinking water prescribed by regulatory bodies.[2]

Flora

Eastern shore of the lake has the insectivorous plant

plantain.[2][7]

Aqua fauna

The aqua fauna noted in the lake[7] are:

  • 27 species of freshwater fishes include
    sardines of the family Clupeidae
  • Common fish such as Calichrous bimaculatus and Wallago attu These varieties of fish generally have whisker-like barbells set around their mouths.

The

dabbling duck is the smallest migratory bird found in the lake.[7]

Some of the vulnerable, endangered and critically endangered species reported by WWF in the lake area[2] are:

Fauna

Resident troops of

monkeys are sighted on the banks in large numbers, which are part of the Sasthamkotta temple environment on the bank of the lake.[7]
13 species of insects have also been identified; 9 are
hymenopterans.[2]

Deterioration in lake environment

The quality of the lake environment is affected by the following factors.[2][5]

  • Increasing
    anthropogenic
    pressure
  • Encroachment on parts of the lake for agriculture
  • Cultivation of tapioca has increased the soil loss by erosion and runoff into the lake basin
  • Domestic and agrochemical wastes from surrounding areas disposed into the lake
  • Soil erosion of the banks from the encroached land
  • Effluents
    from domestic sewage
  • Reduction of ground water recharge to the lake due to increase in agriculture in the area around the lake.
  • Soaking of dry leaves of
    coconut palm
    before matting, which are then used for thatching huts

Conservation and management

The Kerala State Government prepared a Conservation and Management Action Plan (MAP) in 1999 for the lake's sustainable utilization and conservation and to address the threats faced by the lake. Financial support was sought from the Central Government under the National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) for implementation of MAP based on the specific problems identified in the wetland.[8]

The MAP envisages the following activities:[4]

The above activities were planned to be implemented through the Kerala Water Authority (KWA), Department of Forests and Wild Life, Department of Fisheries, State Fisheries Resource Management Society (FIRMA), District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), CWRDM, etc. Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment of Govt. of Kerala provided the support and overall supervision.[4]

Gallery

  • Sasthamkotta Lake
    Sasthamkotta Lake
  • Sasthamkotta Lake
    Sasthamkotta Lake
  • An Evening view of Sasthamkotta Lake
    An Evening view of Sasthamkotta Lake
  • Village on bank of the lake
    Village on bank of the lake

See also

References

  1. ^ "Sasthamkotta Lake - Ramsar Sites Information Service". Rsis.ramsar.org. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2008.
  3. ^ a b "The Annotated Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance". Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 24 October 2008.
  4. ^ a b c "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 24 October 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ a b c "WWF - Sasthamkotta Lake". Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 24 October 2008.
  6. ^ "Sasthamcotta Lake (Kayal) Sasthamkotta. KOLLAM - Wikimapia". Wikimapia.org. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d "Sasthamkotta Lake Kollam, Sasthamkotta Lake Travel India, SasthamkottaLake Kollam India". Surfindia.com. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Economic Valuation of Bhoj Wetlands for Sustainable Use" (PDF). Irade.org. pp. 30–32. Retrieved 16 August 2018.

External links

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