Karnali River Basin – Introduction
- Basin area: 7 km2.
- Watersheds: 60
- 5 protected areas: Shey Phoksundo, Rara, Khaptad, Bardiya and Dhorpatan
- 8 Paani priority watersheds: Lower Karnali, Middle Karnali, Tila Karnali, Mugu Karnali, Thuli Bheri, Thuli Gaad, Seti Nadi (Bogatan Karnali), and Middle West Seti
- Hydro Potential: Upper Karnali (900 MW), Tila 1 (832 MW), Tila 2, Nalsingh Gaad (410 MW), West Seti (750 MW), Chisapani (1000 MW)
- Irrigation: Bheri Babai Diversion, Rani Jamara Kulariya, Rajapur Irrigation Project (Budhi Kulo)
- Highways: Mid hill highway, Karnali highway, Higher MHP potential, Karnali corridor and eco tourism potentials.
Physiology of Paani Priority Watersheds
- Middle West Seti: 3 eco-zone: Hill (7%), Middle Mountain (78%) and High Mountain (15%)
- Three watersheds: High mountains i.e. Mugu Karnali (27%), Middle West Seti (15%) and Thuli Bheri (70%)
- Middle mountains: Tila
- Hill only: Seti Nadi
- Terai and Cure: Lower Karnali
- Hill and Chure: Thuli Gaad
Area (skm) of Paani Priority Watersheds in Karnali Basin
- The watersheds area: Ranges from 206 km2 to 1488 km2 – Middle west seti 1,488, Mugu Karnali 1,049, Lower Karnali 875, Middle Karnali 904, Thuli gaad 886, Tila 545, Thuli Bheri 794, Seti 206
Biodiversity richness of the basin
- Dolphins, gharial, and mugger crocodiles: Significant population of these aquatic animals is there in lower reaches of the river.
- Endemic fishes: Three of Nepal’s seven endemic fishes have been recorded in Rara lake – Schizothorax macrophthalmus, S. nepalensis, and S. raraensis;
- Endemic amphibian: Rara Paha (Paa rarica)
- Ramsar Sites: Phoksundo and Rara lakes, which provide the last remaining habitat for endangered bird species like Cheer pheasants and wood snipe, and resting sites for migratory birds in the winter
- Snow leopard: Largest expanse of connected habitats for snow leopard;
- Red panda: Important population of red panda is there in mid hill of the basin;
- Agrobiodiversity: Jumli Marshi a cold tolerant gene is grown in Jumla valley and is estimated to have been cultivated since 1,300 years ago along the banks of the Tila River.
Importance of KRB for Conservation Value
- Facilitate and enhance ecological and hydrological process that sustain biological communities;
- Conserve ecosystem services (especially water) that sustain human communities and their livelihoods;
- Maintain ecological connectivity of high alpine species (e.g., snow leopard) with adjacent landscapes, along the latitudinal axes;
- Facilitate conservation and sustainable management of NTFPs that sustain livelihoods;
- Facilitate north-south wildlife movement;
- Conserve climate change corridors and refugia for biodiversity;
- Support sustainable eco-tourism and cultural tourism;
- Harmonize conservation and development;
Issues of River Basins
Lower Karnali
- Traditional occupation of Sonaha affected
- Overfishing and decline in fish stocks
- Drying of natural lakes, ponds and shrinking wetlands
- Climatic hazards (e.g. inundation and deposition, river bank cutting)
Middle Karnali
- Unmanaged local road construction
- Drought and drying up of water sources
- Infrastructural damage and loss of property due to landslides and flooding
Thuli Gaad
- Decline in fish species and fish stocks
- Drought and drying up of water sources
- Decline in Dalits’ traditional skills and livelihoods
- Unmanaged local road construction
- Water use conflict
