Assessment of anthropogenic-causing-agents act on waterbirds-diversity in the vicinity of Tarbela Dam, Indus River, Pakistan

Birds are among the best bio-indicators, which can guide us to recognize some of the main conservation concerns in ecosystems. Anthropogenic impacts such as deforestation, habitat degradation, modification of landscapes, and decreased quality of habitats are major threats to bird diversity. The present study was designed to detect anthropogenic causative agents that act on waterbird diversity in Tarbella Dam, Indus River, Pakistan. Waterbird censuses were carried out from March 2019 to February 2020 in multiple areas around the dam. A total of 2990 waterbirds representing 63 species were recorded. We detected the highest waterbird richness and diversity at Pehure whereas the highest density was recorded at Kabbal. Human activity impacts seemed to be the main factor determining the waterbird communities as waterbirds were negatively correlated with the greatest anthropogenic impacts. Waterbirds seem to respond rapidly to human disturbance.

Effects of climatic factors on the sedimentation trends of Tarbela Reservoir, Pakistan

The study explores the factors affecting the sedimentation trends in the surrounding catchment area of the Tarbela Dam for the period 1980–2017, specifically rain and temperature. Furthermore, this study also investigates the seasonal effects of sediment loads coming into the reservoir from 2007 to 2012. The statistical techniques were applied for the estimation of the effects of climate (rainfall and temperature) on the sedimentation and the inflow of Tarbela Dam and its surrounding catchment area. The results revealed that sediment deposition pattern points toward the greater bed elevation at 7–12 range lines that lie near the Main Embankment Dam, also that Barandu River carried more bulk of inflow to the Indus, as compared to Siran River and thus contributed a greater amount of sediments to the reservoir. Summer monsoon season also contributed to the greatest bulk of sediments to the Tarbela Dam and its surrounding catchment area. The regression confirmed that for one degree increase in temperature there will be a 7 Million Acre Feet (MAF) increase; for a 1 mm (mm) increase in rainfall there will be a 1 MAF decrease and for a 1 Cusec increase in the inflow coming into the reservoir, there be a 4 MAF increase in sedimentation of the reservoir. Thus, the contribution of the temperature in sediment generation is found to be greater than rainfall. The study recommended that for the proper functioning of Tarbela Dam, the shift in the climate of the Upper Indus Basin (UIB) might be regularly monitored as rising temperatures in UIB would result in greater glacial melt and hence greater sediments to settle down into the reservoirs downstream.

Gender and development induced resettlement: A case study of Tarbela Dam resettlement in Pakistan

Any-mega development project, such as the Tarbela Dam, causes significant dislocation and relocation to human populations. The Tarbela Dam project involved relocation of more than 95,000 people. Besides housing, this relocation caused numerous social, economic, and cultural problems. This study was conducted in order to uncover a gender perspective on the Tarbela Dam relocation. This study employs a qualitative-ethnographic research design in order to collect data from the Tarbela Dam affectees. The location of the study was that of relocated communities in districts Haripur, Mansehra and Swabi. Data was collected through interview, FGD and observation. The study found that relocation has caused significant changes in women’s dress code, marriage patterns and education.

A Study on Flood Forecasting in the Upper Indus Basin Considering Snow and Glacier Meltwater

This study considered glacier and snow meltwater by using the degree–day method with ground-based air temperature and fractional glacier/snow cover to simulate discharge at Skardu, Partab Bridge (P. Bridge), and Tarbela Dam in the Upper Indus Basin during the monsoon season, from the middle of June to the end of September. The optimum parameter set was determined and validated in 2010 and 2012. The simulated discharge with glaciermelt and snowmelt could capture the variations of the observed discharge in terms of peak volume and timing, particularly in the early monsoon season. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) daily and eight-day snow cover products were applied and recommended with proper settings for application. This study also investigated the simulations with snow packs instead of daily snow cover, which was found to approach the maximum magnitude of observed discharge even from the uppermost station, Skardu.This study estimated the glacier and snow meltwater contribution at Skardu, Partab Bridge, and Tarbela as 43.2–65.2%, 22.0–29.3%, and 6.3–19.9% of average daily discharge during the monsoon season, respectively. In addition, this study evaluated the main source of simulation discrepancies and concluded that the methodology proposed in the study worked well with proper precipitation.

Sediment and Cavitation Erosion Studies through Dam Tunnels

This paper presents results of sediment and cavitation erosion through Tunnel 2 and Tunnel 3 of Tarbela Dam in Pakistan. Main bend and main branch of Tunnel 2 and outlet 1 and outlet 3 of Tunnel 3 are concluded to be critical for cavitation and sediment erosion. Studies are also performed for increased sediments flow rate, concluding 5 kg/sec as the critical value for sudden increase in erosion rate density. Erosion rate is concluded to be the function of sediment flow rate and head condition. Particulate mass presently observed is reasonably low, hence presently not affecting the velocity and the flow field.

An Atmospheric–Hydrologic Forecasting Scheme for the Indus River Basin

South Asia is vulnerable to extreme weather events, and the Indus River basin (IRB) is subject to flood risk. Flooding occurred in Pakistan during the monsoon seasons from 2010 to 2012, causing major economic damage and significant loss of life. The nature of slow-rise discharge on the Indus and overtopping of riverbanks in the IRB indicates the need for extended warning time (1–10 days). Daily mean streamflow at Tarbela Dam, a major control structure on the Indus River, is reproduced by using numerical weather prediction initialization data from the ECMWF to drive the Variable Infiltration Capacity macroscale hydrologic model. A one-dimensional routing model conducts base flow and surface runoff from each grid cell through a stream network. Comparisons of reconstructions with inflow data at Tarbela Dam over a 3-yr period yield an R2 correlation of 0.93 and RMSE of 692 m3 s−1. From 2010 to 2012, 276 daily ensemble hindcasts are generated. In comparing the ensemble mean of 10-day hindcasts to reconstructed inflow, the R2 correlation was >0.85 for 2010, >0.70 for 2011, and >0.70 for 2012. The RMSE was <24% of mean streamflow for 2010, <28% for 2011, and <34% for 2012. A method to translate this type of probabilistic streamflow forecast data into communicable information is described. A two-dimensional model is described to simulate movement of overflow water into the floodplain.