Informing watershed management in data-scarce Indian Himalayas

Abstract

Anthropogenic water stress, especially in mountain habitats worldwide, affects water supply and threatens water security. Evaluating past trends, assessing current conditions, and anticipating future change is paramount for the sustainable use of increasingly scarce freshwater resources. This study simulates water yield using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) model to generate reliable information for decision-making related to watershed management programs in data-scarce Himalayan regions. The results are translated into watershed indices easily communicable to watershed managers, stakeholders and administrative agencies. The analysis demonstrates the utility of hydrological modeling using limited data within a scoping protocol for the pre-implementation phase of any watershed management program.