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Wetlands in Khabartal Lake , Khabartal Lake in Bihar, Khabartal Lake , Khabartal Lake Bihar |
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KHABARTAL LAKE - Bihar
Location: 22 km north of Begusarai
and 100 km east of Patna, Begusarai district, Bihar
Area: 6737 ha; c.7400 ha at maximum flooding in October
Altitude: c. 50.42 m
Biogeographical province: 4.8.4 Wetland type: 19
Description of site: Khabartal is the largest freshwater lake in northern Bihar and a fine example of the many excellent wetlands to be found in this part of the Ganges floodplain. It lies between Burhi Gandak, old Bagmati, and Kare rivers. The nearest village is Manjhaul. The lake was formed by a meander of the Gandak river, and is now a residual oxbow lake, one of thousands in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. In years of high rainfall, vast areas of these two states flood; discrete wetlands coalesce to form one huge expanse of water, and at such times the wetlands of the Khabartal region may cover hundreds of square kilometres. The floods leave behind deposits of sand, silt, and clay in layers of varying thickness. In years of average rainfall, Khabartal gets connected with Burhi Gandak (a tributary of the Ganga) and, with the nearby Nagri Jheel and Bikrampur Chaurs, unite to form a lake of about 7400 ha. By late summer, however, the water is confined to the deeper depressions, and only about 300-400 ha of Khabartal remain flooded and cut off from the adjacent floodplains (chaurs). As the water level recedes, over 2800 ha of the exposed mudflats are converted into rice paddies. In 1951, a drainage channel was excavated to expose additional areas for agricultural purposes, but the silted up in a few years, and the lake reverted to its former condition. In recent years, further siltation of the overflow channel has resulted in a slight increase in water levels throughout the lake. There is a permanent island (Jaimanglagarh) of about 130 ha in the southeast corner of the lake. The soil is sandy loam, and rich in humus. Water depth varies from 30 cm-400 cm.
Climatic conditions: Tropical monsoon climate typical of the middle Ganges plain, with an averge annual rainfall of 1100 mm concentrated in the period July-September. Temperatures range from 5°C to 45°C
Principal vegetation: The lake supports a rich and diverse aquatic flora. These include submerged macrophytes: Hydrilla verticillata, Potamogeton crispus, P.nodosus, Najas minor, N.graminea, Vallisneria spiralis, and Utricularia sterllaris; floating
macrophytes: Eichhornia crassipes, Nymphaea stellata, Hygrorhiza aristata, and Nymphoides cristatus; emergent macrophytes: Oryza sativa, Ipomoea aquatics, Ipomea chryoides, Scirpus supinus, S. articulates, and Jussiaea repensi; Fragillaria sp., and Nitzschia sp., are the dominant phytoplanktons. Large areas of the lake surface have been invaded by Eichhornia crassipes. There are many species of algae of the Cyanophyceae and Chlorophyceae. Vegetation is poorly developed around the wetland area. The shoreline supports stands of Acacia arabica, Borassus flabellifer, and Cassia occidentalis. The common tree species include Barringtona acutagula, Acacia nilotica, and Delbergia sissoo which provide an excellent nesting and roosting site for avifauna
Land tenure: The Bihar State Government declared the area as a protected zone in 1986 under section 37 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. It was declared a bird sanctuary in 1989 by the Government of India. Other areas are private farmland being used for cultivation of cash crops. However, when the lake is flooded the whole area is used by the landless Sahnis who hold fishing right.
Location: 22 km north of Begusarai
and 100 km east of Patna, Begusarai district, Bihar
Area: 6737 ha; c.7400 ha at maximum flooding in October
Altitude: c. 50.42 m
Biogeographical province: 4.8.4 Wetland type: 19
Description of site: Khabartal is the largest freshwater lake in northern Bihar and a fine example of the many excellent wetlands to be found in this part of the Ganges floodplain. It lies between Burhi Gandak, old Bagmati, and Kare rivers. The nearest village is Manjhaul. The lake was formed by a meander of the Gandak river, and is now a residual oxbow lake, one of thousands in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. In years of high rainfall, vast areas of these two states flood; discrete wetlands coalesce to form one huge expanse of water, and at such times the wetlands of the Khabartal region may cover hundreds of square kilometres. The floods leave behind deposits of sand, silt, and clay in layers of varying thickness. In years of average rainfall, Khabartal gets connected with Burhi Gandak (a tributary of the Ganga) and, with the nearby Nagri Jheel and Bikrampur Chaurs, unite to form a lake of about 7400 ha. By late summer, however, the water is confined to the deeper depressions, and only about 300-400 ha of Khabartal remain flooded and cut off from the adjacent floodplains (chaurs). As the water level recedes, over 2800 ha of the exposed mudflats are converted into rice paddies. In 1951, a drainage channel was excavated to expose additional areas for agricultural purposes, but the silted up in a few years, and the lake reverted to its former condition. In recent years, further siltation of the overflow channel has resulted in a slight increase in water levels throughout the lake. There is a permanent island (Jaimanglagarh) of about 130 ha in the southeast corner of the lake. The soil is sandy loam, and rich in humus. Water depth varies from 30 cm-400 cm.
Climatic conditions: Tropical monsoon climate typical of the middle Ganges plain, with an averge annual rainfall of 1100 mm concentrated in the period July-September. Temperatures range from 5°C to 45°C
Principal vegetation: The lake supports a rich and diverse aquatic flora. These include submerged macrophytes: Hydrilla verticillata, Potamogeton crispus, P.nodosus, Najas minor, N.graminea, Vallisneria spiralis, and Utricularia sterllaris; floating
macrophytes: Eichhornia crassipes, Nymphaea stellata, Hygrorhiza aristata, and Nymphoides cristatus; emergent macrophytes: Oryza sativa, Ipomoea aquatics, Ipomea chryoides, Scirpus supinus, S. articulates, and Jussiaea repensi; Fragillaria sp., and Nitzschia sp., are the dominant phytoplanktons. Large areas of the lake surface have been invaded by Eichhornia crassipes. There are many species of algae of the Cyanophyceae and Chlorophyceae. Vegetation is poorly developed around the wetland area. The shoreline supports stands of Acacia arabica, Borassus flabellifer, and Cassia occidentalis. The common tree species include Barringtona acutagula, Acacia nilotica, and Delbergia sissoo which provide an excellent nesting and roosting site for avifauna
Land tenure: The Bihar State Government declared the area as a protected zone in 1986 under section 37 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. It was declared a bird sanctuary in 1989 by the Government of India. Other areas are private farmland being used for cultivation of cash crops. However, when the lake is flooded the whole area is used by the landless Sahnis who hold fishing right.
For Wetlands in Khabartal Lake
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