Water quality and conservation management of Ramsagar reservoir, Datia, Madhya Pradesh

The aim of this study is to assess physico-chemical characteristics, trophic status, pollution studies and macrophytic community of Ramsagar reservoir from April 2003 to March 2005. The range of various parameters of reservoir water (water temperature 15.92-31.87 degrees C, water depth 2.90-8.25 m, transparency 66.59-116.00 cm, electrical conductivity 108-246.30 microS cm(-1), turbidity 2.17-16.72 NTU, total dissolved solids 166.37-239.00 mg l(-1), pH 7 41-8.95, dissolved oxygen 6.78-11.59 mg I(-1), free carbon dioxide nil-6.32 mg l(-1), total alkalinity 64.25-146.25 mg l(-1), total hardness 34.00-75.25 mg l(-1), chlorides 13.13-22.36 mg l(-1), calcium 11.21-33.81 mg l(-1), sulphates 1.50-8.87 mg l(-1), nitrates 0.011-0.033 mg l(-1), nitrites 0.004-0.029 mg l(-1), phosphates 0.013-0.054 mg l(-1), silicates 0.65-8.42 mg l(-1), ammonia nil-0.84 mg l(-1), biochemical oxygen demand 0.93-4.68 mg l(-1), chemical oxygen demand 3.60-17.40 mg l(-1), magnesium 1.17-5.60 mg l(-1), sodium 16.75-34.30 mg l(-1) and potassium 1.97-4.86 mg l(-1)) exhibit monthly as well as seasonal fluctuations. The nutrients including silicates, sulphates, phosphates, nitrates and potassium are in sufficient quantities for the growth of aquatic plants and animals in the reservoir. In all 13 species of macrophytes were recorded from the reservoir. Macrophytic diversity was higher at the points where nallahas join the reservoir and in the areas where agricultural practices are performed. This was due to allocthonous nutrients brought into the reservoir from the surrounding catchments area. The above study indicated that the Ramsagar reservoir is under the category of mesotrophic water body slightly inclined towards eutrophication. Therefore, the conservation and management of this water body are very much required.