BIO-MANIPULATION OF LAKES NAINITAL AND NAUKUCHIATAL

FOR ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION

Funded by

National Lake Conservation and Development Authority, Nainital

(Govt. of Uttarakhand)

Research team

PI

Dr. A.P. Sharma, Professor

Co- PIs

1. Dr. R.S. Chauhan, Director, Fisheries, Uttarakhand

2. Mr. Ashutosh Mishra, Asstt. Prof.SRFs

Two

Objectives

• Assessment of existing fish fauna of the lakes

• Evaluation of the food chain spectrum of the lakes

• Control of unwanted fishes• Raising of the stocking material of

desired fishes for stocking in the lakes

• Stocking of the environment friendly candidate fish species as bio- manipulation tools

• Environmental Impact Assessment• Public awareness towards lake

restoration

Budget

Head 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

Sanctioned

(in Rs lakh)

Utilized

(in Rs lakh)

Sanctioned

(in Rs lakh)

Utilized

(in Rs lakh)

Sanctioned

(in Rs lakh)

Utilized

(in Rs lakh)

Equipments & plant machinery

31.0 8.60 - - - -

Contractual services 1.09 0.75 4.34 2.37 4.34 2.52

TA 0.5 0.25 1.00 0.06 1.00 0.90

Recurring contingencies

3.00 1.50 4.50 2.41 4.50 6.80

Technical programme (Ist year)

• Survey of lakes and selection of sites for sampling

• Fortnightly/monthly evaluation of water quality by estimating physico- chemical and biological parameters

• Assessment of existing fish fauna of the lakes

• Collection and selection of brood stock of desired species

Technical programme (IInd year)

• Continuation of first year programme• Study of food chain spectrum• Removal of unwanted fish species• Induce breeding of desired fishes and

rearing of stocking material• Stocking of fingerlings of desired fish

species

Technical programme (2008-09)

• Continuation of analysis of water quality and plankton in the lakes

• Preparation of eco- data base of the lakes• Development of food chain and food web

model• Stocking of advanced fingerlings of

desired fish species• Environmental impact assessment and

public awareness

Salient achievements

Preparation of eco- data base of the lakesParameters Nainit

alKhurpa tal Bhimtal Naukuchiatal Sattal Para

meters

Nainital Khurpa tal Bhimtal Naukuchiatal Sattal

TDS (mg/l)

160-420

150-292 70.0-90.0

70.0-140.0 40.0-65.0

CO2

(mg/l)

0-12 0.0-12.0 0.0-10.0 0.0-10.0 0.0-8.0

Conductivity (µs/cm)

170-470

185-380 50-160 50.0-140.0 30.0-98.0

Total alkalinity (mg/l)

92-252 98.0-190 80.0-130.0

70-120 50.0-90.0

Transparency (cm)

67-350 120-320 114-240 110.0-164.0 125-250 DO (mg/l)

0-11.3 4.8-12.0 5.2-10.4 5.2-12.4 6.0-8.8

At.temp

(˚C)

7.5-26.0 8.9-25.8 9.1-34.3 8.6-28.3 7.8-25.8

NO3-N (mg/l)

0.8-2.1 0.005-0.048

0.05-0.28

0.03-0.08 0.005-0.010

Water temp (˚C)

8.2-24 9.8-27.0 9.8-27.0 9.5-27.4 10.8-25.9

NO2-N 0.032-0.092

0.028-0.042

0.07-0.024

0.011-0.034 0.005-0.028

pH 6.9-9.3 7.2-9.4 7.3-9.2 7.2-9.1 7.5-8.9 PO4-P 0.08-0.78 0.09-0.034 0.016-0.030

0.09-0.20 0.014-0.10

Salient achievements• Assessment of primary and

secondary production The predominant

phytoplankton recorded in the samples was Microsystis, Melosira, Cymbella, Navicula, Nitzschia, Spirogyra, Zygnema, Nostoc etc.

The important genera recorded among zooplankton were Lecane, Brachionus, Daphnia, Moina, Cyclops etc.

The predominant benthic genera recorded were Baetis, Rhycophila, Leptocella, Gomphus, Dytiscus, Atherix, Chironomus etc.

Salient achievementsAssessment of Fish diversity

SI. No. Fish species Nainital Bhimtal Naukuchiatal Khurpatal Sattal

1. Puntius spp 29 6 15 28 23

2. Gambusia spp 59 3 9 9 4

3. Cyprinus carpio 7 12 10 8 10

4. Tor putitora 1 69 43 32 28

5. Labeo rohita 1 3 4 6 12

6. Tor tor - 1 - - 1

7. Nemacheilus spp. - - 1 2 2

8. Barilius spp. 1 1 2 2 4

9. Botia spp. - 1 2 2 2

10 Hypophthalmichthys molitrix - 2 5 7 8

11. Aristichthis nobilis 1 - - - -12. Ctenopharingodon

idella- 1 7 2 4

13. Chanda spp. 1 1 2 2 1

Salient achievements Removal of unwanted fishes

Species Nainital Naukuchiatal Khurpatal Sattal Bhimtal

Gambusia spp.

3761820 900 - - 1000

Puntius spp. 1057034 1100 10000 1000 950

Aristichthis nobilis

3000 Kg. - - - -

Salient achievements

• Brood stock development and induced breeding of desired fish species

Salient achievements

• Stocking of advanced fingerlings of candidate species in Nainital lake

Salient achievements

• Public awareness programmes

Salient achievements• Public awareness

programmes

Lake Aeration Systems

For more information, visit us at http://www.paradisenw.com

Benefits of Aeration • Increases transparency of lake• Decreases the concentrations of toxic gases like

carbon dioxide. Ammonia, hydrogen sulphide and methane

• Decreases the production of algae thus increasing the transparency of lake water

• Replaces the undesirable flora and fauna and leads to the development of desirable life forms in the water.

• Creates conditions suitable for the growth and breeding of environment friendly fish species like mahseer

• Increases the concentrations of dissolved Oxygen in the lake.

• Restores the lake ecosystem completely.

INSTALLATION OF DISK IN LAKE

Outstanding results

Typical observed water testing shows:

• Increased dissolved oxygen concentrations throughout the entire water column.• Increased availability of habitat for all fish species (warm and cold).• pH is homogenous and stabilized.• Temperatures are homogenous throughout the entire water column.

Illustration of nutrient oxidation by ADS fine bubble aeration

(from left to right, highly oxidized, slightly oxidized, initial sample)

Worldwide Famous Projects Baima Canal, ChinaWillow Creek, USA Bear Creek Reservoir, USA

Lake Nainital, India• Established in 1965 (formerly Hinde Engineering Company).

• Recognized leader in aeration systems from small lakes to giant reservoirs for over fifteen years.

• Successful design and application of over one thousand different domestic and wastewater systems as well as reservoirs, lakes, aquaculture and marina ice melting systems.

• Research and Development department devoted to bringing state-of-the-art technology into production for you.

• Devoted exclusively to the fine bubble aeration industry, we have no other conflicting business interests.

• “ADS” employees have a combined total of over seventy-five years experience in the fine bubble market place.

Constraints

• Lack of funds for processing equipments of harvested weed fishes

• Problem in netting for removal of unwanted fishes

• Meager facilities for raising brood stock ,breeding and rearing of mahseer seed