Wetlands
Conservation and Sustainable Management of Wetlands in key areas in the Nilgiris is a prime interest area of Keystone. Wetlands of the Nilgiri region are unique, unlike wetlands in general - these are small sized hill wetlands, life giving in nature...habitat for a vareity of wildlife, flora and meet the needs of the people.
These wetlands are fragmented in small random patches - with underground connectivity of water channels. There are no dramatic landscapes that lead to the wetland zones, it is sometimes found in the most unexpected places - and therefore has been taken for granted and their functions and roles significantly under estimated.
In the upper areas of Mukurti National Park - wetlands occupy central places as they are the corridors of the streams. They form belts around the streams and contribute to the flow - bringing in water and other nutrients from the side slopes and grasslands.
Over the years,there has been an apparent destruction of these valuable habitats, the scale of which is unprecedented in human history. Large wetlands in the Nilgiris also suffered from the same fate. With this knowledge and an earlier understanding of the importance of water resources for he indigenous people of the Nilgiris, we set out on an early wintery morning to study these wetlands..
We decided to conduct an intensive rapid survey and mapping of crucial wetland habitats, taking into account ecological aspects, socio-economic situation of stakeholders within the wetland home-range and economic activities that are on-going at present. Simultaneously, we conducted several awareness generation programmes that included walks, designing posters and booklets and speaking more about them to people who have depended on these resources for ages.We also started a process of dialogue and advocacy with the Government on how to declare these wetlands as important conservation areas and initiate legal steps towards it.
As an implementation initiative, we developed local wetlands conservation and management plans in five critically important zones of the district.
The truth remains that with increasing population pressure and immense problems of degradation, wetlands are usually the first casualties. But a greater fact came out through the survey and that is of the high degree of importance indigenous people attach to the resources and their willingness to protect the wetlands remains exemplary....You too.. Be a Voice for the Wetlands
General narrative criteria:
Ammugal belongs to the category of wilderness wetland. Though, it could be considered as a sample, yet there have been numerous more instances of wetlands that we have not been able to monitor or survey. Most of the forest areas have a dominance of wetlands in various stages of growth.
Ammugal is located in Kundah taluk and can be approached by climbing the mountains just after the town. It is a predominantly wilderness area and the wetland comes under the jurisdiction of the forest department. The wetland is a critical source of water and has been channelised towards a small check dam. This check dam impounds the water. the water from the check dam is then transferred through a pipe for further use.
Threats:
The wetland was found to be in a natural stage and though it was difficult to ascertain whether some part of the wetland was lost during the construction of the check dam or by the private tea grower, yet the condition of the wetland suggests that much of the wetland is in its natural stage.
Biological and Botanical condition:
The wetland was quite deep and the maximum depth measured was 15 feet.We could see evidences of several mammals such as deer, Wild boar, Nilgiri langur, SambarThe vegetation was dominated by Juncus. The wetland was surrounded by Wattle and Tea plantation. The marshy parts were covered by Centella, Viola, and Plantago species. Shrubs like Eupatorium was seen in the upland
Status type
Altitude
Size
Benefits & Uses
Wildnerness
High
Small 1.06 acres
Piped water supply.
Annaikal via Sandy Nallah & Hungerford Estate - Governors' Shola-(Type:Rural)
Though we did not find any wetland here - but we passed through a wetland through the Hungerford estate and this is like the top of the watershed. It is a Toda settlement - Kundah Kode mund. In local parlance wetlands are called “Hadda” and some of these may have been here before, according to a Toda elder. Lower down in the valley intensive cultivation of carrots take place in small patches - water table is shallow there. Swamps may have been converted into small agricultural plots. Wetlands are typically boundaries for Todas in this area.
'Hanni' in Bergani -(type:Rural).
Hanni is the Badaga term for wetland. This is a typical wetland agricultural valley. Wetlands here are tapped for drinking water and irrigation purposes. In this area there are 3 wetlands - one minor and two major. The two major ones have been protected by a cement cover and steps go down to the spring. In the agricultural area - the swamps vary in size and depth, but almost all the farmers utilize these water sources for agriculture purposes. Due to the swampy texture and wetland the agricultural tool is also appropriate - a hand held fork. Most of these areas - where the wetland was deep - marshy soil has been removed partly and filled in with black soil for agriculture. Wetland has not been drained - as springs emerge from below.
Biological and Botanical Narrative:
The wetland in Bergani was a small patch with profuse growth of Polygonum spp. Rumex acetosella growth was seen on the earthen bunds. The stream near the wetland showed the growth of Graminoids, like Cyperus spp. and Solanum verbasifolium on the edges. The wetland has been converted into an agricultural field leaving the small patch as a remnant.
Egret, unknown (very common species) bird was seen eating insects from the field which were ploughed. Cattle grazing were observed in the field. Frogs were found in the marshy fields.
Myna birds were siting on the buffaloes and eating ticks, flees.
Numeric criteria:
Water quality:
Permissible limits
Observed value
pH
6.5-8.5
5
Temperature (0C)
10
18
Coliform
Nil
Yes
Fluoride
1.0 (max)
0.6
Residual Chloride (mg/l)
0.2
<0.2
Phosphorous (mg/l)
0.1
Iron (mg/l)
0.3
1
Hardness (mg/l)
300-600
80
Chlorides (mg/l)
250-1000
Ammonia
1.5
Turbidity(NTU)
less than 5-10
Remark
mediumt water, low fluoride and chloride content,presence of coliform
The wetland water contains high iron and has low pH value, the same was true for two water samples tested, one from the well and other from the spring. Both showed the presence of coliform bacteria, pH of around 4.7 and high iron content.
Iron is of little concern as a health hazard but is still considered a nuisance in excessive qualities. Iron in excess of .3mg/l causes staining of clothes and utensils. The Higher concentration of iron is not suitable for processing of food, beverages, ice, dyeing, bleaching and many items. Water with higher concentration of iron which is used in preparation of tea and coffee, interacts with tannins to give a black inky appearance with a metallic taste. Coffee may even become unpalatable at concentration of iron more than 1.0 mg/l. Potatoes also turn on boiling in such type of water. Iron in higher concentration may also cause vomiting. The limits on iron in waters are based on aesthetic and taste consideration rather than its physiological effects.
There does not appear to be any apparent threats to the existing wetland here. There exists a water management and sharing understanding in the community, which they community was not very willing to share with the outsiders.
A check-dam had been constructed which according to some people was more of a problem than solution to the water shortage they faced especially from march to may.
Bikkapathy Mund
General Narrative criteria:
Bikkapathy Mund has changed a lot over the past few years. Though memory spread over 12 years can deceive, yet Robert Leo maintains that the extent of the wetland was much more in the bygone years as compared to the present. The reasons for this are visible to the naked eye and is much the same as in other places - encroachment and in this case - agriculture.
However, the scale of disturbance (excluding the diversion of the original in some places) remains much less as compared to others. There are several possible reasons for this -
The general feature of the wetland follows two major inflow points - both orijnate from the shola. The first inflow is impounded by a small check dam at it head and water seeps from the dam. The water is almost stagnant and has a turbid, muddy colour indicating the high rate of bacterial activity. The seeping water serves to meet the needs of the forest guesthouse located just below.
The second inflow point is at the edge of the shola and has a considerably larger watershed area as compared to the first. The water is impounded by a much larger check dam, almost three times the size of the first wetland.
Water seeping from both the check dams meets lower down and is diverted towards agriculture. The flow is then channelised as it passes through a small patch of agriculture and finally flowing freely as a stream after one hundred metres.
The wetland is nominally at risk, because of the degree of protection accorded to the sources inside the forest and partly because of the low pressure of human. However, the fear that with growing populations and demand on the limited land, there could be increased pressure on the wetland, as there are evidences of the swamp may have been converted into agricultural plots.
Therefore, Bikkapthy Mund needs immediate action on the part of relevant authorities who will be willing to ensure that the wetland is preserved and the livelihood of the people of the people not adversely affected by conservation practices.
Rural, Neutral Toda settlement
Amongst the highest in Kotagiri region
Small to medium
Domestic(M), Commercial(M)
The table below sums up the important points of the wetlands surveyed by group IV:
S. No.
Name of Wetland
Management
Pressures
Special Features
Invasive species(Wattle, Ulux,Cytissus,Lantana)
Grazing
Cultural-
significance
for
Bison Swamp
2300
PA
Wattle
inflows-6; outflows-3, deep,clear water; large area
Y
TODAS
2
Eddapalli
2033
Open Access
Grazing, panchayat wells, warehouse, tea
inflows-7; outflows-2; insectivorous plants; religious significance; encroachment. Imp source for Cnr; medium size, wetland birds
BADAGAS
3
Emerald
1927
vegetables, grazing, encroachment, eucalyptus & wattle, tea
perennial water source; medium size; inflows-3, outflow-1;
4
Tirsigadi-1
1937
vegetables, grazing, encroachment; euca, tea
religious significance; waste; summer dry; concrete footpaths;
KOTAS
Tirsigadi-2
1960
vegetable
butterflies, small size, fencing by default; Kota religious ground; cutoff by road;
6
Tirsigadi-3
1949
vegetable, grazing, tea
fencing by default, insectivorous plants, siphoning/draining for veg,
7
O'valley
1231
pvt
coffee, encroachment
bird diversity, medicinal plants, converted for agri; yellow-gray soil; baigai maram; vasambu
8
Konavakarai
1733
sanitation, garbage, drinking water
high bird diversity, vasambu; surrounded by village, no protection, concrete footpath; baigai maram
9
Burside / Pathimattam
1495
PA/Pvt
tea, vegetables, grazing, waste, burial
Many shola trees, Outflow steam feeds to the Kolithorai river, large area
Curzon
Pvt
Grazing, tea
root zone cleaning, clean water, feeding into Hallimoyar, medium area
11
Mailoor
1692
altered vegetation, tea
manipulated by closing outflow; baigai maram, wetland birds, introduced fishes
12
Kaatery
vegetable, submergence for reservoir
very big, source at Dodabetta, water for Cordite factory, silt monitoring stn,
13
Mundakund
875
Pvt/Encroached
vegetable, tea,
large area, surrounded by forest areas on some sides, high inflow during rainy, soil - grey, diff grasses,
KN
14
Governor Shola
2168
vegetable, scotch broom, wattle, pine, grazing
large area, spl vegn, close to Paimund shola as well as Ooty dump, feeds into Bhavani
This wetland is within the management of the community & is almost semi protected from but chances of pollution from the chemicals & pesticides from the tea fields surrounding the wetland exists. It is located about 1741 m above sea level, the perimeter being 0.2244km & the area of the swamp is about 0.7974acres. The people have planted Salix Spps within the wetland area knowing it will enhance the water retention capacity. There is a temple beside the wetland. The main source for the wetland is springs.
Biological and botanical condition:
The vegetation of this wetland is marshy type. Dominated by the grass like Seemai karakai, Anai karakai, Cyperus digitatus, Pycreus sp., Kyllinga sp., Eriocaulon sp. Between the grass were herbs like Polygonum,Viola, Hydrocoyle, Centella, Rorippa, Limnophila heterophylla, Limnophila indica, Drynaria cordata, Stellaria media. Sapling of Solanum xanthocarpum, Cassia, Eupatorium glangulosum saplings, Sigesbeckia, Phytolocca were also found in the wetland. Trees species like Salix tetrasperma, Eleocarpus were seen in the wetland. Sapling of Salix was also planted by the village community.
Life forms like water boatman, water spiders etc were present in the wetland. The water is soft & the fluoride content is low & presence of coliform is high.
Denad drinking water
6.5
<1.0
40
886.25
soft water,low fluoride content
Washing of clothes in the upper region where the source for the wetland originates also pollutes the water. Grazing is also present.
The main usage is for drinking water purpose followed by agricultural water supply. The outflow from the reservoir is the main source of water for irrigation for the nearby villagers The wetland is also a source of drinking water to the cattle which also uses the wetland area for grazing.
The team visited the site during the monsoon season in July. The water in the wetland was full and spread out and the reservoir was overflowing. The wetland water was clean, odourless and close to 90% was covered with vegetation. A small pool in the wetland with stagnant water and devoid of vegetation looked slightly grayish in colour. The stream joining the wetland also had clear water.
The water in the reservoir was slightly turbid due to sedimentation. Frogs were seen both in the wetland as well as in the reservoir. The wetland is fenced on one side and there exists grazing.
The plants found in the wetland were dominantly grass species (Cyperus globosus, Kyllingia, other few spp., ) the ground was covered, with Centella asiatica, Oxalis corniculata, Commelina spp., Trifolium repens, Anotis, Fragaria nilgerrensis, Rotula rotundifolius, Plantago major. The submerged plants like Polygonum, Limnophila heterophila, Monochoria vaginalis was seen where water was stagnant. Wattle trees were found surrounding the wetland. Pteris was found along the edges in between the wattle trees.
Birds like Black Kite, Kingfisher, Wag tail, Pied Bush chat and Common grass yellow, chocolate pansy butterflies were sited. Cows and goat were found grazing on the wetland.
The stream joining the wetland which could also be the main source of water for the wetland comes from a shola patch cris-crossing some fields. The team noticed that water was being pumped from the stream before entering the wetland by agriculturalists close to the wetland which could lead to reduced inflow. Moreover though no direct discharge of effluent etc could be seen into the stream or the wetland a concern is the contamination of the stream water with chemicals and pesticides used in the fields through which it passes. The pH of water was found lower that the permissible limits
Two wetlands were surveyed, one towards the village from Bandishola & the other at the village itself. The roadside one is of a private land adjoining forest boundary with Euca & wattle plantation. The source is from the upper reserved forests & a good flow. The location of the swamp is above 1934m above sea level & the perimeter is 0.4222km.
The area of the swamp is about 1.572acres. The second swamp is located in the village above 1648m & the perimeter is 0.4558km the area is about 0.8077 acres
The vegetation of the first swamp is dominated by Scripus. Herbs like Plantago, Centella, Viola serpens, Rotala were seen on the marshy land. In the drier part of the wetland shrubs like Rubus, Solanum verbascifolium, Eupatorium, Lantana, Ulex, were seen. Tree fern, Cyathea was seen near the source of the wetland. Ferns like Pteris, Dicranoptreis were in the dry part of the wetland.
The vegetation of this swamp - Salix tetrasperma was the dominating species in the wetland. The wetland looked very compact, with the plant species close together. The ground cover was not been able to be observed to show the presence of water. Herbs and Shrubs like Polygonum spp., Ageratum, and Eupatorium were found as the second layer of plants. Acorus calamus and Scripus was found in small patches in-between the herbs. Solanum verbascifolium was in the dry parts of the wetland, at the edges. Near the outflow Debregeasia plants in small patch. The wetland was surrounded by Tea plantation and Housing.
Halakarai
6.1
19
no colour change
Though the first wetland has a clean source there is no protection from the road side. People access it for various uses like washing clothes & drawing water for floriculture & other means. The Coonoor municipality has a well for drinking water & the well is always full with good recharge & the motor runs for 24 hrs a day throughout the year. The second swamp has been half covered by the village school ground leaving the other half as it is. Sewage drains into one side of the swamp. A burial ground near the swamp & waste are dumped into the swamp. Many parts along the periphery are used to answer natures call.
The mission Compound or happy wetland starts at the outskirts of Kotagiri village near the KMF hospital and near the Sterling factory. These two origins finally meet and result in the big stream that one comes across near the bridge.
The happy valley wetland is unique in as much it serves as the water supply for much of Kotagiri. Besides, intensive agriculture is a common feature in the lower reaches of the valley.
Being one of the first wetlands, it was an eye-opener for the group showcasing both sides of human behaviour - that of preservation and of exploitation.
Preservation as concerns has been made on the need to preserve this vital source of water. The source has been protected and some amount of the catchment area has been fenced. However, fencing has been violated in parts and the catchment area has become a central dumping yard and a centre for attending nature's call.
Yet, farsighted visionaries had taken ample care and much of the water that is collected is done from an underground source. The authorities have constructed an underground check dam that acts as a reservoir and drinking water source for the people. From that point till the very end of the streams flow through Kotagiri, the story is one of extraction- extraction for drinking water, for commercial purpose and for agriculture. We counted a minimum of 10 municipality wells and at least 50 private wells dug in several crucial places.
The source of the wetland was a spring. The spring was surrounded by shrubs like Lantana, Eupotorium, Cestrum, Solanum verbascifolium , Ricinus and Pteris. A small stream was running off from the spring. Along the course of the stream Polygonum spp. Tree fern, Cyathea were found. The agriculture belt had Rumex and Plantago spp. Tea plantation was seen in the upland portion of the wetland.
Vulnerable
Large
Heavy domestic and Commercial
The original wetland appears to have been diverted for usage sometime back and there are but traces of indicative flora that is associate with wetlands. In its lower reaches, the wetland is totally modified and intensive agriculture is practiced. Not a bit of space is left vacant. By the time the wetland stream reaches the confluence with the second branch - it has already become a carrier of sewage and wastewater. Houses dotting the valley directly disgorge their loads into the stream leading to high levels of undesirable components such as coli form, fluoride and to others.
The second section of the wetland originates near the Sterling factory and covers its course undisturbed until its confluence with the first stream. From that point onwards, the big stream becomes a massive drain carrying nothing else but sewage.
From Coonoor Road Bridge, near Chettiar Automobile - the sewage stream become a further dumping yard of sewage followed by slaughterhouse and finally the washing ground. By the time, water reaches the washing yard - it has become a collection ground of hazardous material. Beyond the washing Ghat, the stream travels through tea country before finally meeting the Agala stream.
Kinnakorai
The general location of the wetland is towards the extreme western corner of the district. It is amongst the last inhabited Badaga village in the Nilgiris district.
Kinnakorai ranks as the most polluted wetland surveyed by our group and upon discussions with other wetland teams, we found that it come a close second in terms of pollution to the Thalaikunda wetland found near Ooty.
Kinnakorai suffers from several problems especially form encroachment, commercial and domestic sewage inflow and diversion of wetland for other purposes. The swamp has been converted into a playground. The water is drained in to a channel. Domestic sewage and waste is let into the wetland. Acorus and Eupatorium are dominant. Water is stagnant near the check dam. The water runs off through one side of the check dam.
The source of the wetland was dominated with Acorus calamus. The edges or the upland species were Datura, Phytolocca, Lantana, Cassia didymobotrya and Pteris
The construction of the checkdam has made the marshy part of the wetland with soil sedimentation causing the growth of Eupatorium, Polygonum, Commelina, rumex, Ludwigia. Near the out flow of the checkdam Salix species was dominant.
RURAL/Urban
Small to medium 2.76 acres
Domestic(H), Commercial(H)
In this private estate area we have surveyed 6 wetlands in total & it varies from elevation ranging from 2220 to 2327m above sea level. The area of the wetlands varying from 8.751 acres to 0.4227 acres & the perimeters ranging from 1.458 km to 0.3919 km. The status of the wetland is highly protected since it is a private estate & it is certified as organic, so there is no pollution by means of chemicals or pesticides.
The water quality is pure & good.
The vegetation of these wetlands is purely grassland & shola kind of vegetation with wild flowers like orchids & blossoms. . Shola trees like Theda, Michelia nilagirica, Syzygium montana, Rododendron, Mahonia, Daphniphyllum glaucescens, Acacia, were found surrounding the wetland. The dominant species in the wetland was Juncus glaucus. Eriocaulon was also seen in some of the wetland in the marshy places. Herbs like Plantago, Centella, Limnopilia, Gentiana, Hydrocotyle and insectivorus plants like Utricularia, Drosera were found in the wetland.
Invasive species Eupatorium, Erigeron, Ageratum were also found at the edges of the wetland.
It is full of wildlife zones like amphibians like frogs, water spiders & large mammals like, sambar, panther, tiger, bison, wild dogs & others. Presence of coliform could be possible because of the wildlife accessibility.
Threats: The manager in the estate considers these wetlands to be 'waste lands' and is in the process of looking at options to convert these wetlands into 'productive' lands.
