Elada: (Type: Urban) Situated in the Kotagiri taluk it is the source for drinking water from the Elada dam. The source has been tapped from a wetland. The wetland is open, small and compact situated at high altitude. A small dam has been constructed on the one end and a filtration system installed in the outlet of the dam. The wetland though small is varied. On one end is relatively hard ground - adjacent to the agricultural land. A small stream cuts through this patch of grass leading to the pool. As the pool starts - the wetland plants are seen and the water emerges to the surface. Depth is also seen in this pool. There is a slow flow of water from the stream into this wetland. At one end of the wetland is a drainage channel which is adjacent to the field and perpendicular to the stream.
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.
General narrative criteria:
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.
Biological and Botanical Narrative:
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.
Threats:
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
