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The Aravalli Mountain range in Gurugram and Faridabad, Haryana, India, is an important natural resource that provides water and supports local ecosystems. This study assesses the hydrological characteristics of the forested area and their implications for water availability and conservation. This study employed field surveys, data collection, analysis, and software such as HEC-HMS, SWAT, ArcGIS, and Google Earth Pro. The findings show that forested areas contribute significantly to the local hydrological cycle, providing groundwater resources to nearby villages. Dense vegetation cover and soil moisture regulate water flow and groundwater recharge.
The area velocity method revealed a significant reduction of approximately 1.5 hectares in the water spread area of a lake within two months. SWAT model analysis shows 50% evapotranspiration of average rainfall, which is normal for Damdama Lake because it is in a semi-arid region. An extraordinary 100-year rainfall event in 1994 caused the lake to expand over 120 hectares, flooding most of the banks and reaching the neighboring village of Abhaypur via spillway overflow. Despite the semi-arid climate, soil moisture and organic carbon content revealed high infiltration rates. and neighboring villages have become a concern for Damdama Lake since 2011, as they have increased groundwater extraction. If groundwater extraction continues at this rate, the lake's water spread area will be limited to no more than 20 hectares. We have not seen anything like this since 2011.
The study emphasizes the urgent need for Aravalli Forest conservation and sustainable management through initiatives such as afforestation and community-based water resource management, including rainwater harvesting. To regulate groundwater extraction, government policies are required. To mitigate the negative impact of urban expansion on the Aravalli hydrological cycle, hydrological considerations must be incorporated into urban planning.
Keywords: Damdama Lake, Aravalli, Groundwater, Surface water, HEC-HMS, ArcGIS, Google Earth Pro, Arc SWAT, Gurugram, Water, Lake, Biodiversity, Ecology.
