Understanding the effects of trans-boundary barrage operations on the Nepal-India border for Ganges river dolphin habitat and population dynamics

Principal Investigator: Gopal Khanal

Funding year: 2022

Main objectives:

• To understand the effects of trans-boundary barrages on river habitats for Ganges river dolphins along the Nepal-India border, in the Karnali-Ghaghara, Narayani-Gandak, and Sapta
  Koshi/Kosi river systems.
• To assess responses of Ganges river dolphins to alterations in river discharge dynamics and geomorphological changes upstream and downstream of these barrages in Nepal and India.
• To identify similarities and differences in the operations of the three barrages that allow for differential population persistence and river dolphin movement through barrages.
• To increase awareness of barrage authorities about adaptive and ecologically oriented management of trans-boundary barrages.

Main outcomes:
To follow.

Reports/Papers:
Khanal and Kelkar: Understanding the effects of trans-boundary barrage operations on the Nepal-India border for Ganges river dolphin habitat and population dynamics.