KAWAR LAKE, BIHAR  

 

INTRODUCTION:

The lake Kawar (25°30¢ and 86°10¢ E) is one of the important fresh water lakes in eastern India spreading over an area of 67.37 sq. km (Bihar Govt., 1999) in the district Begusarai under the block Cheriabariapur and Bakhari of Central Bihar (previously north Bihar). This brasslet type oxbow lake with high curvature and circular bend ended into two hook-like connection towards the river Burigandak. This advance state of horse shoe shaped lake is fed by rain water or by overflowing the river Burigandak and Bagmati. During rainy season water from the adjoining villages viz. Jaimanglagarh, Rajour, Parora, Narainpur, Sonbasa, Kumbhi and others resulting to increase the depth as well as the area of the lake but during winter and summer months water dries up, resulting the sufficient shrinkage of the lake. The vast expanses of this fresh water body is the source of innumerable biological diversities depending upon soil pattern, water quality and depth of the lake. The lake is surprisingly herbours a wide variety of aquatic plant diversity, which is to some extent unique, compare to that of the all other fresh water lakes in eastern India. The growth of floating, submerged and emergent type of aquatic plants along with marginal plant diversity within the land water interface are very much alarming. Clear water patches are most exception rather than the other fresh water lake. The species diversity of the aquatic vegetation of the lake both in quantitative and qualitative way is very much impressive and interesting and probably this may be the cause for making this fresh water lake system very productive and sustainable. Beside the enormous sores of many fishes, crustacea, insects, malacofauna and periphyton, it serves as a suitable major habitat for many resident and migratory waterfowl and other avifauna. Recently it has been placed under the Ramsar convention (2000) of wetlands of international importance. 

The brief information of the project performed during last one and half year is represented below: 

PHYSIOGRAPHY OF THE LAKE: 

The lake is surrounded by the river Burigandak in the west and south, the N.E. Railway line from Samastipur to Khagaria in the north and east. It is situated at about 22 km north from Begusarai town. In the south-east corner of the lake there is an island, locally called Jaimanglagarh which covering an area of about ¾ sq. km and on the west of the Kawar there is another chaur called Nagree Jheel and comprises portion of villages like Mohanpur, Majhal and Yakabpur and this chaur drain into Kawar through a channel called Sadhiabaha. The area is situated more or less plain topography but some depressions raining from a few to forty feets are also prominent. 

The lake has been formed due to cut of meander of the river Burigandak and occurred in the extensive plains of deep alluvial field. The oxbow lake dots the lower plain leaving the river far away. The neck of the brasslet has been gradually filled with sediments because of clearing action of flowing system. 

The climate of the lake is hot and humid representing seasonal variation as in other parts of the state. Mean annual temperature ranges from 25ºC – 38ºC during March to April and 10ºC – 22ºC during December to January. Mean rainfall ranges from 1000-1800 mm. The normal annual evaporation in the lake basin is also variable in different seasons. 

The depth of the Kawar basin varies from ½ m to 6 m. The northern side of the lake was approached through Guabarighat and some places such as Amra, Larkatia having a depth of 2-3 m. In the southern portion starting Jaimanglagarh towards north the places are called Ajebi, Kathahi, Nahar, Banchali, Sudhia, Banderi and Chatar having a depth of 1-3 m. Towards the centre of the lake the places are called Mahalaya, Kochala having the maximum depth of 4-6 m. 

PERCENTAGE OF COVERING AREA: 

About 50% of the total area is covered in two different seasons. The lake is divided into five sectors. Sector-1 (S–1) is represent Jaimanglagarh, S-2 is opposite of Jaimanglagarh, S-3 is Banderi, S-4 is Parora and S-5 is Guabarighat. 

STUDY OF PHYSICOCHJEMICAL PARAMETER: 

Air temperature, water temperature, water pH, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, carbonate, total hardness and in case of soil pH, Organic carbon, phosphate, potassium, nitrogen are considered for study. 

WATER:

Seasonal changes of water quality is also variable. In summer the pH is maximum and in winter it is minimum. Ammonium content is high in winter, nitrate and nitrite is also high in summer. Carbonate hardness is maximum in winter. Dissolve oxygen is more or less same in both winter and summer season.

During summer the pH of water is maximum in sector-4 (S-4) and minimum in S-1. Nitrate is higher in S-1 & S-4 and minimum in S-2 & S-3. Nitrite is same at all the sectors. Total hardness is minimum in S-2 and higher in S-3, phosphate content is unchangeable, carbonate is maximum in S-4. Dissolve oxygen is maximum at S-2 and minimum at S-4. 

Table: 1. 

PARAMETRE

S –1

S –2

S –3

S –4

S –5

pH

7

8.2

7.3

8.5

7

Ammonium

0 mg/l

0.1 mg/l

0.2 mg/l

0.3 mg/l

0.1 mg/l

Nitrate

40 mg/l

50 mg/l

50 mg/l

80 mg/l

65 mg/l

Nitrite

0.01 mg/l

0.025 mg/l

0.025 mg/l

0.04 mg/l

0.027 mg/l

Total hardness

0.7 mg/l

0.9 mg/l

1.2 mg/l

1 mg/l

0.7 mg/l

PO4

0.2 mg/l

0.25 mg/l

0.25 mg/l

0.40 mg/l

0.25 mg/l

Carbonate hardness

2.1 mg/l

2.1 mg/l

2.4 mg/l

2.9 mg/l

0.25 mg/l

D.O.

7.2 mg/l

6.3 mg/l

6.7 mg/l

6.2 mg/l

6.6 mg/l

Depth

4¢-7¢

1¢-4¢

8¢-10¢

1.5¢ – 3.5¢

3¢-6¢

Temperature

26ºC

26ºC

23ºC

27ºC

25ºC.

During winter pH is maximum at S-4 and minimum at S-3. Dissolve oxygen is maximum at S-3 and minimum at S-4, nitrate is maximum at S-3 & S-4, nitrite is higher at S-3 and S-2 in comparable to S-4 & S-5. Total hardness is higher at S-2 followed by S-3, S-4 and S-5. Phosphate and carbonate hardness of the lake water is maximum at S-4 and  S-2 respectively. 

Table: 2.  

PARAMETRE

S –1

S –2

S –3

S –4

S –5

pH

6.5

6.8

6.2

7.2

7.0

Ammonium

0.2 mg/l

0.2 mg/l

0 mg/l

0.3 mg/l

0.2 mg/l

Nitrate

50 mg/l

35 mg/l

30 mg/l

35 mg/l

50 mg/l

Nitrite

0.015 mg/l

0.02 mg/l

0.01 mg/l

0.015 mg/l

0.01 mg/l

Total hardness

1.3 mg/l

1.3 mg/l

1.2 mg/l

1.4 mg/l

1.2 mg/l

PO4

0.2 mg/l

0.2 mg/l

0.2 mg/l

0.4 mg/l

0.3 mg/l

Carbonate hardness

3.2 mg/l

3.2 mg/l

3 mg/l

3.3 mg/l

3.0 mg/l

D.O.

6.5 mg/l

6.5 mg/l

7 mg/l

6.00 mg/l

6.2 mg/l

Depth

6¢-8¢

2¢-5¢

10¢-12¢

2¢ – 4.5¢

4¢-6.5¢

Temperature

19ºC

20ºC

22ºC

23ºC

22ºC.

The depth of water is also variable, which are represented as follows: 

Table: 3. 

SITES

SUMMER

WINTER

RAINY SEASON

S – 1

3 – 5 ft.

5 – 6 ft.

-

S – 2

1.5 – 3 ft.

4 – 5 ft.

-

S – 3

6 – 10 ft.

8 – 12 ft.

-

S – 4

2 – 3 ft.

3 – 4 ft.

-

S – 5

4 –6 ft.

6 –8 ft.

-

SOIL:Soil of the lake is usually sandy loam, bottom soil is highly fertile. Soil materials was collected and tested only in winter season.

The pH of the soil is maximum i.e. highly alkaline at S-4 and minimum i.e. neutral at S-1. Organic carbon and phosphate are also high at S-4 and minimum at S-1. Available potassium is also high at S-4 in comparable to other sectors. Nitrate and ammonium nitrogen is more or less constant in all other parts except S-4, here it is 8.2 kg/acre and 29.5 kg/acre respectively.

 Table: 4.

SITE

pH

Nitrate Nitrogen

Ammonium Nitrogen

Phosphate (P204)

Available Potassium

Organic Carbon

S – 1

7

1.8 kg/acre

5.9 kg/acre

0

45.36 kg/acre

0.5%

S – 2

7.5

1.8 kg/acre

5.9 kg/acre

9.7 kg/acre

45.36 kg/acre

0.6%

S – 3

8

4.08 kg/acre

8.2 kg/acre

9.7 kg/acre

50 kg/acre

0.7%

S – 4

8.5

8.2 kg/acre

29.5 kg/acre

18.14 kg/acre

68.04 kg/acre

0.9%

S - 5

7.5

1.8 kg/acre

6 kg/acre

9.7 kg/acre

43.36 kg/acre

0.7%

 PHYTOPLANKTON:

Total 20 (10 + 10) phytoplankton specimens were collected from different sectors of the lake in two different seasons but they are not identified till now. 

MACROPHYTES:

Total 120 vascular plants (aquatic, marshy & terrestrial) were collected from the in and around the lake of which four of them are new addition to this lake flora. All the collected specimens were dried, poisoned, mounted and stitched. Total 57 specimens were identified and 23 of them were illustrated with their description and ecological notes. Ecological conditions of the above plants were noted along with their seasonal variation in field. 

The populations and productivity of the major submerged, floating and emergent macrophytes with the help of 15 samples have been estimated by biomass analysis (wet & dry weight measuring method) and square counting method. Nutrient content of the above aquatic plants in different seasons are under process by the help of ash analysis method. 

The distributions of different species along with their associated communities are also recorded. The data of the local uses and their potentiality in fish culture have also been recorded. 

The list of the identified and illustrated species are as follows: 

SL NO.

NAME OF THE PLANTS

FAMILY

COLL. NO.

1.

Hydrilla verticillata Royle

Hydrocharitaceae

18423, 17608.

2.

Vallisneria spiralis L.

Hydrocharitaceae

17629, 18418.

3.

Caldesia oligococca Buch.

Alismataceae

17675, 17617,

4.

Polygonum plebejum R. Br

Polygonaceae

17684, 17667.

5.

Peristrophae bicaliculata

Acanthaceae

17685, 17677

6.

Cyanodon dactylon

Poaceae

17657.

7.

Hygroryza aristata Nees ex Wt.

Poaceae

17621

8.

Phragmites vallatoria (L.) Veld.

Poaceae

17678, 18433.

9.

Najas minor Allioni

Najadaceae

17632, 17616, 17634.

10.

Aeschynomene aspera L.

Fabaceae

18….

11.

Ipomoea aquatica Forss.

Convolvulaceae

17669, 18409.

12.

Nymphoides indica (L.) Kurz.

Menyanthaceae

17640, 18…

13.

Nymphoides hydrophylla (Lour.) Kurz.

Menyanthaceae

18420.

14.

Oryza rufipogon Griff.

Poaceae

18430.

15.

Utricularia aurea Lour

Lentibulariaceae

18427, 18401, 17623.

16.

Utricularia exoleta R. Br.

Lentibulariaceae

17631.

17.

Aponogeton natans (L.) Engl ex Krause.

Aponogetonaceae

18460

18.

Ottelia alismoides (L.) Pers.

Hydrocharitaceae

18419.

19.

Polygonum barbatum L.

Polygonaceae

18459

20.

Leersia hexandra Sw.

Poaceae

18438.

21.

Vetiveria zizanoides (L.) Nash

Poaceae

18407.

22.

Saccharum spontaneum L.

Poaceae

18462

23.

Pseudographis brunoniana

Poaceae

18461

4.

Hymenachne acutigluma (Steud.) Gilliland.

Poaceae

18470

25.

Hygrophylla spinosa Andr.

Acanthaceae

18472

26.

Limnophila indica (L.) Druce

Scrophulariaceae

17637.

27.

Cyperus platylis R. Br.

Cyperaceae

17683.

28.

Ceratophyllum demersum L.

Ceralophyllaceae

17636.

29.

Paspalum scrobiculatum L.

Poaceae

18436, 17670.

30.

Grangea maderaspatana (L.) Poir.

Compositae/ Asteraceae

17652.

31.

Xanthium strumarium L.

Asteraceae

18469

32.

Nicotiana plumbaginifolia Viv.

Solanaceae

17668.

33.

N. tabacum L.

Solanaceae

18474

34.

Phyla nodiflora (L.) Grume

Verbenaceae

18440.

35.

Alternanthera philoxeroides Grisebach.

Amaranthaceae.

18442.

36.

A. sessiles R. Br.

Amaranthaceae.

17679.

37.

Cannabis sativa

Cannabinaceae

17682, 17617, 17662, 17627.

38.

Nymphaea nouchali Burm.

Nymphaeaceae.

18417, 17686.

39.

Nymphaea pubescens willd.

Nymphaeaceae.

18443.

40.

Ludwiga adsendens Hara

Onagraceae

17666.

41.

Abutilon indica

Malvaceae

17665, 17661.

42.

Nelumbo nucifera Gaerthen

Nelumbona Ceae.

17610.

43.

Eichhorria crassipes Solm-Laub.

Pontedeniaceae

17622.

44.

Pistia stratiodes

Araceae

18444.

45.

Spirodella polyrhiza (L.) Schl.

Lemnaceae.

18445.

46.

Coccinia indica

 

18475

47.

Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk.

Asteraceae.

18478

48.

Spilanthus calva A. P. decandole

Asteraceae.

18477

49.

Chenopodium album L.

Chenopodiaceae

17614.

50.

Commelina diffusa Burman.

Commelinaceae

18449

51.

Fimbristylis dichotoma Vahl.

Cyperaceae

18479

52.

Potamogeton crispus

Putemofetrnace

17626, 17603.

53.

P. nodosus

 

18437.

54.

Azolla bipinnata R. Br.

Azollaceae

18454

55.

Salvinia natans (L.) Allione

Salviniaceae

17620.

 Instead of several others inland shrubs and trees. Forest Department of Bihar Government planted Arjun (Terminalia arjuna) and Sisso (Dalbergia sissoo) with in the Jaimanglagarh island and the other raised ‘char’ for providing nesting facility of migratory birds. Some common waterfowls of Kawar lake are:

Little Grebe                   –           Tachybaptus ruticollis

Great cormorant            –            Phalacrocorax carbo

Indian cormorant           –           P. fuscicollis

Little cormorant           –            P. niger

Grey heron                    –          Fulica atra  and several others.

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