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Chilika Lagoon: Restoring ecological balance and livelihoods through re‐salinization
Author(s) -
Ghosh Asish K.,
Pattnaik Ajit K.,
Ballatore Thomas J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
lakes and reservoirs: research and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.296
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1440-1770
pISSN - 1320-5331
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1770.2006.00306.x
Subject(s) - environmental science , freshwater inflow , biota , livelihood , estuary , biodiversity , ecosystem , dredging , siltation , intertidal zone , hydrology (agriculture) , water resource management , geography , fishery , oceanography , ecology , agriculture , sediment , geology , paleontology , geotechnical engineering , archaeology , biology
This paper reviews the past and present conditions and management of Chilika Lagoon, the largest lagoon on India's eastern coast. Spatial and temporal salinity gradients, because of freshwater river inflow and seasonal seawater influx, have created unique characteristics of an estuarine ecosystem, and exercised a continuous, selective influence on the biota. Unfortunately, its biodiversity and the livelihoods that depend on it were being lost at a fast rate because of a blockage of the lagoon's mouth by silt coming from upstream catchments, as well as oceanic long‐shore transport. Projects to restore the dynamic characteristics of the lagoon included dredging a new mouth to the ocean, as well as prevention of soil erosion in upstream areas. Management efforts resulted in a dramatic revival of this ecosystem, and contributed to a sharp rise in the incomes of fisherfolk. The institutional aspects of implementing such large‐scale policy changes also are discussed, and the remaining issues and lessons learned are presented.