River Dynamics and Restoration Design of the Nakhu Khola

Binod Maharjan

ABSTRACTS

The fifth order Nakhu Khola, flowing from the south towards north direction drains

southeastern part of the Kathmandu Valley and functions as major tributary of the Bagmati

River. Like other rivers of the Kathmandu Valley, the Nakhu Khola is also threatened by

changes in watershed hydrology and land use, resulting in unstable streams with poor habitat

and water quality. Impacts include eroding stream banks, unsafe water supply, impaired

habitat, fish kills, flooding, and loss of flood plain functions. Causes of stream impairment

include channelization, increased sediment loads and loss of riparian vegetation.

In order to restore the degrading the Nakhu Khola into its natural condition, its present

conditions is identified and river is classified by following Rosen's designation of classifying

stream. Four representative segments: Nakhu Segment, Bhainsepati Segment, Chapagaun

Segment, and Bhardew Segment from downstream to upstream of the Nakhu Khola were

studied in detail for their fluvial morphological parameters, substrate sediment and existing

stream conditions. The overall segments are vertically and laterally unstable as the value of

BHR and W/D ratio exceeds 1.5 and 1.4, respectively. Since the slope and velocity exceeds

critical values, the Nakhu Khola is competent for transporting the channel sediments present

in the channel and bar even during normal flow. The Chapagaon Segment is most vertically

and laterally unstable with greatest bank height ratio and width depth ratio than other

segments The channel modification map shows no change in the primary river meandering

pattern but only in the secondary meandering pattern. Encroachment of channel, clearing of

vegetation, increase in sediment load due to mines, landuse change and waste dumping and
disposal are major causes for degrading river environment. Aggrading and degrading

potential of the Nakhu Khola is evaluated by using F versus M graph. All the segments of

the river lies in the aggrading field. When channel width, meander length and meander

wavelength of the segments are plotted to find stability, the Bhainsepati Segment deviates

most from stability than the other segments. Parallel erosion, sheet erosion, impinging flow

erosion, slump, rill and gully erosion are major erosion processed in the watershed. Bank

erosion hazard in the river segment is very high at quarry site, low at gorge where as other

parts show moderate to high erosion.

Like other rivers of the Kathmandu Valley, the Nakhu Khola is also very much degraded and

impaired due to different anthropogenic causes as well as due to natural cause. But human

causes are more frequent and degrading river more than due to natural cause. Human

disturbances like bank encroachment, channelization, cultivating flood plains, vegetation

clearing and obstruction to natural flow are present in whole river segment. Therefore, to

protect river from further degrading, mitigation measures as well as restoration works of

river should be done. Mitigation measures such as reconstruction of natural channel;

riparian vegetation zone establishment etc. should be implemented. River restoration and

establishment of vegetation zone can be done by different methods such as vegetation works,

bioengineering works, engineering works and channel design. The Nakhu River has poor

vegetation so vegetation zone should be established in the whole segment. Channel design is

needed only in quarry sites where quarrying caused the Nakhu Khola to flow without distinct

channel. Beside restoration works to bring back the river close to its natural function and to

gain optimum advantages from the river resourse, all the concerning government and non-

government authorities are required to come with long term program for river rehabilitation

and restoration.

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