Community input to quantification of lake restoration benefits: a pilot study of coastal Karnataka Lake, India

Abstract

Lake restoration is one of the regional initiatives aimed at increasing natural resource-based livelihoods. Typically, data on lake inflows/outflows or benefits are not available. Under the circumstances, the best way to collect data is through a questionnaire survey and interviews with residents of the area. The study aims to determine the present condition of the lake and quantify the advantages of the lake on crop productivity after and before the construction of the bund. A reconnaissance investigation of the area found that the lake might have an impact within a 5 km radius. As a result, a survey was carried out within a 5 km radius. The total amount of lake water used for agriculture is 33264 mm3. The incorrect management of the lake's water has resulted in a water deficit in the study region. Consequently, residents who benefit from the lake are increasingly dependent on alternative water sources, such as wells and small ponds. As a result, the yield decreased by 20.45%. After the bund construction was built across the outflow of lake water, the profit increased by 37.88%, making more water available throughout the year. According to the study, appropriate conservation efforts require community input. Instead of focusing on high-cost technology in coastal Karnataka, this study suggests that water resource managers should restore surface water bodies, providing more water benefits for the public. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.