Erosion and Accretion in the Netravati River Stretch: Spatiotemporal Analysis Using Geospatial Approach

Abstract

Understanding erosion and accretion, which are critical geomorphic processes, is essential for effective river management and conservation. Erosion by removing soil and rock changes the river's shape, depth, and course. Accretion, conversely, involves the deposition and accumulation of sediment, shaping features like riverbanks and floodplains. Focused on a 30 km stretch of the Netravati River, in the southwestern region of India, this study used Survey of India toposheets and Landsat images to track changes over time (1973, 1998, 2022). The Normalised Difference Water Index (NDWI) and image classification were employed for the analysis which revealed notable spatiotemporal variations in these processes. From 1973 to 2022, the analysis estimated a total erosion of 510.43 hectares and an accretion of 317.71 hectares. The years 1973–1998 witnessed more accretion (417.6 hectares) than erosion (229.08 hectares). And, from 1998 to 2022, erosion dominated at 438.37 hectares, with only 56.97 hectares of accretion. These variations can be attributed to both natural processes and human interventions. Notably, the construction of a vented dam in 1993 at Thumbe, followed by the subsequent dam in 2016, 50 m downstream of the old dam, influenced the sediment dynamics and flow patterns in the Netravati River, potentially impacting erosion and accretion processes. This research adds to our understanding of erosion and sediment changes in the Netravati River over time. The dams and hydraulic structure upstream along with geospatial techniques offer researchers and river managers a unique opportunity to examine river shape impacts and thus develop sustainable strategies for river preservation. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2024.