Chapter 1: introduction

4.3.3.2 Ecological Conditions of the River Bed and Flood Plain

Kabeli River stretch in the reservoir and the downstream sections to the confluence with Tamor River (directly project affected area) is a fast flowing river with series of rapids, runs and pools (Table 4.24). During the field visits the left and right banks of the river (depending on the water depth and flow) had a number of spawning and rearing grounds for fishes. This spawning ground information of the selected species will be mapped along the affected stretch of the river and in the river section upstream of the dam site.

However, these sites change year after year especially after the moonsoon floods. The river bed material is comprised of boulders, cobbles and pebbles with sandy admixtures. Occasionally, the river banks and boulders show growth of the green algae.

Table 4.24: Aquatic Habitat Characterization of Kabeli River in the Directly Project Affected Area

Site No. (refer Figure 1.2)	Name of Sampling site	Habitat Characterization (Estimated)	Major spawning area	Major Rearing area
1	Dam Site	Run type of water Rapid flow (80 %) Run (10 %) Deep and shallow pools (5 %) Riffle (5 %)	Three spawning areas between Dam site to Khimuna hanging bridge	Three rearing grounds in between Dam site to Confluence of Puwa khola
2	Downstream of Dam site	Run type of water Rapid flow (75 %) Run (10 %) Deep and shallow pools (10 %) Riffle (5 %)	Six spawning areas between Kabeli hanging bridge to Khola Kharka. And Bichbagar daha	Five rearing grounds between Kabeli hanging bridge to Khola Kharka.
3	Upsteram of Kabeli confluence with Tamor	Run type of water Rapid (70 %) Run (20 %) Deep and shallow pools (5 %) Riffle (5 %)	Five spawning areas between Kakaro to Kabeli hanging bridge	Two rearing grounds in between Kakaro to Kabeli hanging bridge.

(Field visit on October 3-10, 2010)

4.3.3.3 Fish

A total of 31 fish species were recorded during the field survey. Out of 31 recorded species, 12 species were found during the field survey in October 2010 and 9 were registered in July 2013, the remaining 19 species were reported by local residents during interviews in October 2010. Schizothorzx richardsonii, Schizothorax progastus, Botia lohachata, Botia almorhae, Glyptothorax pectinopterus, Glyptothorax cavia, Glyptothorax telchitta, Noemacheilus beavani, Noemacheilus botia, Neolissocheilus hexagonolepis, Tor tor, Tor putitora, Bagarius yarrelli, Garra annandalei, Barilius bendelisis, and Labeo dero are the major species observed and reported during the field visit. Tables 4.25 and 4.26 present the number of observed species in the different sampling stations in 2010 and 2013, while Tables 4.27 and 4.28 present the species observed during the sampling period in 2010 and 2013 respectively. Table 4.29 gives the total number of fish species observed and reported in Kabeli River in 2010 .

Table 4.25: Number of Fish Species Recorded and Observed in the Sampling Stations (2010)

Station No	Station	Unit	Field Visit
			Total Observed	Total Recorded
Site No. 1	Dam Site	Number	6	23
Site No. 2	Down stream of Dam site	Number	10	21
Site No. 3	Upsteram of Kabeli confluence with Tamor	Number	10	21

(Field Survey: October 3-10, 2010)
Table 4.26: Number of Fish Species Recorded and Observed in the Sampling Stations (2013)

Station No	Station	Unit	Field Visit
			Total species Observed	Total no. of fish Recorded
Site No. 1	11 KM upstream of dam	Number	4	5
Site No. 2	8 KM upstream of dam	Number	3	6
Site No. 3	Downstream of dam	Number	7	13
Site No. 4	Kabeli confluence at Tamor	Number	5	13

(Field Survey: July 7- 11, 2013)
Table 4.27: Fish Species Recorded in Sampling Stations (2010)

S.N	Scientific Name of Fish	Local Name of Fish	Site N. 1	Site N. 2	Site N. 3
1	Barilius bendelisis	Fakata		+	+
2	Barilius Vagra	Faketa		+	+
3	Crossocheilus latius	Lohari	+	+	+
4	Garra annandalei	Buduna	+	+	+
5	Garra gotyla	Buduna	+	+	+
6	Glyptosterrum blythi	Tilkabre	+	+	+
7	Labeo dero	Gardi	+	+	+
8	Neolissochilus hexagonolepis	Katle	+	+	+
9	Psilorhynchuspseudecheneis	Tite	+	+	+
10	Schizothorax progastus	Chuchche asala	+	+	+
11	Schizothorax richardsoni	Buchche asala	+	+	+
12	Tor putitora	Sahar		+	+
	Total		6	10	10

(Field Survey: October 3-10, 2010)

Table 4.28 Fish Species Observed in Sampling Stations (2013)

S.N	Scientific Name of Fish	Local Name of Fish	Site N. 1	Site N. 2	Site N. 3	Site N. 4
1	Barilius bendelisis	Fakata	+			+
2	Crossocheilus latius	Lohari			+	+
3	Garra gotyla	Buduna, Hoya	+		+
4	Labeo dero	Gardi				+
5	Neolissochilus hexagonolepis	Katle	+	+	+	+
6	Psilorhynchus pseudecheneis	Tite		+	+
7	Schizothorax richardsonii	Buchche asala	+	+	+	+
8	Botia lohachata	Baghi, Sisne			+
9	Pseudecheneis sulcatus	Kabre			+
	Total		4	3	7	5

(Field Survey: July 7-11, 2013)
Table 4.29: Fish Species Observed and Recorded in Sampling Stations (2010)

SN	Scientific Name of Fish	Local Name of Fish	Site N. 1		Site N. 2		Site N. 3
			Observed Species	Reported Species	Observed Species	Reported Species	Observed Species	Reported Species
1	Anguilla bengalensis	Rajbam		+		+		+
2	Bagarius yarrelli	Gonch		+		+		+
3	Barilius barila	Faketa		+		+		+
4	Barilius bendelisis	Fakata		+	+		+
5	Barilius shacra	Fakata		+		+		+
6	Barilius Vagra	Faketa		+	+		+
7	Botia almorhae	baghi		+		+		+
8	Botia lohachata	Chital baghi		+		+		+
9	Clupisoma garua	Jalkapoor		+		+		+
10	Crossocheilus latius	Lohari		+	+			+
11	Garra annandalei	Buduna	+		+		+
12	Garra gotyla	Buduna	+		+		+
13	Glyptosterrum blythi	tilkabre		+		+	+
14	Glyptothorax cavia	Kabre		+		+		+
15	Glyptothorax pectinopterus	Kabre		+		+		+
16	Glyptothorax telchitta	Rato kabre		+		+		+
17	Heteropneustes fossilis	Singhi		+		+		+
18	Labeo angra	Theda		+		+		+
19	Labeo dero	Gardi	+		+		+
20	Mastacembalus armatus	Bam		+		+		+
21	Neolissochilus hexagonolepis	Katle	+	+	+		+
22	Noemachilus beavani	Gadela		+		+		+
23	Noemacheilus botia	Gadela		+		+		+
24	Psedecheneis sulcatus	Kabre		+		+		+
25	Psilorhynchuspseudecheneis	Tite (Endemic)	+		+			+
26	Puntius conchonius	Pothia				+		+
27	Puntius ticto	pothia				+		+
28	Schizothorax progastus	Chuchche asala		+	+		+
29	Schizothorax richardsoni	Buchche asala	+		+		+
30	Tor putitora	Sahar		+		+	+
31	Tor tor	Sahar		+		+		+
	Total		6	23	10	21	10	21

Source: Field visit, 2010

Though the surveyed river stretch is small, there is a distinct difference in the fish species composition from the upstream to downstream section. The downstream section shows the higher number of fish species compared to the upstream areas. Studies elsewhere in Nepalese Himalaya also show the lower fish species composition in the upstream areas than in the downstream areas (Himal Power Ltd. 2006; EIA Middle Marsyangdi, 2001, T. Petr, 2002).

Depending on the river flow, seasons, water depth, food availability and waster temperature, fish species occupy different river stretches, hence, the sampling survey conducted only twice in three years might not have captured the entire composition of fish diversity as reported by the local fishermen. Therefore, to capture the reported diversity composition of the fish species, the sampling study needs to be expanded to other seasons during early stages of construction periods and through commencement of operations.This sampling will be started during a monsoon season in 2013 and will be followed up in the project’s EPM. As part of the EMP, the sampling stations upto 10 km upstream of the headworks are supposed to obtain more information on the fish species gradient in the river (refer Section 6.1.1.2, chapter VI and Section 8.3, Chapter VIII for details of the potential sampling stations).