Location: in Aurangabad district,
180 km northeast of Pune, Maharashtra
Area: 40,000 ha at maximum extent
Altitude: 465 m
Description of site: A large water-storage reservoir,
some 56 km long and up to 27 km wide, formed behind the Jayakwadi Dam on the
uppermost reaches of the Godavari river. The shoreline supports little emergent
vegetation. Seven seasonal streams and two perennial or near-perennial streams
feed the lake. In years of normal monsoon rains, the reservoir fills up in
September and October to a maximum depth of 32 m. A pH value of 8.0 has been
recorded. The surroundings are generally rather arid, with irrigated areas
of cotton, pulses, and other crops.
The reservoir was declared a bird sanctuary in 1986; however, the boundary of the sanctuary has not yet been demarcated and neither has any staff been recruited
Climatic conditions: Semi-arid, tropical monsoon
climate, with an average annual rainfall of 359 mm, a maximum temperature
of 44�C, and a minimum temperature of 10�C
Principal vegetation: The aquatic vegetation includes
species of Chars, Spirogyra, Hydrilla, Potamogeton, and Vallisneria. Argemone
mexicana occurs in surrounding areas
Land tenure: The reservoir is state-owned (Government of
Maharashtra); surrounding areas are privately owned Conservation measures
taken: The reservoir was gazetted as a Bird Sanctuary in November 1986. Hunting,
including both trapping and shooting, is prohibited
Conservation measures proposed: There are plans to plant
trees around the margin of the lake
Land use: Fishing and water supply for irrigation and domestic
use; agriculture and plantation forestry in surrounding areas
Disturbances and threats: Trapping and shooting of birds
continue to a limited extent, despite the ban on hunting
Economic and social values: The waters of the lake supply
neighbouring agricultural land and urban area
Fauna: In years of adequate rainfall, the reservoir is an important wintering area for migratory waterfowl. In January 1987, following several years of low rainfall, relatively few birds were obseved; these
included:
106 Tachybaptus ruficollis
220 Phalacrocorax niger
17 Anastomus oscitans
11 Ciconia espiscopus
38 Threskiornis melanocephalus
80 Nettapus coromandelianus
810 Anas penelope
200 Aythya ferina
50 A. nyroca
1650 A. fuligula
3750 Fulica atra
385 Glareola lactea
90 Gelochelidon nilotica
The reservoir is a very important roosting site for demoiselle cranes (Anthropoides virgo); some 3085 were recorded in January 1987
The lake is reported to be rich in fishes, freshwater molluscs and crustaceans
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