Recharging Nepal’s mountain springs

A novel approach for determining where and how to intervene.

In mountainous areas of Nepal, springs are the primary source of water for remote communities, serving as a mainstay of rural livelihoods. Springs are especially critical for dry-season agriculture, because they can provide access to water stored in groundwater aquifers. Discharge from springs is declining, however, possibly as a result of population growth as well as changes in land use (including agricultural expansion and deforestation) and the climate. Recharging and sustaining groundwater aquifers is key for ensuring year-round water availability in connected springs and for reducing the reliance of upland communities on rainfall.

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Originally published in The Kathmandu Post.