Hello! I am Kumkum Bhattacharyya, involved with the research activities in the ORNHIC of The Institute for Natural Resources at Oregon State University. We are working on a project entitled ‘Oregon Explorer Wetland Portal’ and developing a statewide coverage for wetlands for Oregon State. I am also developing a research on human-environment interaction within the fluvial environment (Damodar River) informed by Geographic Information System (GIS).I did my Ph.D research on a regulated river, the Damodar, a subsystem of the Ganga River in India. The harnessing of the Damodar River is governed by the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), a body modeled on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) of the United States, and has been managed by a central authority for about sixty years.My research presents a comprehensive evaluation of the Damodar River that has been controlled using embankments, weirs, barrages and dams. I assessed the impact of control measures on the Damodar River and studied human interaction with natural environment in altering the riverine environment. My approach to the Damodar River interweaves human aspects of river control with analysis of objective biophysical data.The lives and perceptions of riverbed dwellers stand side by side with the physical changes that have taken place in the river itself. A historical approach has been taken to understand the present condition of a river and its historical change over the last few centuries. This study also addresses the way in which people, ranging from refugees to local settlers, driven by diverse cultural, economic, religious, and political forces, have transformed the fluvial landscape.
As a field researcher, I lived in the Damodar River-bed sandbars or islands, locally known as 'char' or 'mana' in order to observe and interview people living on the flood prone sandbars as well as to collect information on floods, water resources, reservoir release, land use planning, flood plain zoning, human perception and adjustment while living with floods and dams.
Valuable long-term data from multiple sources, some dating back to more than a century, has been used to track flow and sediment regime and the occurrence of floods for pre-dam and post-dam periods. Data from topographical maps, cadastral or mouza maps, satellite images and geocoded imagery has been consolidated in order to study channel characteristics and formation and evolution of sandbars. Detailed field surveys of local land users of charlands or islands have been presented in my book (under process) in order to assess human perception, adaptation and resource management in the alluvial bars.
This information can help in preparation of Master Plan for integrated development and utilization of Damodar Valley water resources and for harnessing untapped potential including surface water flow during monsoon season. This information will also help in designing, managing and implementing a Master Plan for socio-economic development of the inhabitants in the riverine regime. Lessons learned from this case study can be used to guide the planning and management of rivers of similar nature in India as well as outside India.
In commenting on this study, Prof. M. Gordon Wolman, Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University wrote- "Bhattacharyya's superb study describes and analyzes the interrelationship of geomorphic setting, resource base, perceived environment and social space as well as the role of legal structures, economic geography and infrastructure in accounting for the way society has adapted to, altered and utilized a once natural dynamic environment. Through historical reconstruction of the riverine scene along with marshalling of data on river behaviorand social change, including the presentation of detailed studies of settlements within the alluvial bottomland brought to life with excellent maps, the author makes clear how people, ranging from refugees to local settlers have transformed the landscape driven by diverse cultural, economic, religious, and political forces.The author's description of the sophisticated way in which environment, social status, and culture are interwoven in the distribution of crops and associated microtopography is masterful".
I have post-doctoral research experience at the University of California, Berkeley. We worked on sediment management in aging reservoirs and reviewed status of reservoir sedimentation in California/India and tried to provide measures that can be taken for the effective management of sediment to prolong the operational life of reservoirs. I continued working on Reservoir Sedimentation using GIS facilities from the University of Washington, Seattle. Due to non-availability of all data sets research is still in progress. I have teaching experience at community college with the Washington State. I also worked at Washington State Department of Ecology. We worked closely with the team of Ecology in identifying and elaborating vision, strategies and tactics to assess business needs, define requirements and implement solutions within in-house database system. We analyzed environmental and cleanup site information in prioritizing cleanup work.
I am also very much interested in things other than Geography/GIS, such as music, painting and visiting places of geographical, historical and archeological importance with my family, I like observing monsoon rainfall, watching birds and playing with kids.
Central Water Commission
Damodar Valley Corporation
Department of Ecology
Environmental System Research Institute (ESRI)
Environmental System Research Institute (ESRI)
International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD)
International Water Resources Association (IWRA)
International Water History Association
International Rivers Network
National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organization (NATMO)
The Johns Hopkins University
The University of Burdwan
The University of California, Berkeley
The World Commission on Dams
Third World Center for Water Management
US. Geological Survey