Geospatial morphometric assessment of the Kumbhi river basin for sustainable water resource management

Morphometric analysis of drainage basins provides crucial insights into the hydrological characteristics of subsurface lithology, as well as the interplay of topography, geology, and climate in governing the spatial organization and morphology of fluvial networks. This study evaluates the hydrological attributes of the Kumbhi River basin, situated between latitudes 16°28'20.77"N to 16°44'0.35"N and longitudes 73°07'13.74"E to 74°49'31.91"E, as delineated on Survey of India (SOI) toposheet 47H/14. The Kumbhi River, originating near Lakhmapur Village (Taluka-Gaganbawada) in Kolhapur District, Maharashtra, serves as a principal tributary of the Panchganga River. Morphometric parameters were computed using advanced geospatial techniques in QGIS 3.16. The fifth-order Kumbhi River basin exhibits a dendritic drainage pattern, with a high stream frequency (5.21/km), infiltration number (14.32), and drainage density (2.75 km/km²), indicative of significant surface runoff potential and a low constant of channel maintenance (0.36). The basin is characterized by a coarse drainage texture and an elongated morphology, contributing to enhanced runoff and limited infiltration capacity. Low values of the Rho coefficient suggest a reduced susceptibility to flood attenuation and increased discharge efficiency. Relief analysis indicates moderate to high elevation variations, implying relatively low to moderate infiltration rates and a predominantly overland flow-dominated hydrological regime. The region exhibits moderate to good groundwater potential. These findings contribute to the systematic classification of river basins, facilitating informed decision-making for sustainable water resource management and the strategic placement of water conservation structures, including check dams, percolation tanks, and artificial recharge systems.