The study deals with the analysis of surface and groundwater flow process in Dakshina Kannada district in Western Ghats of Karnataka. The area receives over 4000 mm rainfall annually but is still faced with acute shortage of freshwater during summer months. The study attempts to identify the surface and sub-surface flow process through geohydrological and geomorphological investigations in the Sithanadhi and Netravathi basins.

The distribution of rainfall has been analyzed to comprehend its importance in peak discharge, basin yield and recharge to groundwater aquifer. The annual rainfall departure analysis indicates deviation from normal rainfall over a period of time. The probability analysis of annual rainfall is used to predict the relative frequency of occurrence in different group of intervals of annual rainfall.

The rainfall recharge and discharge condition of the study area is reflective of the relationship between water level fluctuation and monthly rainfall. Water balance components such as precipitation, surface runoff, baseflow, wetting and vaporization are estimated to analyze each component with respect to annual precipitation using the conceptual catchment water balance model and relationship between the components.

Geomorphological parameters which influence the movement of water and thereby the runoff volume are analyzed. Land use, land cover and geology have been studied to understand their effect on runoff processes since abstraction in the basin depends on them. The range of infiltration rate is correlated with surface runoff, recharge and drainage condition.

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