Hi Yadav,

Your plan would be the most practical where you asses the biodiversity at various lengths from the dam and correlate biodiversity values or factors to the distance from the dam. I am working on

quite a similar topic. Most people look for fishes or aquatic biodiversity. I am looking at riparian biodiversity.

Ideally, the biodiversity or any index of biodiversity you use, should correlate and then from based on your samples, you may prioritise areas as low, moderate and high impacted areas.

A dam could affect different species in various ways, some may benefit, others impacted to varying degrees. A dam may promote other activities as boating, swimming, fishing, hunting, etc. which may have impacts. Dams sometimes promote land development, industry, urbanization, etc. Trying to estimate all the direct, indirect and cumulative effects is often best undertaken by various technical experts such as hydrologist, fish biologist, wildlife biologist, botanist, engineer, recreation specialists, etc. There may be upstream and downstream impacts to also consider.

Agreed with Dr. Hansen. Further, Landslide Susceptibility Mapping studies in parts of Reservoir area (the area falling in hilly terrain) may be carried out by professional Geologists/Geoscientists, to delineate various zones of susceptibility (say high, moderate, low) in reservoir area.