Oxbow Lake Environment and Management of Ichhamati River Basin, West Bengal

Ichhamati river and its branches form one of the largest oxbow lake complex at Bangaon region of North 24-Parganas district. West Bengal. Among this lake complex, six lakes were seasonally surveyed during 1996-97 and 1997-98 and other four were explored during 1990-91. These oxbows had relatively rich faunal diversity including a variety of water birds. About s'txly species of fishes, seven species of amphibians, nine species of reptiies and various taxonomic categories of lower life-forms like insects (46 species), crustaceans (10 species), annelids (6 species), molluscs (23 species), and zooplankton (48 species) were recorded from oxbow waters. Besides agricultural and anthropogenic stresses, weed infestation particulariy with water hyacinth. Eichhoniia crassipes is a major concern devouring surface of lake waters. The results of environmental studies on water characteristics, lake flora and fauna, piscicultural activities as well as management practices and problems associated with these riverine wetlands of West Bengal have been discussed.