Geospatial Analysis of Soil Erosion and Associated Geomorphic Hazards in Mahur Watershed, Dima Hasao District of Assam, North-East India

Most of the mountainous regions in subtropical monsoon-dominated climatic zone experiences considerable soil erosion and related land degradation due to natural factors. Soil erosion by water is frequently regarded as the most severe form of land degradation, with substantial environmental and economic consequences, which is exacerbated by human-caused activities and has an impact on agricultural production, water resource sustainability, and ecological conservation.Mahur watershed, located in Dima Hasao District of Assam in the eastern Himalaya region, is highly vulnerable to erosionand associated geomorphic hazards due to high rainfall, young and highly erodible rock formations, fragmented reshaping geomorphology, and high soil erodibility impacting both land stability and local communities specially during monsoon season. Despite this, anthropogenic activities such as growing unplanned development, silt extraction from rivers, and shifting cultivation techniques have increased the geo-environmental sensitivity to erosion hazards in Mahur Watershed. By using Remote Sensing and GIS tools, this paper tries to understand the soil erosion characteristics, identify high-risk areas and evaluate geomorphic hazards in Mahur watershed of Dima Hasao district of Assam.

Keywords: Geospatial analysis, Soil erosion, Geomorphic Hazards Mahur watershed, North East India.