People’s Perception on Status of Spring Water, Degradation, and Adaptation Measures: A Case Study from Sarpang, Bhutan

Abstract

Springs serve as the primary source of drinking and irrigation water in mountainous region worldwide. Despite the widespread drying up of mountainous springs, the identification of degradation factors at the local level is understudied. This study assessed the status of springs, degradation factors, and potential adaptation measures adopted by local people. The data were collected through household questionnaire survey and field visit in Lhayuel village of Sarpang district. The result confirmed that more than 60% of the people observed decline in spring flow, with older people being more aware of the springs drying up than their younger counterparts. Climate change (x̄ = 4.28), road construction (x̄ = 4.06), and landslides (x̄ = 4.00) were identified as the leading cause of springs drying, based on perceptions measured with a five-point Likert scale. Further, the satellite data showed increasing trend of annual mean temperature (p = .00, R² = .34) and decreasing annual total rainfall (p = .00, R² =.05) over the past 122 years. To address the drying of springs, people implemented various adaptation measures including the artificial expansion of lakes, fencing around springs, minimizing grazing and timber extraction, and planting native tree species around the springs. This study provides a foundation for identifying spring water issues in mountainous regions and establishes a framework for implementing adaptation measures.