Pong Dam Lake

Overview
Pong is a recently created water storage reservoir on the Beas river in the foothills of the Himalaya on the northern edge of the Indo - Gangetic plain. The Dhauladhar mountain range forms a backdrop to the lake. The size of Pong Dam lake and its location in the extreme northwest of the northern plains make it a suitable habitat for migratory birds entering the plains of India from Central Asia. Over 220 bird species belonging to 54 families have been recorded. Pong Dam lake has been declared as Ramsar Site in No vem ber 2002.

Justification for Designation as Ramsar Site
The environs of the Pong Dam Lake support a good bird diversity. More than 220 bird species be long ing to 54 families have been identified so far. The present waterfowl diversity of the bird sanctuary is rich. It supports 54 species of waterfowl as compared to 39 reported before creation of the dam.
The sanctuary is an important staging area for an annual migratory waterfowl population of more than 20,000 birds comprising mainly of barheaded geese Anser indicus, northern lapwing Vanellus vanellus, ruddy shel duck Tadorna ferruginea,pintail Anas acuta, common teal Anas crecca, mallard Anas platyrhynchos, and coot Fulica atra.
The redheaded grebe Podiceps griseigena was recorded from this reservoir for the first time in India. This gives the area national as well as international significance for the conservation of several waterfowl.
The lake harbours 27 fish species which depend on it for food, spawning ground and nursery.

Biodiversity Values

Flora
There is some submerged vegetation in the reservoir, but because of the pronounced seasonal changes in water level, the shoreline does not support extensive areas of emergent vegetation. The surrounding hill sides have mixed deciduous and pine (Pinus roxburghii) forest.

Fauna
The blackheaded gull, great blackheaded gull and herring gull species which are fairly uncommon in India away from the coast, visit the reservoir each winter, which acts as an important staging area for migrants such as barheaded geese and northern lapwing while five species, namely ruddy shelduck, pintail, common teal, mallard and coot, winter at the reservoir in thousands. A total of 27 fish species be longing to six families have been encountered in the Pong reservoir. Pong reservoir may be categorized as a cat fish reservoir. Mystus seenghala has been showing constant increase during the last 10 years. Mahseer, Tor putitora is highly precious and sought - after fish of the Pong reservoir.


Social & Cultural Values
Prior to the impoundment of the river Beas, a subsistence fishery of inconsequential nature existed in the river and adjoining streams and the average catch hardly exceeded 2-4 kg per fishermen per day, but with the creation of the reservoir, a lucrative fishery started attracting large number of fishermen and the oustees who had no other viable means of livelihood. The commercial fishing in the reservoir was initiated soon after. The total catch during the first year of fishing operation was 98 tonnes and increased progressively attaining a peak of 779 tones (1987-1988), fluctuating within a narrow range of 443-596 tonnes. The catches of mahseer in the reservoir has shown remarkable consistency during the past 10 years and landings have fluctuated between 50-80 tonnes. The highest catches of mahseer were recorded during 1997- 98. Pong Dam is probably the only reservoir in the country, which provides the which provides the opportunity of Mahseer an gling.

Threats
Certain migratory species of fishes like golden mahseer, snow trout and carp are fighting for existence since the reservoir came up and commercial species were introduced.
Fishing and cultivation along the shoreline are a source of some disturbance, but there is reported to be little poaching.

The most serious threat comes from agriculture and forestry malpractices in the water catchment area.

 Conservation Measures
In 1986,the entire reservoir was declared as a Wildlife Sanctuary by the Himachal Pradesh government. A management plan for the Pong Dam Bird Sanctuary mainly addresses issues inside the Protected Area bound a ries such as, protection, habitat improvement, tourism and regulation, roads and staff quarters, etc. The State forest department has undertaken plantation work in the peripheral area of the lake. This has been done for checking the silt as well as providing nesting and roosting places for the birds. The island of Ransar has been developed for nature conservation education, complete with rest house and boat facility.