 Assan
Barrage Bird Sanctuary
Location:
40 kms west of Dehradun, in the west of Dehradun valley on
Dehradun-Paonta Road.
Famous Activity:
Bird Watching
Popularly Known As:
Dhalipur Lake
Assan
Barrage Bird Sanctuary- A Bird Watchers Paradise
The Asan Barrage, popularly known as
Dhalipur lake, was created in the year 1967 as a result of the
construction of Asan barrage at the confluence of the river Yamuna &
Asan through Dhalipur power house. Asan Barrage is famous for bird
watching.
About Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary:
The Asan reservoir attracts 53 species
of water birds of which 19 are winter migrants from Eurasia. During
winter months 90% of the waterbird population comprises the following 11
migratory species, namely Brahminy Duck, Pintail, Red Crested Pochard,
Gadwall, Common Pochard, Mallard, Coot, Wigeon, Common Teal, Tufted
Duck, and Shoveller.
Topography of Assan Barrage Bird
Sanctuary
The Asan Reservoir is a small man-made
wetland of ca. 4 sq km area, located 40 km west of Dehradun, in the west
of Dehradun valley on Dehradun-Paonta road. Geographically it is
situated between latitude 30o 24'-30o 28' N and longitude 77o 40'-77o
44' E, near the confluence of the rivers Asan and Yamuna. The barrage is
287.5 m long, the river bed being 389.4 m above sea level, with minimum
and maximum water levels respectively at 402.4 m and 403.3 m asl.
The Asan reservoir exists throughout
the year and is fed from the river Asan and the discharge channel of
Yamuna through Dhalipur powerhouse. Although the water level is
controlled, it often goes down, and swampy islands in the middle become
visible, attracting a variety of marsh-loving birds like Egrets, Herons
and Lapwings, etc.
Climate (Assan Barrage Bird
Sanctuary):
The reservoir has a typical North
Indian monsoon climate, with distinct summer and winter months.
Temperature: summer, max.38o C, min. 14o C;
winter max. 21o C, min. 2o C;
Average Rainfall 250 cm; South West monsoon during June to September.
Vegetation & Flora in Assan Barrage
Bird Sanctuary:
The aquatic vegetation of the reservoir
consists of Eichhornia crassips, Potamogeton pectinatus, Typha
elephantina, and Ceratophyllum demersum. The surrounding bushes include
Xanthium strumarium, Eclipta prostrata, Ipomoea sp., Mimosa pudica,
Achyranthus aspera, Polygonum glabrum, P. lanigerum, Aeschynomene sp.,
Ageratum conyzoides, phyllanthus sp., Monochoria hastata, Mosla
dianthera, and Lantana camara. On the southern side, agricultural fields
surround the barrage. Further south there is mixed forest in Siwaliks
comprising principally Shorea robusta, Anogeissus Latifolia, Lannea
coromandelica, Dalbergia sissoo, and Bombax ceiba.
Birding Season:
Arrival & Departure
October November December March-end
Or Early April, Sometimes April- end
Access (Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary):
Road:
The peripheral road has become a preferred route from Himachal, Punjab,
Haryana and Chandigarh resulting in great traffic.
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