Community initiatives in building and managing temporary check-dams across seasonal streams for water harvesting in South India

We analyze traditional community initiatives in building and managing temporary check-dams across seasonal streams in Kumbadaje panchayat in the state of Kerala in India. This is a fairly successful system, functioning for decades in the study area. Check-dams overcome water scarcity faced by farmers during the summer irrigation season and thereby play a crucial role in farming. We identify issues in the management of check-dams, noting how this traditional water harvesting and conservation system suits the local geographic conditions and needs to be sustained and promoted. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.