Climate Change Impact on Fresh Water Flow and Hydropower in the Himalayan Region

Abstract

This paper examines how climate change is reshaping the hydrological dynamics and hydropower infrastructure development in the Upper Ganges Basin of Uttarakhand, India. Drawing on field observations, consulting project experience, and multi-methodology hydrological analysis, the study identifies critical vulnerabilities affecting hydropower projects: sediment accumulation from landslides, Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), avalanche events, and seismicinduced erosion. Two major disaster events, the 2013 Kedarnath floods and the 2021 Chamoli rockslide-triggered flash flood, serve as case studies demonstrating compounding climate and structural hazards. The analysis emphasizes the urgent need for integrated risk assessment, real-time monitoring systems, and adaptive design standards for sustainable hydropower development in high-mountain regions vulnerable to rapid climate change.