Thol Lake, Location, Sanctuary, Ramsar Site, Biodiversity

Thol Lake is a freshwater artificial wetland near Thol village in Kadi taluka of Mehsana district, Gujarat. It was constructed in 1912 during the Gaekwad regime as an irrigation tank for farmers. The lake covers a water spread of 699 hectares and has a storage capacity of 84 million cubic metres. It was declared a bird sanctuary in 1988 subsequently a Ramsar Site in 2021. Thol Lake is also an important wetland on the Central Asian Flyway.

Thol Lake

Thol Lake combines irrigation history, wetland ecology and bird conservation in the semi arid landscape of North Gujarat.

• Location: Thol Lake lies near Thol village, about 40 km northwest of Ahmedabad.
• Origin: The lake was built in 1912 by the Gaekwad regime to provide irrigation water to farmers. This also established user rights over the lake water.
• Physical Features: The lake is shallow and has a 5.62 km shoreline. Its water spread covers 699 hectares, while its storage capacity is 84 million cubic metres.
• Catchment: Thol Lake drains a catchment area of 15,500 hectares. Its command area is about 1,450 hectares, supporting the original irrigation purpose of the reservoir.
• Climate: The region has winter, summer and monsoon seasons. Annual rainfall averages 600 mm, while recorded temperatures range from 8°C to 43°C.
• Management: The Forest and Irrigation departments of the Government of Gujarat jointly operate and manage Thol Lake and its water resources.
• Protection Status: Thol Lake was notified as a bird sanctuary in November 1988 under Section 18 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. It has also been proposed as an Eco Sensitive Zone under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986.
• Ramsar Recognition: In August 2021, Thol and Wadhwana in Gujarat were recognised as Ramsar Sites along with Sultanpur and Bhindawas in Haryana.

Thol Lake Biodiversity

Thol Lake supports diverse aquatic, marshland and dry region vegetation along with resident and migratory bird populations.

• Bird Diversity: Greater flamingo, Sarus crane, great white pelican, mallard, geese and several waders are prominent species. Thousands of flamingos have been recorded at the wetland.
• Threatened Species: Vulnerable species include Dalmatian pelican, greater spotted eagle, Sarus crane and Indian skimmer. White rumped vulture and Indian vulture are critically endangered.
• Other Fauna: The surrounding landscape supports bluebull, golden jackal and blackbuck, adding terrestrial diversity to the wetland ecosystem.
• Vegetation: Peripheral and wetland vegetation includes Acacia nilotica, A. leucoploea, Zizyphus, Azadirachta indica, Ficus, Salvadora, Prosopis chilensis and Capparis species.
• Habitat: Open water is the dominant habitat, with cropland, fallow land, scrubland and marshy vegetation occurring around the lake.

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Thol Lake Significance

Thol Lake is important for irrigation, wetland conservation, migratory birds and ecological protection in Gujarat’s semi arid landscape.

• Irrigation Value: Thol Lake was originally created to provide irrigation facilities to farmers. Its command area of about 1,450 hectares reflects its agricultural importance.
• Migratory Route: The wetland lies on the Central Asian Flyway. It provides feeding, nesting and wintering habitat for numerous migratory waterbirds.
• Conservation Value: The sanctuary protects important bird populations, including Sarus cranes, flamingos and threatened species. Its Ramsar status strengthens its importance as a wetland of international significance.
• Environmental Role: The lake’s open water, marshes, scrubland and surrounding agricultural areas create varied habitats. These habitats support both aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity.
• Regional Importance: Thol Lake is one of the important wetland ecosystems of North Gujarat. Its conservation links water management, agriculture, biodiversity protection and sustainable wetland use.