In our research we answer the following questions: (1) What are the localized changes in vegetation cover, channel morphology and ground water levels in the vicinity of the three dam sites since the 1980's? (2) Have these check dams had any impacts on local social dynamics and on populations that have traditionally not benefited from economic and social development measures? (3) What are the mutual interactions and feedback between populations and geophysical changes in areas with check dams?
We obtained data on agriculture, demographics, hydrology and vegetation cover in the region from local government and non-government sources. In addition, we conducted geomorphic surveys, focus group discussions and interviews with inhabitants of villages near each dam site to “ground truth” data obtained from official sources, to investigate the effects of the check dams on socio-economic progress by caste, occupation and gender, to elicit local perceptions on ecological changes in the dam surroundings and to evaluate local responses to flooding, erosion and changes in ground water levels. This research is novel in that it analyzes not only the human-environment impacts of check dams in a developing area in the sub-tropics, but also the feed-back mechanisms between humans and the environment in such a locale.