Human role in shaping the hydromorphology of Himalayan rivers: study of the Tista River in Darjeeling Himalaya

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the hydromorphological state (the degree of naturalness and anthropogenic transformation) of Himalayan rivers and to determine the role of human activity in shaping their hydromorphology. The study was conducted in the valley of the Tista River in Darjeeling Himalaya. The field research was carried out in selected channel sections with and without noticeable human interference. The assessment of the hydromorphological state was conducted on the basis of the River Habitat Survey method. The analysis of research results shows that the habitat quality of the river sections with noticeable human interference is not significantly different from that in the sections without noticeable anthropogenic pressure.