Assessing Land Use/Land Cover Dynamics and its Impact on the Water Chemistry of World Famous Dal Lake, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir Dar Rafi Ramzan Research Scholar, Aligarh Muslim University, India Online published on 1 June, 2016. Abstract Dal Lake, the second largest wetland of Kashmir Valley after Wular, occupies a significant position in the physical settings of Kashmir not only because of its magnificent beauty but also for its vibrancy to sustain within itself a life that is unique to anywhere on the Globe. However, being a wetland in the heart of Srinagar, it has been victim of the changing land use. In this study, the author has tried to assess the land use/land cover dynamics in and around Dal Lake over a period of thirty three years (1981–2014) and its impact on the water chemistry of the lake. The main causes responsible for the change have also been highlighted. It has been found that municipal and domestic effluents, excessive sedimentation, agricultural activities within and on its periphery of the lake, urbanization and mushrooming of hotels have altered the water chemistry and overall health of Dal that needs to be addressed seriously. The study is based on secondary sources of data that have been collected from Lands and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) of Srinagar and Town Planning Department, Srinagar. Land Use/Land cover map of 2014 has been prepared by using IRS-1D-LISS III and PAN merged satellite imageries. This study has come up with some important findings like Dal Lake has witnessed large scale changes in Land use/Land cover in the last three decades wherein urban area has increased and the lake area has lost drastically. Besides, the lake has passed through several stages of eutrophic evolution primarily on account of point and non-point sources. Finally, this study has provided some practical suggestions and substantial measures in order to stop further degradation of this World famous Lake and regain its lost glory and grandeur. Top Keywords Dal Lake, Kashmir Valley, Land use, Land cover, Water chemistry. Top |