DANGLING TSHO - WOULD IT REMAIN PERPETUALLY

NB
This blog was initially posted on 21st December 2015 but had to be moved due to a problem in assessing the earlier blog. It is re-posted here without any changes. 

I am extremely occupied at the moment due to the absence of my previous assistant, whom I miss greatly, and the impending completion of my data manager's Bachelor's degree within the next six months. Additionally, I am grappling with my M-Sc thesis, which must be submitted by June 30, 2016. However, my current mood is different, and I feel compelled to write about a beautiful lake that I visited officially on November 13, 2015. Perhaps this composition will help alleviate the pressure and anxiety that has been weighing on me.

Apart from my academic obligations, I am inundated with other responsibilities, including organizing and attending a multitude of meetings such as community training, workshops, seminars, collaborative meetings, local government meetings, and local development meetings, among others. I am also required to answer a plethora of questions, both official and private, and participate in various events such as promotional gatherings, Tshechus, nationally celebrated days, and more. These obligations, combined with the daunting task of collating and comprehending complex data for my academic pursuits, can take a toll on one's well-being. I hope that my efforts to make sense of this data are not in vain, resulting in a case of "garbage in, garbage out."

Figure 1: Google map of Dangling Tsho (Courtesy Google)

To get straight to the point, Dangling Tsho is an exquisite lake situated deep within a fir forest (as shown in Figure 1). From my knowledge of geography, I know that it is an ice-fed lake that may completely dry up during the lean season (April and May months), though it has never dried up completely as per reliable sources. According to GPS, the lake's coordinates are 270 14’ 26.19” (latitude) and 910 38’ 30.15” (easting), with an altitude of 11,532 feet. I am providing these technical details because my concern is to preserve the lake's beauty and keep it green - a task that is exceedingly challenging but also fascinating. Although there have been reports (in newspapers, on the radio, and on television) that the lake was much larger in the past but is gradually drying up, I am often asked to provide information to individuals seeking answers, despite not being an expert on the lake's history.

Figure 2: Dangling Tsho as it must be (Photo: Author)

During my visit to Dangling Tsho, I was curious to see its current state for myself. Luckily, I received instructions from my boss to visit the lake in person, and I found it to be in its usual state (as shown in Figure 2). While I understand that many alpine lakes can get lower during lean seasons, I'm not surprised to hear that some people believe Dangling Tsho is nearly dead. In reality, the lake's water table has always been lowered during lean seasons, which leads to a decrease in surface water. Therefore, while the lake drying up might make some sense, I respectfully deny the notion that it used to be full all year round as that would be impossible. For those interested in reading about the lake beyond scientific details, I suggest visiting this link: http://bhutanliterature.blogspot.com/2010/04/tribute-to-ama-jomo-and-meme-dangling.html, which contains a fascinating story about the lake's history.

Moving on to the size of the lake, I had the opportunity to measure it during my visit. I was accompanied by an Environment Officer, a local Forest Ranger, and a Caretaker as we walked around the lake and calculated the area covered by water. Our measurements indicated that the surface area of Dangling Tsho was not more than 1.57 hectares (as shown in Figure 3). As we took in the lake's stunning beauty, we were fortunate to witness a beautiful white duck constantly cleaning its surface (as shown in Figure 4). I couldn't help but feel that the lake's deity was pleased with our presence, as many Bhutanese believe. Although the lake's size might not increase significantly even with a full downpour, submerged areas, and rock outcrops become visible, adding to its allure.

Figure 3: GIS Map of Dangling Tsho (Courtesy: My teammate Tshering Dorji)

Figure 4. A white duck (left to be identified by ornithologists) cleans the lake constantly.

I want to clarify that my observation about alpine lakes lowering their volumes in lean seasons does not necessarily mean that Dhangling Lake has lowered its volume due to the water table lowering. It would be premature to draw any conclusions after just one visit. I need more time to investigate whether the lake's condition is due to geological factors or anthropogenic pressure. If it is due to human activities, it could be related to factors such as the cattle population or the number of households using the surrounding mountains. However, the local mountain people consider the lake to be sacred, so they do not use or pollute it. I spoke with one of the occupants of the pastures around the lake, and they informed me that the cattle population has not increased, but rather decreased over the years. While I need to confirm this information, I believe that the change in the nomads' migration patterns may be a contributing factor. In the past, people would leave the lake alone for several months and shift their base to other places, only returning when the area around the lake was green. However, with development, people have started to use the trails around the lake year-round, which may be impacting the lake's condition.

Figure 5. A nearby resident said the cattle population is constant or less now.

Therefore, the readers of this blog must tell me some possible reasons as to why the lake is diminishing. Well, don’t tell me about climate change because I know Dangling Tsho better.

 

Figure 6: Dangling at its best (Author)

Can the Lake defy all odds to remain perpetually? Let us check its status from time to time and assess its growth, positive or negative because like Munia Khan, "A little tranquil lake is more significant to my life than any big city in the world.

Let this story go on and on for the welfare of the lake as well as for the people of Khaling, Trashigang, and Bhutan.