Asan Barrage

The wetland at Asan Barrage, is situated near the confluence of two perennial rivers Asan and Yamuna. The lake attracts a large number of waterfowl, both waders and divers. The birds listed as globally threatened species and in the IUCN Red Data Book have been observed at Asan. Though it may not be large in size, the sheer abundance of Avifauna makes it an ideal place for bird lovers, Ornithologists and Naturalists alike, who can travel easily up to the site, and see thousands of birds who have travelled miles to be there. To watch a mallard or a red crested pochard, gently swimming a few hundred yards in wilderness is indeed an unforgettable sight.

Asan Barrage serves as a winter passage halt for trans-Himalayan migratory birds. These birds are spotted here on their way to southern India (October-November) and again on their way back (late February-March). By the end of October the Asan witnesses the arrival of migrants from Pale arctic region. The first to arrive is the shoveller followed by ruddy shelduck, mallard, coot, cormorant, egrets, wagtails, pond heron to name a few.

Birds of prey like pallas fishing eagle, marsh harrier, greater spotted eagle, osprey and steppe eagle add to this magnificent diversity. Asan has the privilege of hosting a more than thirty year old nesting site of the Pallas Fishing Eagle, which it reconstructs every winter. While, rest of the year this nest is shared by other birds of prey. During winter months 90% of the waterbird population comprises the following 11 migratory species, namely brahminy duck, pintail, red crested pochard, gadwall, common pochard, mallard, coot, wigeon, common teal, tufted duck, shoveller.

Arrival			Departure
October	November	December	March/April
Greylag Brahminy C.Teal Mallard C. Pochard	Gadwall Wigeon RC pochard Tufted	Pintail Shoveller	March-end or Early April, Sometimes April-end

Winters might be the most exciting season for the bird lovers, but for the serious birdwatcher the other months of the year (early May to September end) offer just as exciting opportunities to see local migrants like painted stork, open billed stork, night heron. A flock of 25- 40 painted storks can be seen in these months every year.

Facts

The Asan Reservoir is a small man-made wetland of ca. 4 sq km area, located 40 km west of Dehradun, in the west of Dehradun valley on Dehradun-Paonta road. Geographically it is situated between latitude 30° 24’-30° 28’ N and longitude 77° 40’-77° 44’ E, near the confluence of the rivers Asan and Yamuna. The barrage is 287.5 m long, the river bed being 389.4 m above sea level, with minimum and maximum water levels respectively at 402.4 m and 403.3 m asl. The Asan reservoir exists throughout the year and is fed from the river Asan and the discharge channel of Yamuna through Dhalipur power house. Although the water level is controlled, it often goes down, and swampy islands in the middle become visible, attracting a variety of marsh-loving birds like egrets, herons and lapwings etc..

Climate North Indian monsoon climate, with distinct summer and winter months.

Temp :
       Summers : max.38° C, min. 14° C;
       Winters : max. 21° C, min. 2° C;
       Average Rainfall : 250 cm;

Monsoons during June to September.