Commissioned by: Matheran Municipal Council

Project initiated in 2006

Charlotte Lake is one of the main water resources of the Matheran Plateau located in the Matheran Malang Gad hill range in Maharashtra, India. Covering a mean area of three acres; it is the only drinking water reservoir located on the plateau. It is situated next to the Pisarnath temple and is also a major tourist spot. The lake was constructed by the British by damming the Pisarnath stream to serve as the water resource for Matheran hill station. However today, with the growing water demands of the plateau and augmentation of water supply by pumping water from the Ulhas River, this lake has become a secondary source of water for the plateau. The catchment area of the lake has been affected by various factors such as development, soil erosion etc. The study deals with a detailed mapping of the environmental features of the watershed for the Charlotte lake and identification of the agents of degradation, natural and man made, which have affected the lake. The study then puts forth a proposal for the ecological sustainability of the Charlotte lake area and restoration and ecological landscape development of the lake area for encouragement of tourism.