ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces reservoirs and canals as water management strategies for use under climate change constraints. Ladakhi villages have historically used various types of reservoirs and canals in planning the irrigation of gravity-fed croplands, but these systems can be improved through a variety of measures to enhance productivity. This chapter discusses the mechanics of these systems, and introduces the reader to various components. Reservoirs and canals are part of a much broader effort to conserve and reroute scarce water resources in Ladakh, and they can be tailored to work with other types of climate-adaptive design ideas. Benefits and limitations of reservoirs and canals are discussed, as well as new design directions. Finally, the chapter suggests that these types of infrastructural landscapes can have a multifunctional use, such as the appropriation of zings for ice skating during winter months.
