An Inland wetland of Man-made origin located in the Dry Zone of the Southern province. Lunugamvehera is a multi-purpose reservoir constructed in 1987 by damming the Kirindi Oya. Five downstream reservoirs (Debera Wewa, Tissa Wewa, Yoda Wewa, Pannegamuwa and Wirawila reservoir) receive about 30% of their inflow from this reservoir. The reservoir and its catchment falls within the Lunugamvehera National Park, which is rich in biodiversity and an important habitat for many water birds and elephants. Vegetation includes different stages of forest succession along with scrub/grassland mosaics. Shifting cultivation has caused degradation of the forest communities to open thorny scrub and grassland communities. The dense forest, which is dry mixed evergreen, is dominated by Dryptes sepiaria, Manilkara hexandra, Schleichera oleosa, Lannea coromandelia etc. Dominant grassland species include Chloris montana , Eragrostis spp., Ischaemum spp., Cynodon dactylon, etc. Teak and Eucalyptus plantations are also found in the National Park. Tree species such as Dryptes sepiaria and Manilkara hexandra found in the dry-mixed evergreen forest bordering the reservoir are important timber species. The vertebrate fauna include 21 fish, 12 amphibians, 33 reptiles, 184 birds and 43 mammals. Freshwater fish in the reservoir is dominated by the introduced Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.). Among the amphibians, Bufo atukoralei and Rana gracilis are endemic. Aquatic reptiles include Crocodylus palustris. The reservoir is home to several large water birds (i.e. Ardea cinerea, Threskiornis melanocephalus, Anastomus oscitans, Mycteria leucocephala, Pelecanus philippensis), and functions as an important source of water for wildlife in the National Park, including large herds of Elephas maximus.

Lunugamvehera Reservoir Related references