[2] The Hokersar wetland, which is the largest bird reserve in the Kashmir Valley,[3] is situated in the Jehlum River basin.

In the spring, the water level rises to as much as 2.4 m (8 ft) due to runoff from snowmelt in the Pir Panjal mountain range.

It serves as an important staging ground for medium and long distance migratory shorebirds, geese, cranes, ducks and other species that breed in the northern latitudes of Siberia and Central Asia.

[3] Hokersar, Haigam and Shallabugh Wetland are protected areas within the Jhelum basin and have also been declared as bird sanctuaries by the government of Jammu & Kashmir.

[1] It falls under India's National Wetlands Conservation Programme and is also included in the network of Important Bird Areas.

Discharge of the domestic waste into the wetland, primarily through the inlet streams, has led to excessive weed growth and eutrophication, both of which pose a great threat to the reserve's flora.