The Sharavathi River Basin is one of the most ecologically significant river systems in the Western Ghats, shaped by tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, steep gradients, and high rainfall. Originating at Ambutheertha in Shivamogga district, the river flows westward to the Arabian Sea, supporting rich biodiversity and forest-dependent communities along its course. Over the decades, the basin has been heavily altered by large hydropower projects, making it central to Karnataka’s hydropower generation. Today, the Sharavathi reflects the growing tension between the ecological integrity of forests and wildlife sanctuaries, energy infrastructure, and river conservation in the Western Ghats.