The Mahanadi river originates in the Amarkantak hills of the Bastar Plateau near Pharasiya village in Raipur district of Chhatisgarh and traverses a total distance of 851 km (in Odisha 496 km) before falling into the Bay of Bengal. The river enters Odisha through Sambalpur and flows through Sonepur, Boudh, Angul, Nayagarh, Cuttack and Jagatisinghpur districts and enters Kendrapara district in south at Raipur of Mahakalpada Block. Then it passes through Khursia, Kulla and embraces the river Luna at Chaumuhani. Then it makes its passage to Bahukud, Hetamundia and finally meets the Bay of Bengal near the False Point at 20º 18’ N. and 86º 43’ E. The estuarine ecological system of river mouth of Mahanadi is very rich in diversified mangrove flora and fauna including rich aviaries. This is the land of rookeries of many reptiles and birds and fishes. This eco-system controls the regional climate of this tract and saves the seacoast from sea erosion. The massive flora and fauna of this region sustains the livelihoods of lakhs of people. The deltaic coast is vulnerable to natural hazards like storms/ cyclones apart from high river floods. The continuous increase in number and intensity of extreme weather events in the region possess a threat to the biodiversity as well as the lives and livelihoods of people living in and around the area. The climate change induced sea-level rise is also a threat to the ecosystem of the area.