Lake Management, Criteria

Lakes are of importance for their heritage, ecological and aesthetical value. However, lakes are subjected to enormous pressure from industry emissions, sewage, agricultural run-off, hydrological modifications and human induced climate changes. These are responsible for the six major pressures affecting lakes today: 1) excessive inputs of nutrients leading to eutrophication; 2) hydromorphological modifications; 3) acidification; 4) alien species; 5) hazardous substances; 6) climate changes. Effective management is therefore of critical importance for lake preservation as both heritage asset and also as a resource benefiting for human population and requires a focus on criteria indicative of these pressures. Having a comprehensive suite of criteria at a lake manager¿s disposal will allow the evaluation of the extent of pressure affecting a lake and its influence on the ecosystem¿s structure and functioning. The appropriate unit of management of water quality is at watershed level and it is in this context that criteria relating to pressures in lakes should be incorporated into a decision support system to allow interpretation regarding their influence on the structure and functioning of lake ecosystems. The usefulness of criteria should be reevaluated both in context of their ability to reflect pressure and also their relevance to lake biota.

CARDOSO Ana;  FREE Gary;  NOGES Peeter;  KASTE Øyvind;  POIKANE Sandra;  SOLHEIM Anne Lyche; 

2009-04-02

Elsevier

JRC42527

978-0-12-370626-3,   

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-012370626-3.00244-1,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC42527,   

10.1016/B978-012370626-3.00244-1,