Objective
A reasonable compromise between the unavoidable necessity to use natural water resources and the possible deterioration of the water quality caused by overexploitation and anthropogenic contamination may be reached only on the basis of scientifically sound management strategy. Realisation of any management program must start from concrete definitions of usually poorly defined basic terms and concepts, such as "water quality", "indices of water quality", "goals and criteria of management". Regarding natural lakes, all partners in the process of management must accept such a system: water policy makers, water suppliers and users, and limnologists. This socio-ecological problem is especially important for lakes forming a unique natural complex, like lakes Naroch, Miastro and Batorino, which plays an important role in the economy and social structure of Belarus.
The main objective of the proposed research is:
to establish a system of water quality indices for Belarus lakes for quantitative estimations of their state, sustainability for use as natural resources and stability as regards their trophic state, nutrient loading and toxic contamination.
To reach this goal, the following scientific tasks will be addressed:
- to devise a system of water quality indices according to the requirements of water use;
- to establish normal values (corresponding to natural, reference conditions) of the chosen set of indices;
- to estimate environmental sensitivity and stability of the studied lakes by applying mathematical models of fluxes for suspended matter, phosphorus and selected metals.
To establish a system of water quality indices as a basis for development of a scientifically sound system of optimal water management for the Naroch lakes, the following stages have to be realised:
1) Identification of object of management;
2) Definition and classification of water use;
3) Establishment of goals and criteria;
4) Definition of water quality indices and their permissible ranges.
A quantitative modification of the method of "expert panel" will be used, in which experts are asked to define criteria, indices and standards of water quality for various uses of a given water resource. The experience in establishment of the system of water quality indices in Sweden and Israel will be used. The adoption of this approach to the Naroch lakes may serve to simplify the arduous task of resolving conflicts among the various divergent uses and special interest groups and to exacerbate the development of a sound management policy. The sensitivity and stability of the Naroch Lakes to external disturbances will be estimated using developed mathematical models of fluxes of cycles of key components: phosphorus and suspended matter, and some selected toxic substances (probably mercury and radiocesium). The newly developed mixed model for phosphorus and models of the cycling of contaminants in lakes will be applied.
The results of this study will be presented as recommendations to the Governmental Environmental Agencies of Belarus. To our knowledge, this will be the first endeavour to establish the system of water quality indices for the system of lakes in the Republics of the former Soviet Union (NIS), which will be an important step toward a more objective, common platform for management of natural resources. It will enable the development of ecologically relevant measures of the current conditions in the Naroch lakes relative to some desired (natural) conditions, and practically useful strategies for various, ecologically relevant and cost-efficient remedial approaches.
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
Data not availableCoordinator
75236 UPPSALA
Sweden