Assessing the trophic status of Lake Mikri Prespa, Greece

Abstract

Lake Mikri Prespa is a shallow water basin characterized by unstable thermal stratification, primary dimictic conditions and clinograde distribution of dissolved oxygen.The nutrient concentrations are high, indicating a trend towards eutrophication. Total phosphorus input calculated on the basis of the export coefficient accounting for land-uses and other sources is estimated to be of the order of 15 × 10⁶ kg yr^-1. A mathematical model is applied to assess the trophic status of Lake Mikri Prespa in the light of development projects recently undertaken in its catchment area. Evaluation of the trophic status reveals that the critical and permissible loading for Lake Mikri Prespa are 0.07 and 0.03 gm^-2y^-1, respectively. Present loading of the lake is estimated at 0.27 gm^-2y^-1 indicating that the lake is already at a dangerous level. On the basis of the employed O.E.C.D. relationships, Lake Mikri Prespa is presently classified as mesotrophic to eutrophic.