Title:
Updating the identification of the reference conditions in lake water bodies and updating the classification of the water body types according to the provisions of the WFD and based on the results of the contract YY 06/2013 (Tender # 02/2016Δ, WDD)

Duration:   
9 months (March 2016 – December 2016)

Funded by:   
Water Development Department (Republic of Cyprus)

Project partners: 
Marine & Environmental Research (MER) Lab Ltd, Cyprus
Professor Dr Maria Moustaka-Gouni – Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Department of Biology), Greece
Dr Matina Katsiapi – Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Department of Biology), Greece

Project Description:
This project funded by the Water Development Department, started in March 2016, with collaborations from the Department of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

The project aimed to update and determine the final reference conditions, according to the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EU in conjunction with the results obtained from implementing the Convention YY06/2013, for the following four types of natural lake water bodies found around the island of Cyprus:

  • LB1: Larnaca main salt lake, Lake Soros and Orfani (Larnaca)
  • LB2: Akrotiri salt lake (Limassol)
  • LB3: Paralimni lake (Famagusta)
  • LB4: Oroklini lake (Larnaca)

 

The project also explored the possibility of updating the classification types of the lakes, including the characterization of Oroklini Lake, which was added as a water body in the 2nd River Basin Management Plans of Cyprus. Finally, the project report included recommendations for future actions concerning the monitoring program, the development of valuation and classification systems and more.

Biological, hydromorphological and physicochemical quality elements were examined throughout the year and suggestions were provided for future monitoring plans. A special emphasis was given to sampling and analysis of plankton biological quality elements (BQEs) and included phytoplankton composition, abundance, biomass and chlorophyll a, and zooplankton. Many planktonic producer species were identified belonging to the families: Bacillariophyceae, Chrysophyceae, Prymnesiophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Cryptophyceae, Dinophyceae, Prasinophyceae, Conjugatophyceae and Cyanobacteria, and planktonic consumer (zooplankton) species belonging to the taxa: Rotifera, Ostracoda, Anostraca, Copepoda, Cladocera. The BQE sampling was complemented with hydromorphological and physicochemical data (temperature, pH, concentrations of: NO3–, NO2–, NH4+, PO43-, TN, and TP).

The report was submitted to WDD in December of 2016.