LAKE RESTORATION

Shilpa Gupta 2008UCE559

Saurabh Goyal 2008UCE426
Sayeed Ahmed Masih
2008UCE905

Outline

Introduction
Function of lakes
Degradation of lakes
Lake Restoration Methods
Preventive Or Direct Methods
Ameliorative Or Direct Methods

Case Study

Introduction
Materrials and Methods
Results and Discussions
Integrated Restoration Plans

Introduction
Lake is a very general term used for any
standing water, generally large enough in
area and depth, but irrespective of its
hydrology, ecology, and other characteristics.
These water bodies are used primarily for
drinking water supplies, irrigation and/or
recreation.
Marginal aquatic vegetation is to be promoted
because it checks erosion and helps improve
water quality.

Functions of Lakes
Lakes are majorly for storage of water.
Most riverine lakes (oxbows) play a very important
role in flood mitigation and groundwater recharge.
At the landscape level, large lakes significantly
influence microclimate and therefore influence
biotic diversity.
Man-made lakes have been constructed mostly to
store seasonally available water, usually for urban
water supply and/or irrigation.
Power generation is generally a collateral use.
Groundwater recharge.

Degradation of Lakes
Most lake pollution problems are caused by nutrients,
contaminants, and sediments carried into the lakes. Soil
particles carry more than 90 percent of the organic nitrogen
and phosphorus originating from upland agricultural
practices. Sediments come from all over the land and thus
have nonpoint sources, whereas nutrients can have both
nonpoint and point sources.
In a typical watershed, nutrients may come from sewage,
wastewater, agricultural and urban runoff, and atmospheric
fallout. In recent years, heavy use of fertilizers and
pesticides and high rates of soil erosion have increased the
severity of the problem.
High concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus are the
main causes of algal growth, which results in the
deterioration of the lake water quality.

Washing clothes on lake shore

Buffaloes wading into the lake

Drain carrying waste to the lakes

Trapa cultivation in shallow lake

Lake restoration methods

Restoration of lakes for improvement in
water quality requires therefore
interventions that address both the factors
responsible for an increase in nutrient load
and the accumulated nutrients.
The various lake restoration methods can be
considered under two broad categories:
1) preventive or indirect methods, and
2) ameliorative or direct methods.

Preventive Or Direct
Methods
1. Drainage Basin Alterations: This approach is useful
primarily for controlling nonpoint sources of
pollution which are incidental to the land use of the
drainage basin of the lake.
The drainage basin alterations involve structural and
land treatment measures and interception of
nutrients and sediments before they reach the lake.
The main soil erosion management practices include
terracing, contour farming, grassed waterways,
conservation cropping systems, crop residue
management or increases in the amount of residue
left after harvesting, and creation of shelter belts.

Preventive Or Direct
Methods
2. Diversion of Wastes: This is a frequently-used
solution for improving the water quality of
eutrophic lakes. In the cases cited, sewage
effluents were the main source of lake
eutrophication. Their diversion resulted in a marked
improvement in quality as measured by increase in
transparency, decrease in phytoplankton biomass,
and increase in species diversity.
3. Legal Control Measures: Some political jurisdictions
can impose legal controls on the land use and
discharge of nutrients so as to restrict uses with
direct or indirect pollution potential or effects.

Ameliorative Or Direct
Methods
In-Lake Physical Methods
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Mechanical Harvesting of Biomass

Lake Deepening or Dredging
Admission of Unpolluted Waters (Dilution/Flushing)
Aeration of Water
Hypolimnetic Drainage
Lake Drawdown
Lake Bottom Sealing

In-Lake Chemical Methods

1. Phosphorus Precipitation
2. Use of Algicides and Herbicides

Ameliorative Or Direct
Methods
In-Lake Biological Methods
Species manipulation is the main in-lake biological
method for lake restoration. The method considers
the introduction or promotion of organisms that are
inimical to the target organisms. In nature,
predation by zooplankton and fish species keeps a
sort of control on algal populations. Biological inlake control measures are still in their infancy and
are not widely used.
Out side-Lake Physical Methods
1. Mechanical Treatment
2. Reduction in Sediment Input

Ameliorative Or Direct
Methods
Outside-Lake Chemical Methods
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Clarification
Active Carbon Adsorption
Ammonia Stripping
Nutrient and Ion Removal
Disinfection

Out side-Lake Biological Methods

Primary treatment of sewage is achieved with plain
sedimentation. The fresh solids contain most of the settleable
solids in the raw wastewater. An aerobic digestion destroys
about 67 percent of the volatile matter, and about a quarter
of it is converted to fixed solids. The secondary treatment
includes trickling filters and activated sludge. Advanced
waste treatment methods and processes remove more
contaminants from wastewater than are usually taken out by
conventional secondary treatment plants.

Case Study
An Integrated Restoration Plan for
Lake Anasagar: A Threatened
Water Body of Ajmer, Rajasthan, India
SHARMA K C, CHARAN P D and NAG
Mudita
Department of Environmental
Science, MDS University, Ajmer305009, India

Introduction
The lake Anasagar is a perennial, shallow fresh waterbody
situated in the heart of Ajmer city. The lake was made
during 1135-1150 AD by the then ruler Anaji Chouhan by
constructing a dam across the river Luni and was named as
Anasagar after his name. Around 35% population of Ajmer
resides in the catchment area of the lake. The climate of the
region is semi-arid with strong seasonality of rainfall.
It is a threatened water body. Once the most beautiful lake
in North-West part of British India is now extremely polluted
because of anthropogenic activities like sewage disposal,
cloth washing and agricultural activities. The lake area is
being encroached for housing which has reduced water
spread. Besides use of chemical fertilizers in the lake
corridor, pesticides are used by farmers for aquaculture and
cultivation of other crops.

Material and Methods

Analysis of physico-chemical parameters helps in
assessment of water quality, which is further required for
evolving an appropriate restoration plan. The water
samples were taken from 0.3 m below the surface with
amber colored 1 liter bottle already rinsed with ethyl
acetate and heated at 250C (4 hours) before use. The
samples were stored at 4C and were analyzed within a
weeks time. For analysis of HCH residues, mud samples
were collected from the bottom of the lake using Ekmann
Dredge. Standard extraction procedure for sediments was
followed for HCH residue analysis. The factors degrading
the water quality were identified during extensive surveys
to develop a restoration plan considering various ecological
and socioeconomic constrains.

Results and Discussion

Results of analyses carried out for 240
samples in 2007 and 2008 from five
different sites demonstrate that the lake
is eutrophic and severely polluted.
The factors of degradation were identified as:

Agrochemicals and pesticides

Sedimentation and Soil Erosion
Socio-economic Aspects
Acquisition of land

Integrated Restoration
Plan
As a strategy, the lake restoration programme must
involve activities to protect, restore, manipulate, and
provide for the functions and values emphasizing quality
and sustainable usage of water resource.
1. Catchment Development Plan:
Developing a tree belt in the barren area of catchment,
check the soil erosion. Sand dunes in the catchment area
are stabilized by revegetation. Desilting of the lake in the
initial phase may be taken as a major activity for
restoration. The sediment of Lake Anasagar is rich in
nutrients (N and P) which may be utilized as fertilizers in
agricultural fields. The practice should be repeated
periodically till the lake resumes its ecological integrity.

Integrated Restoration
Plan

2. Lake Area Development

A layout plan for Lake
Anasagar was designed in
view of both recreational
activities and maintaining
ecological integrity for long
term restoration and
sustainability. The peripheral
area is restored through
proposed ecoarchitectural
plan. This includes periodic
removal of sediments and
organic debris from littoral
zone. This sediment is rich in
P and N nutrients and may be

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Thank You!