ADMINISTRATION OF LAKE RESTORATION AND WATER

RESOURCES IN FINLAND

1. Lakepromo seminarKuopio 25.-26.11.2004

Division Manager Markku Maunula

The Finnish Environment Institute

ADMINISTRATION OF LAKE RESTORATION IN FINLAND

MINISTRY OF THEENVIRONMENT

MINISTRY OFAGRICULTUREAND FORESTRY

FINNISHENVIRONMENT

INSTITUTE

FINNISHENVIRONMENT

INSTITUTE

COLLABORATION

WATERPROTECTION,ENVIRONMENTALMANAGEMENTAND GENERALADMINISTRATION

WATERRESOURCES

MANAGEMENT

REGIONAL ENVIRONMENT CENTRES (13)REGIONAL ENVIRONMENT CENTRES (13)

MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES (c. 400)MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES (c. 400)

EXPERT SERVICES

ENVIRONMENT PERMISSION AUTHORITIES (3)ENVIRONMENT PERMISSION AUTHORITIES (3)

REGIONAL FISHERIES CENTRES (12)REGIONAL FISHERIES CENTRES (12)FISHERIES AND

FISH HABITAT MANAGEMENT

Water protection policy• Efficient measures from the beginning of the 1970´s• Based on long-term goals, proactive strategies, extensive research and

monitoring

• Until 1995 based on national policy- making and legislation

• Since 1995 the EU the community regulation has provided a framework

• The 3 rd national water protection programme up to 2005 coordinated by the Ministry of Environment was adopted by the Government in 1998 and is now being updated until 2015

• Water resources strategy of the Ministry of Agriculture (1999): targets for sustainable use of water resources in watercourse management, regulation of river systems, flood control, dam safety and drainage

• Targets have been prepared in co- operation with stakeholders

• National Act of implementing will be adopted since 2005

• Integrated, sustainable water policies based on ecosystem approach.

• Interaction between governmental actors, stakeholders and citizen becomes more important.

• The implementation is ambitious task and a lot of work and many skills are needed in making the River Basin Management Plans

Implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD)

• 80 % of the surface area of Finnish lakes is of good (TP 12-30 µg/l) or excellent (TP < 12 µg/l) quality

• Local restoration needs exist in smaller lakes and bays of large lakes: 16 % of lake area is satisfactory (TP 30-50 µg/l and 4 % passable (TP > 50 µg/l)

The scope of lake restoration• 56 000 lakes > 1 ha + 131 876 smaller • Total lake area 34 000km² • National inquiery in 1999:

Restoration needs in 6 700 km² 1 474 listed target lakes – External loading n = 698– Eutrophication n = 945– Overgrowth of macrophytes n = 829– Paludification n = 705– Waterfowl protection habitats n = 350– Acidification n = 133

Reasons of lake restoration• High external loading in the past / today• High internal loading • Low and lowered water levels• Plant overgrowth• Reduced biodiversity of waterfowl habitats and

communities of aquatic plants• Changes in the density and composition of fish

populations• Regulation of water level for hydroelectric power

or agriculture

Participation and funding

• Local initiative • Municipal support • Additional government funding in lakes with a

large public interest (recreation, fishing, boating)• Local stakeholder support and participation are

necessary for a successful project

Who participate? • Problems in the lake

Initiation from local organizations or citizens Municipality / fisheries region are links to regional, particularly environment authorities regional government authorities of environment and fisheries may fund part of the expenses when local participation and funding are agreed upon

• Formation of a local network is encouraged• The role of EU funding has increased• Measures are made by special enterprises &

consults often assisted by local volunteers

Basis for partial Government funding

• Valid since 1990• The lake must have public value for recreation, nature

protection, as a source of drinking water, game and fisheries or conservation of cultural or social values

• In general, the maximum percentage is 50 % It may be exceeded - to maintain conservation or environmental values in areas protected by Government decisions - to maintain/improve habitats of endangered species - to safeguard important fisheries values - to compensate damage of exceptional natural conditions - in nationally significant R&D experiments

Methods used in restoration of Finnish lakes

26

11

3

22

28

3

6

1,0

30

22

18

13

11

1

0

4,0

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Mowing of reeds

Dredging

Fish removal

Water level rising

Aeration/mixing

Chemical precipitation

Liming acidified lakes

Others

%

1970-95; n = 553

1998-2002; n = 223

Voluntary local / stakeholder participation

• Is included in the restoration budget• Calculated value of volunteer work may be > 50 %• A measure of local commitment for authorities

Guided assistance of volunteers important in: Reed mowing Fish removal Water quality monitoring Fish monitoring

• Some benefit to employment

Too low water level

• Naturally shallow lakes• Lowered water levels for agriculture• Plant overgrowth by low water and

external nutrient loading• Main problem of in- lake restoration

until the 1980´s• Limits for raising of the water level are

set by agriculture and settlement• Permission from Environment Permit

Authorities demands proper planning

Overgrowth of shallow lakes and bay areas

• Nutrient loading and soil erosion from the catchment

• Termination of cattle grazing by lake shores since the 1960´s

• Draw downs of water levels

• Regulation of water level

Combatting overgrowth of shallow lakes

• Mowing of reed overgrowth from shores

• Partial removal favored for waterfowl and fishing

• Larger areas in boat harbours, swimming shores

• Removing of roots and dredging

• Permission from environmental authorities is demanded for larger operations

Eutrophication

• External nutrient loading may still be too high locally in regions with dense population and/or agriculture with low lake coverage (SW Finland)

• Internal loading (too much ”nutrient capital” in lake sediments ) is the main target of in-lake restoration measures

Combatting eutrophication

• Further reduction of external nutrient loading from agriculture (BAT R&D, support for farmers (EU environm. )) and scattered settlement

• Aeration or water mixing to prevent anoxic conditions and/or chemical stripping of phosphorus

• Foodweb management by selective mass removal of the too dense populations of cyprinid fish

Aeration to prevent anoxic internal loading

• When oxygen depletion is observed and it affects the water quality

• Sufficient efficiency is demanded

• Mainly in deeper stratifying lakes e.g. continuous effective mixing in the summer in Lake Tuusulanjärvi (592 ha) with a large deeper area (120 ha)

Foodweb management:

- internal loading & turbidity- grazing on phytoplankton

• Eutrophication fish stocks dominated by small cyprinids

• Common goals for improvement of both water quality and fisheries

• Methods were developed in the 1990´s no technical problems for fish removal in large lakes

• Good results when sufficient removal

Summary• Problems caused by overgrowth of plants, low water level,

external and/or internal phosphorus loading, algal blooms and dense cyprinid stocks exist locally and in smaller lakes

• Local restoration and management activity is partially supported by government funding

• Political decisions for further reduction of external loading and technical solutions for in-lake restoration methods have been developed

• Proper planning helps to select the right measures and the volume of the measures