Lakes and reservoirs in Croatia – Process management, protection and valorization

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, a scientific and expert symposium with international participation entitled ‘’Lakes and reservoirs in Croatia – process management, protection and valorization’’ was held on 4-6 May 2017. The event included a roundtable on the current issue at Vransko Lake near the city of Biograd na Moru.

 

The scientific and expert symposium in Croatia. Photo: pp-vransko-jezero.hr Photo: pp-vransko-jezero.hr

The scientific and expert symposium in Croatia. Photo: pp-vransko-jezero.hr Photo: pp-vransko-jezero.hr

 

The symposium was organized by three Croatian professional societies: Croatian Society for Water Protection (HDZV), Croatian Hydrologic Society, and Croatian Society of Drainage and Irrigation, in cooperation with The Vransko Lake Nature Park.

About 100 scientists and experts participated in the Symposium, exchanging knowledge and reviewing the state of lakes in the country, including their protection problems.

 

An active participation of around a hundred scientists and experts. Photo: pp-vransko-jezero.hr

An active participation of around a hundred scientists and experts. Photo: pp-vransko-jezero.hr

 

This is the first widespread thematic conference devoted entirely to the problems of protection and use of lakes in Croatia. Lakes and other aquatic ecosystems such as natural swamps and rivers, reservoirs and ponds, as well as underground water, represent valuable and particularly sensitive water resources. These systems are specific to their hydrology and ecology, which makes their management processes very complex and demanding. Part of the Symposium focused on the preparation of special thematic contributions: the third roundtable (the first one was held in 2003) on the current situation of Vrana Lake at Biograd na Moru, which sought to promote interdisciplinary monitoring of the state of the lake system and to evaluate and solve the problem of its proper protection and use.

 

Presenting the results of research conducted. Photo: pp-vransko-jezero.hr

Presenting the results of research conducted. Photo: pp-vransko-jezero.hr

 

In the roundtable, researchers and experts presented the results of research conducted during the recent occurrences of extreme floods and droughts, with an increase in anthropogenic pressures. The intense salinization of the lake itself and its surrounding karst aquifers, partly caused by climate change, have caused changes in the state of the lake ecosystem. So the aim of the roundtable was to provide and evaluate the guidelines for further management of the Vransko Lake Nature Park and the Vransko field in interrelation with the lake ecosystem.

 

Discussions between participants. Photo : pp-vransko-jezero.hr

Discussions between participants. Photo : pp-vransko-jezero.hr

 

The wishes of all organization involved in this conference were to make scientific and professional contributions to the existing lakes and to plan for new reservoirs, urban and similar water systems in a way that will reduce possible undesirable consequences of such interventions.

On Saturday, May 6, 50 participants visited the Vransko Lake Nature Park in a pleasant atmosphere under the expert guidance of Park employees. It is clear that Vransko Lake is a sensitive freshwater ecosystem that we all have to conserve for the upcoming generations.

 

Field visit to the the Vransko Lake Nature Park. Photo : pp-vransko-jezero.hr

Field visit to the the Vransko Lake Nature Park. Photo : pp-vransko-jezero.hr

 

Source of the text is from Vransko jezero web site

More information

Contact:

Marijana Kapa, MedWet Focal Point

Ministry of Environment and Energy, Croatia

marijana.kapa@mzoip.hr