An integrated model system for the management of lakes and their catchments: case study of Lake Langelmavesi, Finland

摘要

Eutrophication of lakes is one of the most serious environmental problems in Finland and eutrophication is very closely connected with the occurrence of toxic cyanobacterial blooms. Until the 1980s Lake Langelmavesi was considered to be excellent for all purposes but at the end of the decennium cyanobacterial blooms appeared. A research programme was started to study the reasons for the eutrophication and to improve procedures for reducing nutrient loading. It was found that agriculture made by far the greatest contribution to phosphorus loading. In 1995 Finland joined the EU and adopted its systematic agricultural water protection schemes. In 1998 a new research programme was started to investigate the development of Lake Langelmavesi and to assess the effects of the EU funded water protection schemes. On the basis of the preliminary results it seems that they have been ineffective in the case study area.