GIS-based pollution hazard mapping and assessment framework of shallow lakes: southeastern Pampean lakes (Argentina) as a case study

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment 2013-08, Vol.185 (8), p.6943-6961
• Main Authors: Romanelli, A., Esquius, K. S., Massone, H. E., Escalante, A. H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agriculture; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Anthropogenic factors; Applied ecology; Applied sciences; Aquatic ecosystems; Argentina; Assessments; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biochemical oxygen demand; Biological and medical sciences; Case studies; Categories; Cattle; Cattle production; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Continental surface waters; Dissolved oxygen; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecosystems; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental hazards; Environmental Management; Environmental monitoring; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Exact sciences and technology; Freshwater; Freshwater ecosystems; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geographic Information Systems; Hazards; Lakes; Lakes - chemistry; Land cover; Land pollution; Land use; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Natural water pollution; Pollutants; Pollution; Pollution abatement; Pollution index; Pollution load; Risk Assessment - methods; Statistical analysis; Studies; Surface water; Water bodies; Water Pollutants - analysis; Water pollution; Water quality; Water treatment and pollution; Watershed management; Watersheds
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-013-3077-7

The assessment of water vulnerability and pollution hazard traditionally places particular emphasis on the study on groundwaters more than on surface waters. Consequently, a GIS-based Lake Pollution Hazard Index (LPHI) was proposed for assessing and mapping the potential pollution hazard for shallow lakes due to the interaction between the Potential Pollutant Load and the Lake Vulnerability. It includes easily measurable and commonly used parameters: land cover, terrain slope and direction, and soil media. Three shallow lake ecosystems of the southeastern Pampa Plain (Argentina) were chosen to test the usefulness and applicability of this suggested index. Moreover, anthropogenic and natural medium influence on biophysical parameters in these three ecosystems was examined. The evaluation of the LPHI map shows for La Brava and Los Padres lakes the highest pollution hazard (≈30 % with high to very high category) while Nahuel Rucá Lake seems to be the less hazardous water body (just 9.33 % with high LPHI). The increase in LPHI value is attributed to a different loading of pollutants governed by land cover category and/or the exposure to high slopes and influence of slope direction. Dissolved oxygen and biochemical oxygen demand values indicate a moderately polluted and eutrophized condition of shallow lake waters, mainly related to moderate agricultural activities and/or cattle production. Obtained information by means of LPHI calculation result useful to perform a local diagnosis of the potential pollution hazard to a freshwater ecosystem in order to implement basic guidelines to improve lake sustainability.