Background Lake Eğirdir
Lake Egirdir is situated in the Isparta province, approx. 180 km in the north of Antalya. It is Turkey’s fourth largest lake and second largest freshwater body. The total size of the basin is 3,309 km², and the lake covers an area of 482 km². The lake lies approx. 917 meters above sea level and has an average depth of 14 meters.
Lake Egirdir, which is also known as the “Seven Colored Lake” as a result of its daily and seasonal differentiations in its color, is a wetland of international importance due to its distinctions as a Drinking Water Reservoir, Natural Protected Area and Important Bird Area.
It provides water for agriculture, household and industrial use, as well as tourism and energy production. Fishing has traditionally been an important means of livelihood for people living around the lake.
Lake Egirdir is mostly used for agricultural purposes. The main agriculture product is the apple. Isparta province has 20 % of the total production of apples which is 500,000 tones. Turkey covers 5 % of the total apple production and ranks 4th after China, USA and France.
Lake Egirdir gained Important Bird Area status due to it being home to so many different bird species like Pygmy Cormorant, Red Crested Pochard, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck and Eurasian Coot spending the winter at the lake. The Reed Cat and the Eurasian Otter are other important species in the area. The area, which has an “Important Plant Area” status, includes 127 taxa endemic to Turkey and 27 endangered taxa.
The main fish species caught in the lake is Pike-perch (Stizostedion lucioperca), which was introduced to the lake in 1955. Until the mid 1980’s, Lake Egirdir yielded the highest Crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus) catch in Turkey. Then the crayfish population collapsed and has nealy become extinct. The main reasons for this are fungal diseases, agricultural and domestic waste that reached the lake and enormous increase in pike-perch population as a result of overfishing of crayfish. Eight different native fish species have also become extinct with the introduction of pike-perch.
Threats / Problems and Challenges Lake Eğirdir
A change in the indicators of water quality is observed and addresses pollution caused by agricultural, domestic and industrial usage. Besides an increase in biomass (sign of eutrophication) and a decrease in planktons and fish stocks is stated according to recent scientific studies. It is also put forward that the concentration of heavy metals increased.
The biggest threat is wastes created as a result of agricultural production. More specifically this happens as a result of the use of unnecessary pesticides and artificial fertilizers. These are often used during the wrong time and in the wrong dosage. This is devastating agricultural pollution and is a serious threat towards the lake.