Integrated Water Management Plans for the Restoration of Lake Koronia, Greece

Abstract

Lake Koronia is a very important ecosystem of Greece which is almost vanishing because of non sustainable water management practice in the region. The ongoing unsystematic economic growth of the area has resulted to water depletion and environmental degradation with serious social and economic impacts. This paper presents an integrated water resources management plan for the reversal of the situation. First, a groundwater simulation model of the complex shallow - deeper aquifer system is developed to simulate the lake-aquifer interaction. Second, this model is then used as a management tool for the development of alternative exploitation plans of the deeper aquifer. The impacts of these scenarios to the groundwater levels and balance are also considered and evaluated. For sustainability purposes, not only the rehabilitation of the lake water resources, but also the restoration of the disturbed groundwater balance considered. The finally suggested plan is a combination of an engineering project recharg the lake with groundwater from the deeper aquifer, and water saving measures the agricultural sector, through the implementation of a crop change program and the exist irrigation methods.