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Enhancing Ecosystem Management through Scientific Data Integration: Case Studies of Lake Champlain and Lake Ohrid

Explore how scientific data integration influences decision-making for transboundary lakes, exemplified by Lake Champlain in the USA & Canada, and Lake Ohrid in Macedonia & Albania. Learn about ecosystem indicators, essential indicator characteristics, legislative choices, and the management responses to pressures on these vital water bodies.

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Enhancing Ecosystem Management through Scientific Data Integration: Case Studies of Lake Champlain and Lake Ohrid

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  1. Combining scientific data in frameworks for decision-making: examples from two transboundary lakes (Lake Champlain, USA & Canada, and Lake Ohrid, Macedonia & Albania) Mary C. Watzin University of Vermont, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, Burlington, VT, USA and contributors to Lake Ohrid State of the Environment Report

  2. Ecosystem Indicators • An ecosystem indicator can be any measure that provides information about the quality or condition of the ecosystem or the effectiveness of management. • Because all ecosystem components and processes cannot be measured and evaluated, ecological indicators are used to determine ecosystem condition with a reduced set of measurements that can represent or “indicate” the overall state of the system.

  3. Lake = 1,127 km2 Drainage basin = 21,326 km2 In USA and Canada

  4. “Opportunities for Action,” an evolving plan for the future of the Lake Champlain Basin Lake Champlain Basin Program Includes: • Water Quality (nutrients and toxic substances) • Human Health • Fish and Wildlife • Exotic Species Management • Wetlands and Riparian Habitats • Recreation • Cultural Heritage Resources • Public Education and Local Action

  5. PRESSURESTATERESPONSEFRAMEWORK Human activities exertPRESSURESon Lake Champlain TheSTATEof the Lake Champlain ecosystem is impacted ManagementRESPONSE seeks to reduce negative impacts on the Lake

  6. Ecologically relevant Relates to essential components of the ecosystem and responds to relevant stressors Politically/Socially relevant Linked to the concerns of the public and the government Measurable, statistically sound, interpretable Essential Indicator Characteristics

  7. Making Indicators Interpretable • Ecological Context • ranges that represent healthy conditions for the ecosystem, recognition of natural variation • Social Context • laws and regulations • preferences of basin stakeholders – stated choice analysis and social norm curves

  8. PRESSURESTATERESPONSEFRAMEWORK Human activities exertPRESSURESon Lake Champlain TheSTATEof the Lake Champlain ecosystem is impacted ManagementRESPONSE seeks to reduce negative impacts on the Lake

  9. Phosphorus Indicators Legislative Choices (funding) Stated Choice In-lake Criteria Stated Choice Regulation (TMDL) Legislative Choices (funding) Stated Choice

  10. Lake Ohrid Conservation Project • Seeks to provide a comprehensive, transboundary approach to management of the Lake Ohrid watershed, combining restoration, conservation and protection of the lake with sustainable use of its natural resources. • Threats to sustainable use: • Eutrophication • Bacterial Pollution • Shoreline Habitat Destruction and Pollution • Declines in Fisheries Population • Altered Flow of the Sateska River Global Environment Facility World Bank Ministry of Environment, Albania Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, Macedonia

  11. “Lake Ohrid and its Watershed: A State of the Environment Report” • Completed October 2002 • First joint assessment, 49 contributors from Albania and Macedonia • Presents baseline data in 5 critical areas

  12. Shift in dominant phytoplankton species Dinobrium bavaricum (100x) Dinobrium divergens (400x) Historic dominant (oligotrophic species) Current dominant (mesotrophic species)

  13. PRESSURESTATERESPONSEFRAMEWORK Human activities exertPRESSURESon Lake Ohrid TheSTATEof the Lake Ohrid ecosystem is impacted ManagementRESPONSE seeks to reduce negative impacts on the Lake

  14. Ecological Indicators Programs Can: • Focus monitoring efforts and make monitoring data accessible and interpretable for managers and the public • Help managers follow trends, track progress and make adaptive management decisions • Can be organized into regular State of Environment Reports or “Environmental Scorecards” • Provide a framework for improved understanding of ecosystem structure and function

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