Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Lakes Tour

Description: 
Collection of data from the 20 major lakes and tarns in the English Lake District based on seasonal samples as part of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) ‘Lakes Tour’, every five years. This data contributes to condition assessment of these lakes, giving an overview of generic issues in the Lake District, as well as identifying site-specific pressures. The data also contributes to Long Term Datasets for the lakes. On each sampling occasion, depth-profiles are collected of water temperature and oxygen concentration, and Secchi depth is measured. An integrated water sample is analysed for pH, alkalinity, major anions and cations (including phosphorous), heavy metals, micro-organic pollutants, plant nutrients, phytoplankton chlorophyll a and species composition and zooplankton abundance and species composition. An eDNA survey across the lakes is also undertaken, to get a more comprehensive assessment of overall biodiversity in relation to lake physical and chemical status, including rare fish species. The current state of each lake is summarised in terms of key limnological variables, trophic state and ecological status under the current definitions of the Water Framework Directive (WFD), and long-term change from 1984 to 2020 is analysed.
Originator: 
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
Is this an existing or new approach to measuring landscape change?: 
Existing
Spatial coverage: 
The whole Lake District.
Geographical unit: 
Whole of the Lake District.
Frequency of measure: 
5 years
Indicator: 
On each sampling occasion, depth-profiles are collected of water temperature and oxygen concentration, and Secchi depth is measured. An integrated water sample is analysed for pH, alkalinity, major anions and cations (including phosphorous), heavy metals,
Barriers: 
Funding needs to be found to continue the monitoring.
Resource requirements: 
Requires boats, sampling and survey equipment and trained personnel.
Establishment cost: 
Significant (additional resources staff and cash over £15k)
Any other comments: 
It is important to have an integrated approach to monitoring which incorporates landscape and biodiversity aspects and produces a meaningful assessment of the 'quality' of the landscape.
Ongoing operational cost: 
Significant ongoing operational cost.
Data source: 
Boat surveys and sample collection, and lab analysis of water samples and eDNA samples.
Submitted by: 
Melanie Fletcher
Natural England

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