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Spatial decision support system for assessing lake pollution hazard: southeastern pampean shallow lakes (Argentina) as a case study

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Abstract

This study gives an account of the implementation of a decision support system as a logical framework for assessing lake pollution hazard. The use of this system is demonstrated with an example from two lake watersheds, each one with different land-use, soil and topographic characteristics and also management regulations for natural resource protection. Lake pollution hazard is assessed as a function of two primary topics: hydrologic and soil conditions. This model shows the state of each evaluated subwatershed with respect to its potential contribution to lake pollution hazard based mainly on easily measurable and commonly used parameters: drainage density, hydraulic gradient, water table depth, soil media, land-cover and topography. Mapped outputs from the logic model allowed the identification of several subwatersheds in each lake system as the main water resource protection areas. La Brava Lake Watershed results reasonably fit the natural conditions of the watershed, identifying those subwatersheds with a moderate to high drainage density, high hydraulic gradient and extensive agricultural activities. Regarding Los Padres Lake Watershed, moderate to high drainage density, a high to a very high hydraulic gradient, shallow water depth, silt-loam soil texture and intensive agricultural and residential lands, contributed to a high lake pollution hazard. Results highlighted differences between both freshwater systems, being Los Padres Lake Watershed a more vulnerable ecosystem, requiring decision maker’s intervention based on accurate and up-to-date information.

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Acknowledgments

This research was carried out with funding from the Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Argentina (ARQ 168/07 and EXA 388/08). Two of the authors (AR and MLL) are indebted to the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) for fellowship support. The authors would like to thank Keith M. Reynolds (USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station) for the Criterium DecisionPlus, NetWeaver and EMDS version support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Mar del Plata, Argentina

    Asunción Romanelli & María Lourdes Lima

  2. Instituto de Geología de Costas y del Cuaternario, FCEyN, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Funes 3350, Nivel 1, 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina

    Asunción Romanelli, María Lourdes Lima & Héctor Enrique Massone

  3. Laboratorio de Limnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), FCEyN, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Funes 3250, Nivel 2, 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina

    Karina Soledad Esquius

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  1. Asunción Romanelli
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  2. María Lourdes Lima
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  4. Karina Soledad Esquius
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Correspondence to Asunción Romanelli.

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Romanelli, A., Lima, M.L., Massone, H.E. et al. Spatial decision support system for assessing lake pollution hazard: southeastern pampean shallow lakes (Argentina) as a case study. Wetlands Ecol Manage 22, 247–265 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-013-9327-1

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