Abstract. A biomonitoring study was carried out at Kanewal reservoir, an internationally important wetland listed in Asian Directory of Wetlands, designated as a "Wetland of National Importance" and a proposed community reserve of Gujarat State, India, to ascertain the degree of trace element contamination. The study focused on assessment of trace element contamination in certain aquatic macrophytes to be used as biomonitors, in comparison with water and sediments (abiotic monitor) for heavy metal pollution. Good information was provided by analyzing the roots, stems and leaves of native aquatic plants (biomonitors) represented by seven species: Eichhornia crassipes, Echinochloa colonum, Hydrilla verticillata, Ipomoea aquatica, Nelumbo nucifera, Typha angustata and Vallisneria spiralis, along with surface sediments and water, were analyzed for Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn contamination. The highest concentrations of the trace elements were measured in Eichhornia crassipes and the lowest in Nelumbo nucifera. Based on the concentration and toxicity status observed in the lake's vegetation, the six metals are arranged in the following decreasing order: Zn > Cu > Ni > Cd > Co > Pb. Compared with the standard, normal and critical toxicity range in plants, the detected value of Pb falls within normal range, while that of other elements were within the critical range. However, Zn and Cu showed the highest concentration and alarming toxicity levels, which are considered as one of the most hazardous pollutants in Kanewal reservoir. Certain species of aquatic macrophytes are also proposed as biomonitors (and/or biofilters) such as Eichhornia crassipes and Typha angustata, which are the two most useful species in biomonitoring studies due to their ability to accumulate elements in high concentration in the roots and its availability throughout the year. The results showed the significant difference in accumulation of metals like Zn, Cu and Ni in different plant organs, which showed more accumulation in roots than that of stems and leaves. High positive correlation between combinations of different metal pairs in plant's root, stem or leaf system was established.