GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Analysis Method for Assessment of Lake Ecosystems Degradation—Case Study in Romania

Abstract

In general, the elaboration of the synthesis of water quality in Romania is based on the processing of a large volume of information coming from primary analytical data collected with a constant frequency by the organisms with a specific role in water quality monitoring. This study proposes a novel methodology for multi-criteria analysis aiming to evaluate the degradation state of lake ecosystems. The cornerstone of the newly presented methodology is a geographic information system (GIS) automated tool, involving the assessment of potential degradation sources affecting the watershed that supply the lakes with water. The methodology was tested by performing an analysis on 30 lakes in Romania. The lakes belong to different geographical areas, owing various natural specific conditions and were selected to fit to various types and specific local conditions. The calculation of the WRASTIC-HI (Wastewater–Recreation–Agriculture–Size–Transportation–Industry–Cover–Hazard Index) revealed that, out of 30 lake ecosystems selected as the case study, two lakes were fully degraded, 24 lakes were semi-degraded, and four were in a natural state. The four lakes characterised by a natural state are located in mountainous regions or in the Danube Delta. The results obtained on the selected lakes proved that the proposed index calculation corresponded in all case studies to the real field situation, highlighting thus the accuracy of the assessing process and increased advantages of the assessment’s automation.

The Potential of Lakes for Extracting Renewable Energy—A Case Study of Brates Lake in the South-East of Europe

“…During the 18th and 19th centuries, this lake had a surface of about 100 km 2 , while at this moment, the lake has been drained due to various human interventions, being reduced to a surface of 20 km 2 and a maximum water depth of 3 m [20]. At this point, we should also mention that the Brates Lake is in a higher degradation state and the inefficiency of the water processing plants operating in this area is indicated as a main factor for this degradation [21]. At one point, this lake was connected to the Danube and Prut Rivers [22], throughout different channels, being frequently used for fisheries, and more recently, for agricultural purposes [23].…”

Applying a Complex Integrated Method for Mapping and Assessment of the Degraded Ecosystem Hotspots from Romania

“…The assessment of lake ecosystems was performed by combining the potential pollutant load (PPL) developed by [59], wastewater (W)-recreational (R)-agricultural (A)-size (S)-transportation (T)-industrial (I)-cover (C)-pollutant load (WRASTIC) [59] and lake vulnerability (LV) [60], resulting in a new index: WRASTIC-HI index [61,62]. This methodological stage included the analysis of a total of 3189 lakes and their classification by degradation classes.…”

Analyzing Primary Sector Selection for Economic Activity in Romania: An Interval-Valued Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Approach

“…However, it faces challenges, particularly in environmental sustainability. Agriculture, linked to deforestation and soil erosion, prompts discussions on sustainable practices [18]. The mining sector faces concerns like resource depletion and environmental degradation, emphasizing the need for sustainable resource management [19].…”