Groundwater Quality Degradation in the Buyuk Menderes River Coastal Wetland

Abstract

A baseline hydrogeochemical investigation was carried out as a contribution to the inventory of wetlands in Büyük Menderes River (BMR) coastal wetland which is the most important wetland in Turkey that is protected as "Natural Park" by government. In addition to the wetland values, agricultural activities are also important at this delta. From inland to coastal zone, the groundwater type is changed from Ca-HCO 3 to Na-Cl. Perfect correlation of Cl with Na and SO 4 indicated the mixing process between saline and fresh water. The seawater intrusion and "winter-leaching" is the main causes of salinization. Minor ions as B, Br, and Li versus Cl relationship also showed the marine influence at the BMR coastal wetland. The δ 18 O and δD composition of the waters are range between −8.11‰ and −1.65‰ and −49.2‰ and 8.1‰, respectively. Isotope values show the seawater mixing line and also dissolution of salts in the BMR coastal wetland. Weathering of aluminosilicates in the Paleozoic schist and clays resulted in the release of silica to the water. Due to the organic activity, iron concentrations reached to the tolerance limits. On the other hand, the use of phosphate fertilizers increases the phosphorus content in the water. The high value of As (from 0.6 to 134 μg/l) can be resulted as an evaporation process in the study area.

Heavy Metal Contamination and Potential Ecological Risk Assessment in Sediments of Lake Bafa (Turkey)

“…In addition, the lake is affected by several anthropogenic factors, particularly agricultural, domestic, and industrial waste. The most important problems facing the Büyük Menderes basin are the salinization of the land due to the rapidly developing industry, high rates of fertilizer use in agricultural areas, and excessive use of groundwater for irrigation [64]. Recent studies of the Büyük Menderes water quality define it as polluted [65][66][67][68].…”

Hydrogeochemical fingerprints of a mixohaline wetland in the Mediterranean: Güllük coastal wetland systems- GCWS (Muğla, Turkey)

“…• Human-made Wetlands There are many studies in recent years not only about ornithological and floral/faunal studies, but also hydrogeological and hydrogeochemical studies in both coastal and inland wetlands in Turkey (e.g. coastal wetlands: Somay and Filiz, 2003;Somay et al, 2008;Somay and Gemici, 2009;Demirel et al, 2011;Somay and Gemici, 2012;Demir Yetiş et al, 2014;Aydın et al, 2015;Somay, 2016. e.g.…”

Investigation of Güllük (Muğla) Wetland Using Stable Isotopes (Δ18o, Δd)

“…They have a very important place in terms of fresh water supply within the hydrological water cycle. The presence, attributes, quality and potential of water are significant factors directly affecting the wildlife and plant cover in wetlands (Somay and Gemici, 2012). As such for groundwater recharge by wetlands (surface waters filtered by soil and rocks mixing with underground water), hydrogeology, hydrogeochemistry and water-rock interaction are important (Somay and Filiz, 2005).…”

“…The major/minor ion contents and environmental isotope values of water indicate how waters arrived at which source. There are some hydrogeological and hydrogeochemical studies completed on some important coastal wetland areas in western Anatolia (Gediz Delta, Küçük Menderes Coastal Wetland, Büyük Menderes Coastal Wetland) (Somay and Filiz, 2003;Somay et al, 2008;Somay and Gemici, 2012). Additionally as the studied region is an important karstic area, there are many hydrogeological and hydrogeochemical studies on karstic areas in the western Aegean and Mediterranean (Öztan et al, 2004;Yüce, 2005;Ekmekçi et al, 2008;Özyurt, 2008;Bayarı et al, 2011;Günay et al, 2015).…”