35-Effects of water withdrawal on aquatic vegetation

Abstract

The ever increasing demand for drinking water linked with excessive withdrawals lower the water level of lakes and exposes its littoral areas and biota. In the recent days there is a mounting concern towards the distribution of littoral species and communities in relation to changing environmental issues. The special effects of such factors on the structure and function of the littoral areas of lake ecosystems have not been extensively studied. Upper Bhopal Lake, Madhya Pradesh, located in the Vindhyan plateau is the principal drinking water source for the Bhopal city. 3/4 of the lake area is shallow and fully infested with aquatic vegetation. The constant lowering of water levels due to withdrawal of drinking water from the lake is mainly responsible for the enormous destruction of the shoreline biota. In the present study an attempt has been made to observe the impact of continuous drawdown of potable water and fluctuating water levels on the shoreline communities of Upper Bhopal Lake ecosystem.