Limnological studies of a famous himalayan lake: the dal lake (srinagar, india)

The present study aims to analyse the physico-chemical properties of the Dal Lake Srinagar, India. Various physico-chemical and biological parameters were analysed, from January 2009 to December 2009, at eight different study sites on monthly basis by the standard methods. The maximum and minimum range of physico-chemical parameters were as: Air temperature 3.99-33.20 oC in January and July respectively, Water temperature 2.54 – 31.30 oC in January and July, Depth ranged from 1.54-2.26 m in December and August respectively, Turbidity index (Secchi-disc transparency) from 49.75 -74.38 cm in August and January, Total solids 198.25–345.38 mgL-1 in June and January, Total dissolved solids ranged from 88.38 -272.00 mgL-1 in October and January, Total suspended solids ranged from 57.25 – 148.13 mgL-1 in February and August respectively, pH were 8.32-8.84 in December and June, Conductivity was in the range of 289.75 µS L-1 in June and 427.13 µS L-1 in January, where as Dissolved oxygen was 4.69 mgL-1 in August and 7.14 mgL-1 in April, Chloride was in the range of 26.18 -39.11 mgL-1 in January and March respectively. Total alkalinity was 84.39 mg L-1 in June and 143.96 mg L-1 in January. Bicarbonate 77.09 mg L-1 in June and 143.10 mg L-1 in January, Carbonate 0.86 mg L-1 in January and 7.30 mg L-1 in June, Total hardness was 84.64 mgL-1 and 125.53 mg L-1 in June and January respectively, Calcium hardness was 84.75 mg L-1 in October and 96.13 mg L-1 in June and magnesium hardness 15.05 -21.33 mg L-1 in October and February respectively, Orthophosphate 233.75 -300.00 µg L-1 in November and February, Total phosphate was 998 -1442.75 µg L-1 in January and august, Iron was 217.38 µg L-1 in January and 341.38 µg L-1 in August, where as BOD and COD was 8.04 - 9.98 mg L-1 in April and August and 14.53- 18.73 mg L-1 in August respectively. The above mentioned results indicates that the lake is suffering from different kinds of pollutants from various sources, such as, sewage, agricultural runoff, house-boat wastes and encroachments. It is concluded, that this Lake is going towards more degradation and needs an immediate action through restoration by some new innovative techniques like Installation of more aeration units and catchment area analysis.