Download 6.1 Examples of completed restoration projects in Estonia

Lake management and restoration procedures
in Estonia
Information package
EU Interreg IIIC project Lakepromo
Centre for Limnology
Estonian University of Life Sciences
Tartu 2005
Preface…………………………………………………………………………………………….3
1 Background……………………………………………………………………………………. 4
1.1
Estonian lakes. The characteristics of lakes suffering from eutrophication………5
1.2
Development of the condition of Estonian lakes………………………………….6
1.3
History and current scope of national lake restoration……………………………8
1.4
Current practices and methods available for lake management and restoration…..9
2 Administrative structure and legislation………………………………………………………..12
2.1
2.2
2.3
Administrative structure…………………………………………………………..12
2.1.1 Institutions engaged in implementation of the Water Act………………...12
2.1.2 Main organizations of water research……………………………………..12
2.1.3 Permit for special use of water…………………………………………….13
Essential national legislation………………………………………………………13
2.2.1 Laws……………………………………………………………………….13
2.2.2 Government Regulations…………………………………………………..14
2.2.3 Regulations of the Minister of the Environment…………………………..15
2.2.4 Order of the Minister of the Environment…………………………………15
2.2.5 Other national plans related to water management………………………..15
Current state of the implementation of the Water Framework Directive………….16
2.3.1 General facts about Estonia………………………………………………..16
2.3.2 Main differences between the Water Act of Estonia and the EU Water
Framework Directive………………………………………………………17
2.3.3 Implementation of the Water Framework Directive……………………….17
3 Actors……………………………………………………………………………………………19
3.1
Tasks of different stakeholders and networking……………………………………19
3.2
Overview of research and educational institutions…………………………………20
4
Sources of funding for restoration projects…………………………………………………21
5
Restoration planning and implementation procedures……………………………………..21
6
National best practices and special expertise in methods and projects…………………….23
6.1
Examples of completed restoration projects in Estonia…………………………….23
7
Summary and needs for development………………………………………………………24
References…………………………………………………………………………………………..26
Preface
This Lakepromo information package is intended specially for Lakepromo partners and local
project participants to lay down a basis for mutual co-operation and learning from other countries.
Partners in Lakepromo countries collect information around the common outline, giving an
overview of each country’s lake management and restoration. The standard-like structure helps to
compare different procedures and to find best practices and solutions to problems.
Lakepromo partners will disseminate these information packages further to other stakeholders in
their own communities, regions and countries
 authorities get new ideas for e.g. regional implementation of the Water Framework Directive
 universities, polytechnics and other teaching and research institutions can use information
packages as teaching material
 restoration project financiers get overview of sources of funding in different countries
 private enterprises (planners, consults, executors) get overview of restoration methods and
operation models in different countries
 local inhabitants and users of water resources get new ideas for participating in lake
restoration projects
The emphasis on this booklet is on management and restoration of eutrophicated lakes. However,
the UK partner focuses on wetlands and the Spanish partner on its coastal area. As there are many
differences among Lakepromo countries, each country chooses the appropriate level of detail in
descriptions as far as this common outline is followed. Moreover, the emphasis is on special
expertise in each country that other partners could learn during Lakepromo operation.
1 Background
Restoration consists of corrective measures in the lake, which are carried out in addition to
preventive and/or remedial measures in the watershed area (Adapted from Seppänen 1973, Keto et
al. 2004). The following picture illustrates the concepts of lake management and restoration.
Condition of
lake
Condition of
the lake
GOOD
Excessive
external
nutrient
loading
POOR
Eutrophication
Management
Condition of
lake
Reduction of
external nutrient
loading
GOOD
Restoration
High external
and/or internal
loading
Picture 1. Lake management and restoration (Sammalkorpi)
Management
1.1 Estonian lakes
There are around 1200 small lakes and reservoirs with an area of at least 1 ha (Fig. 1).
Lakes Peipsi and Võrtsjärv are among the largest lakes in Europe. They make up almost 87% of the
surface area of Estonian water bodies.
Figure 1. Location of Estonian lakes (Kask, 1979).
According to the classification developed by A. Mäemets (1974, 1977, 1977a) and based on
the natural accumulation type, eight main lake types (among them 27 subtypes) can be
distinguished in Estonia: oligotrophic 8%, semidystrophic 5.8%, dystrophic 9%, eutrophic 36.4%,
dyseutrophic 36.6, alkalitrophic 2.6%, halotrophic 1.4% and siderotrophic 0.2% ( Fig. 2).
1% 8%
6%
9%
37%
0%
0,2%
3%
36%
oligotrophic
semidystrophic
dystrophic
siderotrophic
eutrophic
alkalitrophic
dyseutrophic
halotrophic
Figure 2. Typology of Estonian lakes (Estonian Environment, 1996)
Eutrophication is enrichment of a water body by nutrient salts, which accelerates the growth of
algae and higher forms of plant life. This results in aging and vegetal invasion of waters. It is a
natural process which can be sped up by human activity. Depending on morphometrical indices,
buffering capacity, and content of mineral and organic matter, different lakes have dissimilar
sensitivity to eutrophication (Ott, Kõiv, 1999):
 In deeper mixotrophic lakes the intensification of phytoplankton leads to increase in pH and
to oxygen oversaturation in the surface layer; shallow mixotrophic lakes change into
macrophytic lakes where pH and oxygen conditions are more stabile.
 In oligotrophic lakes, where changes were the fastest in 1951-1989, their speed decreased
thereafter. In these lakes water became darker, transparency diminished and the content of
organic matter is still increasing.
 Changes in hypertrophic lakes are the smallest because it is hard to spoil a spoilt lake.
 Eutrophic lakes responded most flexibly to the changes of the environmental conditions: up
to the 1980s these lakes became eutrophied fast, while in the 1990s their condition
recovered significantly.
The aim of the restoration of a lake can be the recovery of its former better condition, improvement
of its recreational value, increasing of its production, protection of a certain species or association
of species, etc. Exact specification of goals is highly important in sustainable management and
restoration of lakes.
1.2 Development of the condition of Estonian lakes
More than half of the Estonian lakes are in a hypertrophic, mixotrophic or eutrophic state.
Most of them have been strongly influenced by the agricultural factor – fertilizers and wastes from
collective farms – which accelerated their eutrophication. As result of the collapse of the Soviet
type agriculture, the condition of Estonian lakes started to recover from the beginning of the 1990s.
The decreased nutrient influx into the lakes decelerated europhication. In addition to agriculture and
lowering of water level, eutrophication has progressed owing to the release of municipal waste,
industrial waste, as well as owing to mining and air pollution.
Nature protection can not always spare lakes from eutrophication. The main reason for this
is ignoring of the principle of protection of the catchment area. Land owners (local governments or
private persons) are obliged to follow the rules of environmental protection and lake use. Control
over lake use has become more complicated after the privatization of some lakes.
The main eutrophication-caused changes in Estonian small lakes during recent decades are
(Ott, Kõiv, 1999):
 Total alkalinity, pH, the content of phosphates and sulphates, and the amount of organic matter
has increased significantly.
 Stratification has become much stronger, and the content of dissolved oxygen near bottom has
decreased by half in comparison with the time forty years earlier.
 As a result of climate change, the vegetation period has become longer, and the amount of
nutrients has been distributed more equally between the seasons.
 Owing to the decline in the N:P ratio in summer plankton, cyanobacteria prevail, and there
occur water blooms.
 Considerable increase in cryptomonads in all lake types.
 Changes in the composition of the fish community: increase in the abundance of crucian carp
and tench, and decrease in bream, perch and pike.
 Contionuous increase in the number of macrophyte lakes; expansion of the reed zone and
impoverishment of the composition of littoral species in large lakes.
 Mixotrophication of lakes – simultaneous accumulation of allochthonic and autochthonic
organic matter. Most Estonian lakes end their existence in the mixotrophic state.
 Alkalization of lakes in northeastern Estonia as a result of air pollution.

As a result of fast and one-sided (the amount of biogenic nutrients is not in balance with the
amount of mineral components) nutrient enrichment, accompanied with human impact, many
soft water eutrophic and hypertrophic lakes with an unstable regime, uncharacteristic of the
region, have developed.
Cause of eutrophication
Fertilization: excessive
amounts of nutrient salts are
carried into water bodies
Livestock farming:
excessive amounts of
nutrient salts and organic
waste are carried to water
bodies
Municipal waste: excessive
amounts of nutrient salts and
organic waste are carried into
water bodies
Industrial waste: toxic
substances, incl. heavy
metals, are carried into water
bodies
Oil shale industry: alkaline
waste water, containing
nutrient salts, heavy metals
and toxic substances, is
carried into water bodies.
Oil shale energetics:
production of greenhouse
gases.
Oil shale mining: excessive
amounts of nitrates and toxic
substances are carried into
water bodies
Peat mining: organic matter
is carried to water bodies,
acidic water is directed to
receiving waters
Air pollution: flying ash,
nitrogen and sulphur gases
Consequences
Increase in plant nutrient concentrations in a water body causing
increase in primary production.
Increase in plant nutrient and organic matter concentrations.
Increase in primary production. Changes in oxygen and light
conditions.
Increase in plant nutrient and organic matter concentrations.
Increase in primary production. Changes in oxygen and light
conditions.
Increase in the toxicity of water and water organisms. Appearance
of harmful effects of toxic substances on aquatic organisms.
Increase in pH above 9 leads to a remarkable increase in ammonia,
which causes fish kill. Increase in plant nutrient and organic matter
concentrations. Increase in the toxicity of water and water
organisms. Appearance of harmful effects of toxic substances on
aquatic organisms.
Increase in primary production. Increase in the toxicity of water and
water organisms. Appearance of harmful effects of toxic substances
on aquatic organisms.
Change in water colour and light conditions, increase in organic
matter content, decrease in pH. Silting. Change of the living
environment.
Increase in toxic substances, sulphates, hydrogen sulphide.
The status of Estonian lakes in the 1950s and 1960s can be considered still natural, not
influenced remarkably by human impact. Two percent of all Estonian lakes were oligotrophic; by
the beginning of the 2000s typical oligotrophic lakes had almost disappeared. The number of
hypertrophic lakes increased by 1.7-fold. Changes in the types of Estonian lakes are illustrated in
Figure 3.
Figure 3. Evolution of Estonian lakes (according to Ott, Kõiv, 1999).
1.3 History and current scope of national lake restoration
There is no example of a properly prepared and implemented lake restoration project in Estonia,
although several attempts have been made. Lake restoration intensified in the1970s when
possibilities to restore the previous state of the lakes with lowered water level were investigated and
tested. The purpose was largely to increase the proportion of the commercially valuable fish stock,
and the tested lakes were Lake Ermistu, Lake Lahepera, Lake Väimela Alajärv, Lake Vasula, Lake
Maardu, Lake Suure-Jaani, and Lake Harku. Through a rearrangement of fishery the composition of
the fish fauna of large lakes was affected favourably. In Lake Peipsi, according to the
recommendations of scientists, burbot, roach and perch, which had been considered invaluable
fishes, were rehabilitated. The use of Danish seines which damage the stock of valuable fishes was
reduced since 1974 in Lake Peipsi. In LakeVõrtsjärv, fish trawling was prohibited in the 1970s, and
the total amount of catches was drastically reduced, while all limitations imposed on bream fishing
until then were cancelled. As a result, the former ruff lake became a valuable bream, pikeperch and
eel lake.
In the 1980s, mostly for recreative purposes, attempts were made to restore lakes like, e.g.
Verevi, Arbi, Ülemiste and Neitsijärv. Although the condition of the lakes was improved for several
years, persistent results were not achieved.
In the Soviet period an attempt was made to improve the status of Lake Lahepera (ca 100
ha) located near Lake Peipsi, using the method of mud removal. Despite previous thorough
chemical analysis and the establishment of 36 ha mud deposition fields, the work was not
completed: there was found no application for mud, technically low quality pumps roiled the water
and nutrient salts from mud entered the water. The condition of Lake Lahepera has deteriorated
during recent decades: water transparency has decreased almost three metres in comparison to the
year 1951, and the lake is often choked up in winter. Pumping of mud failed for technical reasons
also in Lake Väimela Alajärv.
In Lake Neitsijärv which was strongly contaminated from municipal waste water, profound
investigations were made in 1999 and 2000. The proposed plan of measures is still (2005) without
financing.
A complex method was used in Lake Ermistu in Tõstamaa: mud removal after lowering
water level and supplementing of the local fish community with valuable fish species. However,
water lowering failed and the local fish community remained unchanged. By now the lake has
changed into a typical makrophyte lake.
In Lake Arbi and Lake Verevi (town of Elva), mainly contaminated with municipal
wastewater, incoming wastewater was bypassed the lakes, which improved their condition.
In Lake Kaiavere water level was raised by one metre when a fish farm was built. After the
closing up of the farm, the regulators of water level were not attended and floods destroyed them.
Currently, biomanipulation is going on in Lake Ülemiste in Tallinn. The purpose is to
remove plankton-feeding non-predatory fish to reduce summer algal blooms. The lake serves as a
water supply reservoir for Tallinn. Despite the decrease in the external nutrient load, water
transparency in the lake is only 30-50 cm in summer, and blooms of blue-green algae account for
increasing the expenses for water purification. Although different methods were considered for
application in Lake Ülemiste, e.g. aeration, phosphorus deposition with addition of a coagulant, and
mud removal, biomanipulation was chosen as it is environment-friendly and does not disturb the
daily operation of waterworks.
Biomanipulation was successfully used also in Lake Harku near Tallinn during two years in
the 1990s. However, the effect disappeared also in a couple of years after terminating the process.
Still, modernisation of sewage treatment and water drainage systems markedly reduced the inflow
of nutrient salts into the lake.
The periods of extremely low water level have always brought along argument about the
need for regulation of water level in large and shallow Lake Võrtsjärv. The possibility to spare
water in the lake during a critical situation would avoid a drastic deterioration of the ecological
status of the lake, and would preserve the fish stock and maintain the recreational value of the lake.
Assessment of the environmental impact on water level regulation has not yet completed.
1.4 Current practices and available methods for management and restoration of
lakes
Restoration of lakes is a purposeful direction of biological processes in the ecosystems of a
lake or reservoir, or application of technical means for decreasing the load of nutrient salts or
increasing the amount of water and changing the species composition in a water body.
It is important to stop pollution and eutrophication by all means. Establishment of cattlesheds, settlements and industrial enterprises near lakes should be avoided. If this has already been
done, it is necessary to find ways to prevent reaching of pollution from there to a water body. It is
important to protect also the catchment area of a water body.
Method
Biomanipulation
Raising of water level
Removal of macrophytes
Regulation of nutrient load
Advantages
Efficient method, can be
combined with other mehods.
Creates favourable conditions
for fish. Improves markedly the
status of the lake.
Good method for restoring the
lakes with high macrophyte
coverage.
Comparatively easy to perform
if financed.
Disadvantages
Presumes profound knowledge
on food chain in water body.
Presumes profound geological
and hydrological investigations.
Presumes profound
investigations. Raising of water
level needed additionally.
Presumes good co-operation
between environmental
Removal of bottom sediments
Effective method.
Method of diffuse aeration
(Verner, 1994)
Relatively simple method to
favour oxidation processes in
stratified lakes.
Good for oxidation of stratified
lakes without spoiling the
thermocline.
Good for deep lakes with
polluted sediments. Relatively
short application time: 1.5-2
months. Long-term influence.
“LIMNO” system
RIPLOX method (Ripl, 1976;
1994)
“Contra-acid” system
officials, scientists and local
authorities.
Expensive special technology,
using thorough sediment
analysis. Hard to perform in
deep lakes. Problems with
finding a safe place for
sediment deposits.
Long duration of use.
Spoils the thermocline.
Long duration of use.
Is not always effective.
Presumes profound
investigation of the whole
water body, including
laboratory experiments with
sediments.
Good method against
acidification in lakes with high
content of humic substances.
Biomanipulation is controlling the growth and development of phytoplankton as the basis of the
foodweb to stop eutrophication of water bodies with ecological methods. The main idea of
biomanipulation is changing the proportions of the abundance of different trophic groups. The
method is often called “top-down foodweb control”.
Ecological control over plankton growth can be performed as:
1) removal of plankton- and benthos-feeding fish from a water body,
2) introduction of predatory fishes or zooplankton into a water body,
3) creation of better living conditions for predatory fishes and zooplankton,
4) expansion of habitats with a suitable substrate for filtrating river and lake mussels.
Biomanipulation is an effective method for balancing matter circulation in water bodies, but its
application assumes profound knowledge of the functioning of the ecosystem and complex
investigations of the water body. However, during biomanipulation process there often arise
problems which could not be foreseen before starting the work.
Raising of water level gives the positive results most definitely. In Estonia, the method was used
once, successfully, in Lake Kaiavere –. The method presumes intensive preparation: thorough
investigations and measurements, clearing of flooded shore regions from trees and brushwood, and
geological and hydrogeological investigations to find suitable places for water level regulators.
Removal of macrophytes is mostly used in lakes where the coverage of macrophytes is 100% and
the depth of the water body does not exceed 1-1.5 metres. Restoration of such water bodies is
complicated as in this case biological and landscape planning methods, as well as chemical and
hydrological methods are combined. Most macrophytes are removed from some lake parts for
recreative purposes. Restoration of the initial form of such lakes is practically impossible. As the
effect of this method is usually short-term, it is recommended to use it in combination with raising
of water level, decreasing of the pollution load and removal of bottom sediments.
Decreasing of the nutrient load presumes exact calculations of the nutrient balance for the lake.
The size of the catchment area and the nutrient load from point pollution sources and diffuse
pollution have to be considered. Good co-operation between scientists and local authorities is
needed. Establishment of sewage treatment plants and sewerage is an expensive but efficient
method for decreasing the nutrient load in water bodies.
Removal of bottom sediments is the most effective method of restoration of lakes, but there are
several restrictions to application of the method. The deeper is the lake, the more expensive and
more difficult it is to perform. It presumes thorough chemical analysis of sediments, special
equipment and big deposit basins. To avoid increase in nutrient concentrations in water, it is
important that removal of sediments takes place without roiling it. The amount of added water
should not exceed the amount of water pumped out, and the proportion of water and sediments
should remain constant during pumping.
“LIMNO” system is a method for oxidation of stratified lakes without damage to the thermocline.
The nutrient salts formed during oxidation remain in the aphotic water layer being bioavailable for
a short time. The phosphorus formed during oxidation adsorbs on insoluble iron hydroxides and,
as a result, the content of reactive phosphorus in water as well as primary production decrease
significantly. The concentration of inorganic nitrogen decreases 6-7-fold. The method should be
used over a longer time period, however, as it does not guarantee the desired result, it is sometimes
recommended to use chemicals for settling phosphorus instead.
RIPLOX method (Ripl, 1976; 1994) is suitable for water bodies where sediments are heavily
polluted. Use is made of oxidation, phosphorus binding and decomposition of organic matter
during denitrification process. Sediments are treated with a brake-like cultivator, through which
also compressed air and calcium nitrate are introduced into sediments. The added nitrates are
denitrified by bacteria that requiring nitrate oxygen for respiration. Treatment lasts for a relatively
short time period, 1-1.5 months, and the result will be maintained if the external nutrient load can
be restricted. The method is suitable when the ratio of nutrients to nutrient binding elements is low
and where simple aeration would give an undesired result, i.e. introducing more nutrients in water.
The method requires prior thorough investigations of the water body and sediments, and laboratory
experiments with sediments. The method was first used in Sweden, in Lake Lillesjön in 1975; the
lake is still in good condition.
“Contra-acid” system is useful for lakes with a high content of humic substances and a short water
retention period. Soda is introduced to sediments with a brake-like cultivator as in the case of the
Riplox method. As a result, the pH of water increases and phosphorus is released from humic
substances. This will result in a higher production of the water body. In Estonia, there is
practically no lack of plant nutrients, and the lakes are not threatened by acidification, however, in
some semidystrophic lakes rich in fish, decrease in pH can be fatal for fish. Therefore it would be
reasonable to apply the “contra-acid” system in lakes where the inflow of allochthonic humic
substances has recently increased, e.g because of land amelioration.
2 Administrative structure and legislation
2.1 Administrative structure
2.1.1. Institutions engaged in implementation of the Water Act









Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Estonia (Water Department and County
Environmental Departments) –ensuring of a good condition and sustainable exploitation of
Estonia’s groundwater and surface water bodies including the sea.
Ministry of Social Affairs (Health Care Department, Health Protection Inspectorate) –
management of drinking water.
Ministry of Agriculture (Rural Development Departments) – management of artificial and
heavily modified water bodies.
County Government – management of water related problems in counties.
Local Municipalities – management of local problems.
Environmental Inspectorate – supervision of the environment.
Environmental Investment Centre – financing of environmental activities for the
development of national environmental projects.
Estonian Environmental Research Centre – management of national environmental research.
Estonian Environmental Information Centre – collection and storing of all environmental
data.
2.1.2. Main organizations of water research




Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences,
Centre for Limnology – fundamental and applied research of Estonian inland water bodies.
University of Tartu, Estonian Marine Institute – marine research and research of fish
resources in Estonian inland water bodies.
Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences,
Department of Aquaculture – fish breeding and research of crayfish.
Wild Life Estonia – fish research in inland water bodies.
2.1.3. Permit for special use of water
A permit for special use of water is necessary in the case of the following activities:
 Using of surface water more than 30 m3 per day and night.
 Using of groundwater supply from the Cambrian-Vendian or Ordovician-Cambrian layers
more than 5 m3 per day and night.
 Using of mineral water.
 Discharging of wastewater or substances hazardous for the nature.
 Blocking and damming of a water body and lowering of water level.
 Dredging of a surface water body, covering of the bed of a water body with soil.
 Drowning of solid waste.
 Changing of physical, chemical or biological qualities of water.
When using private land, also the owner’s approval is needed. To avoid severe environmental
damage, a temporary permit for special use of water can be issued. The County Environmental
Departments are responsible for issuing permits for special use of surface and groundwater, the
Minister of the Environment issues permits for using sea water. Permits for special use of water are
not required for individual households or for management of surface water bodies.
2.2 Essential national legislation
Below are listed the acts of the Republic of Estonia in accordance with which the management and
the restoration of water bodies is carried out.
2.2.1. Laws
Water Act
The purpose of the Water Act is to guarantee the purity of groundwater, and ecological balance in
inland and transboundary water bodies. The Water Act regulates the use and protection of water, the
relations between the landowners and the water users and the development of water management
plans.
Nature Conservation Act
The purpose of this Act is to protect the natural environment by promoting the preservation of
biodiversity through ensuring natural habitats and a favourable conservation status for the fauna,
flora and fungi; to preserve natural environments with a cultural or aesthetical value, or their
elements; to promote sustainable use of natural resources. An important aspect of the Nature
Conservation Act is protection of the seashore and coast.
Fishing Act
The purpose of Fishing Act is to regulate relations in fishery and in collection of aquatic plants and
to provide main requirements for these activities. During fishing and collection of aquatic plants,
the reproduction capacity of their stocks and the productivity of water bodies shall be preserved,
and undesirable changes in the ecosystem of water bodies shall be avoided.
The Law on Sustainable Development
The Act sets out regulations on sustainable use of the natural resources. The purpose of sustainable
use of the natural environment and natural resources is to guarantee an environment meeting human
needs and necessary resources for economic development without causing any significant damage
to the environment and maintaining natural diversity. Planning of the actions related to transboundary environmental impact takes place in international co-operation. Estonia was among the
states that signed the Rio documents in 1992.
Pollution Charge Act
The Act provides the rates of the charge to be paid for release of pollutants or waste into the
environment and the procedure for calculation and payment of the charge. According to this law,
financing of liquidation of damage to the environment, restoration of the environmental state,
contribution to natural restoration of renewable natural resources, and research of supplementary
stocks of non-renewable resources and of the possibilities of recycling of wastes takes place through
the Environmental Research Centre.
Environmental Monitoring Act
This Act provides the organisation of environmental monitoring, the order of processing and storing
obtained data, and the relations between the persons carrying out environmental monitoring and the
owners or possessors of immovables.
Environmental Supervision Act – sets out the essence of environmental supervision and
establishes the rights and obligations of the institutions that implement environmental supervision
and of the institutions and individuals that are subject to environmental supervision and the order of
supervisory activities.
2.2.2. Government Regulations
List of species to be protected under protection categories I and II. The Regulation lists all
plant, fungal, lichen and animal species protected in Estonia under protection categories I and II.
Protection category I: species which are rare in Estonia, are located within restricted geographical
areas, in a few habitats, in isolation, or whose population is sparsely scattered over an extensive
area; species which are in danger of disappearance, whose population been reduced as a result of
human activity, whose habitats have been damaged to a critical point and whose extinction in the
Estonian wild is likely if the adverse impact of harmful factors continue to act.
Protection category II: species which are in danger due to their small or declining populations and
whose range in Estonia is decreasing due to overexploitation, destruction or damaging of their
habitats; species which are likely to exposed to the danger of being destroyed if the existing
environmental factors continue to act.
List of species to be protected under protection category III - species whose population is
endangered by the destruction or damaging of their habitats and has been reduced to a point at
which they may be included in the category of endangered species if harmful factors continue to
act; species which were included in the protected category I or II but which, due to application of
necessary protective measures, are not in danger of destruction.
Fishing Rules (rules of fishing and collection of aquatic plants) – the regulation regulates fishing in
inland water bodies, in coastal and territorial waters and in the economic zone and the protection
areas.
2.2.3. Regulations of the Minister of the Environment
List of protected water bodies that serve as habitats for salmonids and cyprinids and the
requirements for the quality of water and monitoring – this order establishes the list of protected
water bodies that serve as habitats for salmonids and cyprinids and the requirements for the quality
of water and monitoring.
Maximum limits of hazardous substances in soil and groundwater. Maximum limits of
hazardous substances serve as the basis for assessing the condition of soil and groundwater and, if
necessary, for planning the measures to be employed in order to improve their condition. For the
purpose of this order, the maximum limits of hazardous substances are the reference value and the
target value. In the case of soil, reference values are given for dry soil. The reference value is the
concentration of hazardous substance in soil or in groundwater which, when exceeded, indicates
that the soil or groundwater is polluted and hazardous to human health and the environment.
Establishing water quality classes of surface water bodies, the values of quality indicators of
water quality classes and the procedure for determination of water quality classes – the order sets
out the allowed limit concentrations of different substances for different water quality classes.
2.2.4. Order of the Minister of the Environment
Organisation of development of water management plans and supervision of their
implementation - according to this order, the Ministry of the Environment is responsible for
coordinating relevant activities in three river-basins (West-Estonian, East-Estonian, Koiva) and 8
county environmental departments are responsible for coordinating the activities in 8 sub-river
basins (Harju, Pandivere, Viru, Peipsi, Võrtsjärve, Pärnu, Matsalu, Western Islands).
2.2.5. Other national plans related to water management
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National Environmental Strategy (NES) adopted by the Parliament in March 1997. It sets
out ten priority goals for environmental policy. The first goal is Stimulation of
Environmental Awareness and environmentally friendly consumption patterns. At present,
the Estonian Environmental Strategy is being updated.
National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP)
Estonian National Development Plan
Estonian Rural Development Plan
Estonian success 2014
"Sustainable Estonia 21“ (SE 21). The SE 21 is a strategy for the state and for the whole
society. SE 21 takes into consideration our traditional values and the idea of sustainable
development and it establishes the priority goals for policy and identifies long-term
objectives/targets to be achieved by 2030.
2.3 Current state of the implementation of the Water Framework Directive
2.3.1. General facts about Estonia:
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Lakes – 5% of the territory, the area of 1200 lakes over 1 ha.
Rivers – 31 000 km, > 7000, the longest 162 km.
Wetlands – cover 22% of the territory.
Forests – ~ 48% of the territory.
Agricultural land – 10% of the territory.
More than 1200 permits for special water use issued.
Availability of hydro energy (less than 1% of total energy production).
Mining water accounts for ~ 80% of use of groundwater.
Of total use of water ~ 88% water is related to energy production (cooling water).
Experience of water management in Estonia
In 1960-1980 – the territory of Estonia was divided between 4 watersheds managed by the Water
Management Council. Environmental departments were established in 1973, which introduced
administrative approach to water management. Since 2000 the territory is divided into 9 river
basins.
Main water issues today
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How to ensure cost-effective water services – how to make investments ensuring the right
price of water?
Reorganization of water companies – will new changes ensure their sustainability?
Management of large scale investment projects – what are the responsibilities of inhabitants
and self-governments?
Public interest in coastal areas – how to reach integrated management of coastal areas?
Safe navigation vs. economic growth.
Conflict of thinking in rural areas, sustainability of rural life.
Implementation of the EU CAP.
Main documents on the Water Policy and their goal
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National Environmental Strategy.
Environmental Action Plan.
National development plans.
River basin management plans.
EU directives.
To guarantee good quality of drinking water by 2015 and a common water supply and sewage
system for 90% of inhabitants.
To set up a common sewage systems and sewage purification for settlements with 2000 or more
inhabitants by 2010.
To ensure a good status of all waters by 2015.
2.3.2. Main differences between the Water Act of Estonia and the EU Water Framework
Directive
These involve:
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Classification of water bodies (natural and artificial).
Identification of types and classes
Formation of water aggregations (one water body can consist of several water
accumulations)
Assessment of different impacts (impacts of different objects on water)
Assessment of risks (which water bodies are at risk)
Identification of environmental goals and their fulfilment
Economic analysis (covering of expenses)
Programme of measures and its structure (what measures will be applied and when)
Monitoring programme (what kind of monitoring will be carried out and when)
Areas requiring protection (realtion to water management)
Before the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) the legislation of Estonia did
not deal with the above issues in detail.
For example, in accordance with the Water Act of Estonia:
 Surface water – constantly or temporarily standing or flowing water in a water body or
water contained in snow or ice accumulations but not seawater.
 Water body – constantly or temporarily flowing (river, stream) water or slowly flowing
water (lake, sea, reservoir).
However, according to the WFD:
 Surface water – inland waters, except groundwater; transitional waters and coastal waters,
except in respect of chemical status for which it shall also include territorial waters.
 Body of surface water – a discrete and significant element of surface water such as a lake, a
reservoir, a stream, river or canal, part of a stream, river or canal, transitional water or a
stretch of coastal water.
The concept of the directive is more concrete and exact owing to which it is necessary to redefine or
specify our water bodies again to render a body of surface water as a discrete element of surface
water.
2.3.3. Implementation of the Water Framework Directive
Applying the Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires divisionof the territory of Estonia into
river basin districts, i.e. the fundamental administrative units of water resources management for the
WFD. All inland and costal waters, as well as aquifer systems, are divided or grouped in their turn
into water bodies forming the lowest management level of water resources.
The subdivision of Estonia into three River Basin Districts (RBD) takes into account two
international districts: the Southern District, comprising the river Gauja basin (shared with Latvia),
the Eastern District including the Narva River, Lake Peipsi, and the rivers drained towards the Gulf
of Finland; and the Western District including the rivers flowing into the Gulf of Finland, the Gulf
of Livonia, and the rivers of the islands Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, Muhu and Vormsi. The Ministry of the
Environment is responisble for data collection for all three basins.
Recent activities aimed at the implementation of WFD
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2000 amendemnet of the Water Act.
2001 establishment of the River Basin districts.
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2001, compiling of the guidelines for the development of the water management plan.
2002 beginning of the development of water management plans.
2003 harmonisation of the Water Act with WFD.
2004 adoption of the first two water management plans for sub-river-basins (Pandivere and
Pärnu).
2005-2006 deadline for completion of water management plans for all other sub-river
basins.
The present water management plans for the sub-river-basins do not take into consideration all
WFD aspects as adoption of requirements is not justfied before the period of respective activities.
Objectives of sub-district water management plans
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To create a unified system for dealing with water management problems.
To consider River basin-based management.
To present an overview of the main water related problems in the sub-districts.
To identify the necessary actions aimed at solving the problems.
T o work out a programme of measures to achieve the set objectives.
The activities under Article 5 of WFD, May 2005:
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Description of river basin characteristics.
Survey of the impacts of human activity on the status of surface water and groundwater.
Summary of economic analyses.
Register of the protected areas (map).
Further activities
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Defining all artificial and heavily modified water bodies during years 2005-2006.
Development of a monitoring plan 2006.
Drawing up of the programme of measures for achieving the objectives 2007-2008.
Completion of water management plans (WMP) 2009.
Implementation of water management plans 2009-2015.
3 Actors
3.1 Tasks of different stakeholders and networking
Most of Estonian surface water bodies are in the possession of the state. A water body can be in the
possession of a person only when the whole of it is located within the premises, or when the whole
catchment area of a river or stream is located on private land.
As the all biggest water bodies are in the possession of the state, we restoration cannot be done
without a government approval. For all restoration activities, a permit for special use of water
should be obtained from the Ministry of the Environment (MoE). Management and restoration of
lakes are mainly financed through the state budget or through foundations. Public procurement for
finding out appropriate contractors should be announced if the budget exceeds 300,000 EEK. Public
procurement is not necessary when all costs are covered by a local municipality (LM), an
enterpreneur or a private individual.
If a surface water body is in the possession of the local municipality and if restoration process does
not affect other water bodies then the order can be placed and the costs can be covered by the
municipality.
Possible ways of restoration of lakes in Estonia.
1) Restoration is planned in the framework of programme of measures (water management plan).
 MoE or LM appies for the execution of a project to establish possibilities of restoration of a
water body. If the project is applied by LM it must cover 10% of all related costs.
 Financing is applied according to the results of the restoration project for performing
relevant activities.
 The winner of public procurement (research or educational organization) will carry out
restoration.
2) The concern of local inhabitants, enterprise or municipality about the condition of a surface water
body.
 An enterpreneur or a private individual will apply to LM or MoE County Environmental
Department regarding the problem of the restoration of the water body.
 MoE or LM will place an order for a project for establishment of the possibilities of
restoration of the water body.
 If the applicant does not have own financial resources, they must apply for financing form
the state budget or from foundations. If the project is applied by LM or an enterpreneur they
must have 10-50% of own financial resources.
 Financing should be applied for according to the reults of the restoration project.
 The activity will be undertaken by an organization who has won public rocurement
(research or educational organization).
Until today (before the completion the water management plans) all lake restoration activities were
carried out according the second scenario. These activities mainly involved water level regulation,
cleaning of shore areas and, in the case of artificial lakes, sediment removal. Main activities were
reduction of pollution from point- and diffuse sources. In cooperation with the Centre for
Limnology, the Estonian University of Life Sciences and the Finnish Environment Institute have
performed successful activities of bio-manipulation in Lake Ülemiste.
3.2 Overview of research and educational institutions
The Estonian research and educational organizations engaged in some way in the improvement of
the status of water bodies:
Organization
Estonian University of
Life Sciences, Institute of
Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences,
Centre for Limnology
University of Tartu,
Faculty of Biology and
Geography, Institute of
Zoology and
Hydrobiology
University of Tartu,
Estonian Marine Institute
Tallinn University of
Technology, Institute of
Geology
Tallinn University,
Institute of Ecology
Wild Life Estonia
Estonian Meteorological
and Hydrological Institute
Task
Fundamental and applied
research of Estonian inland
water bodies. Teaching of
students and post-graduate
students.
Research of hydrobiology
and fish resources of
inland water bodies and
the sea. Teaching of
students and post-graduate
students.
Research of the structure
and functioning of the
ecosystems of the Baltic
Sea. Assessment of the
status of aquatic living
resources and
prognostication for their
sustainable exploitation
and protection. Teaching
of students and postgraduate students.
Applied research of
environmental geology,
hydrogeology, and nature
protection.
Fundamentals of
restoration of ecosystems
under strong impact of
human activity. Teaching
of students and postgraduate students.
Research of aquatic
species. Natura 2000
protected species.
Meteorological and
hydrological monitoring.
Web page
http://www.zbi.ee/limno
http://www.ut.ee/BGZH/
hydrobioloogia.htm
http://www.sea.ee
http://www.gi.ee
http://www.eco.edu.ee
http://www.emhi.ee/
4 Sources of funding for restoration projects
Applicant
Financier
Ministry of the
Environment
Environmental
Investment
Centre
County
Environmental
Department
Environmental
Investment
Centre
Local municipality
Environmental
Investment
Centre
State institutions
engaged in
environmental
protection
Environmental
Investment
Centre
Environmental
Environmental
Investment
company/organization Centre
Environmental
foundation and
association
Environmental
Investment
Centre
Other associations
and organization
Environmental
Investment
Centre
How much
(%) can be For what
applied
purpose
100
All
restoration
projects
100
All
restoration
projects
90
All
restoration
projects
90
All
restoration
projects
90
All
restoration
projects
90
All
restoration
projects
50
All
restoration
projects
Prerequisetes for a project
to be financed
Proper application, urgency
(importance) of the project,
budget, justification + price
offer
Proper application, urgency
(importance) of the project,
budget, justification + price
offer
Proper application, urgency
(importance) of the project,
budget, justification, own
financial resources (10%) +
price offer
Proper application, urgency
(importance) of the project,
budget, justification, own
financial resources (10%) +
price offer
Proper application, urgency
(importance) of the project,
budget, justification, own
financial resources (10%) +
price offer
Proper application, urgency
(importance) of the project,
budget, justification, own
financial resources (10%) +
price offer
Proper application, urgency
(importance) of the project,
budget, justification, own
financial resources (50%) +
price offer
Additional financing can be applied from the European Regional Development Foundation (ERDF).
5 Procedure of restoration planning and implementation
The degradation of a natural lake environment worldwide has become of increasing concern not
only to ecologists and environmentalists but also to politicians and the general public. Shallow lakes
are among the most important and most threatened ecosystems on the earth. They provide habitat
for a rich diversity of animal and plant life.
The following part describes the content and process of preparing restoration and
management plans for eutrophic lakes. Target group represents persons who are involved in
management of such lakes, or who are influencing the lake ecosystem with their activity:
1) technicians
2) stakeholders
3) decision makers
Basic issues
Development and implementation of a lake restoration and management is a time consuming
task involving personnel and financial resources. First, one has carefully to answer the following
principal questions:
1) Is the lake restoration or management plan needed for the lake? If yes, then why?
2) Is the need for the lake restoration or management plan only seen by yourself or by your
institution? What do other stakeholders think about the plan?
3) Who will be responsible for the implementation of the lake restoration or management plan?
Check with different interested groups how they will be involved in the process. Do you
have convincing arguments to motivate them towards a positive attitude, e.g. general
conditions which have to be fulfilled, solutions to serious conflicts of interests, projects to
improve the image of politicians? Would your institution be approved as a co-ordinator of
the process?
4) Have you identified all relevant local actors and the way how they will be involved in the
process?
5) Does your institution have the necessary personnel and financial resources to lead the
elaboration of the lake restoration or management plan? A lake restoration or management
plan requires analysis of existing data and information for analysing the actual situation. Do
you have a professional background to co-ordinate this process?
6) Do you know examples of success in situations similar to yours? Other examples, both
positive and negative are, very helpful in preparing realistic lake restoration or management
plan. Get in contact with other interested groups. Invite them to meetings and ask them for
advice and feedback. Practical experience is much more convincing than theoretical
planning.
7) Is your organisation able and willing to accept a compromise?
The lake restoration or management plan for the lake ecosystem is part of a dynamic and continuing
management planning process. The plan should be kept under review adjusted to take into account
the monitoring process, changing priorities, and emerging issues. Lake restoration and management
planning should be regarded as a continuous long-term process. Planning should begin with
producing a minimal plan that meets, as far as the resources allow, the requirements of the lake and
of the organisation responsible for managing the lake. The management plan will be amplified as
information becomes available.
The most important functions of a lake restoration and management plan are:
1) To identify the objectives of lake restoration or management
2) To identify the factors that affect or may affect restoration
3) To resolve conflicts
4) To define monitoring requirements
5) To identify and describe the management required to achieve the objectives
6) To obtain resources
7) To enable communication within and between sites, organisations and stakeholders
8) To demonstrate that restoration and management will be effective and efficient
9) To ensure compliance with local, national, and international policies.
6 National best practices and special expertise in methods and
projects
6.1 Examples of completed restoration projects in Estonia
There are no completed successful lake restoration projects in Estonia, however some lake
management plans have been rather effective.
Rearrangement of fishery in Lake Võrtsjärv
In order to increase the stocks of valuable commercial fishes in L. Võrtsjärv, a number of
measures, suggested by ichthyologists of the Centre of Limnology, have been put into practice. It
became evident that active trawling caused harm especially to the pikeperch stock. The use of
trawls was gradually restricted within 1966-1970, and finally stopped. As a result of these
measures, the fishing mortality of pikeperch fell sharply and its stock and catches began to increase
rapidly (fig. 4). The increased pressure of big predatory fishes has caused a significant reduction in
the stock of ruffe and roach. This project can be regarded as the most successful project of lake
management in Estonia up to now.
80
Annual catch, tonns
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1935
1945
1955
1965
1975
1985
1995
Figure 4. Annual catch of pike-perch in Lake Võrtsjärv.
Biomanipulation in Lake Ülemiste
Biomanipulation as a method of lake restoration was applied in Lake Ülemiste in the year
2003. Until now some preliminary results are only available. Some positive trends, including
increase in the biomass and number of big predatory fishes, are already seen in Lake Ülemiste. This
is the second attempt in Estonia to put this method into practice. After the decrease of fish biomass
due to massive fishing (2.5 fold according to monitoring data with multisize gillnets) the spring
clear water period increased in year 2005 (fig. 5).
Secchi
200
180
1998
160
2003
140
2004
120
2005
100
80
60
40
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
0
November
20
Figure 5. Seasonal changes of water transparency according Secchi depth in Lake Ülemiste in years
1998-2005.
Biomanipulation in Lake Harku
In Estonia, this method was first used in Lake Harku, as a result of which some positive
trends in water quality were seen in the middle of 1990s after a massive catch of cyprinid fish. Due
to the lack of funding the removal of fish was stopped and non-predatory fishes were not caught in
sufficient numbers and the desired goal was not achieved.
8
Summary and needs for development
To assess the status of management and restoration of eutrophied lakes in Estonia, SWOT analysis
proceeds on the basis of prior chapters.
Strengths.
 Good theoretical and practical basis for preparation of lake restoration projects
 Good co-operation with experts from neighbouring countries (e.g. Finland, Sweden)
 Some good examples of management of fishery in lakes
 Long-term experiences in management of eel in lakes
 Improved status of many lakes due to reduced external nutrient load from agriculture after
the collapse of the Soviet type agriculture
 Improved situation in sewage treatment and drainage systems
 Application of the European Water Framework Directive
 Execution of water management plans
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Elaborated order for planning and realization of restoration of lakes
Several sources of funding for restoration projects
Weaknesses.
 No good example of a successful and fully completed lake restoration project in Estonia
 Non-execution of theoretically prepared projects because of the lack of financing
 Projects are not financially rewarding, people do not see indirect benefit from restoration of
lakes
 Lack of co-operation between different groups of interest
 High price and poor availability of good technology
 Yet poor or not sufficient good situation in sewage treatment and drainage systems in rural
areas
Opportunities.
 Economic growth creates interest in and possibilities for funding restoration projects by the
state and by local authorities
 Developing tourism and private entrepreneurship creates the need for and interest in
sustainable management and/or restoration of lakes and, which serves also as a good source
of financing.
 Co-operation of different groups of interest enables multi-purpose management of lakes
 Valuation of voluntary work
 Learning from experts and co-operation with other countries
Threats.
 Hurrying and economising in the phase of planning of restoration of a lake: insufficient
investigations, selection of wrong method(s)
 Good results of restoration of lakes are not guaranteed
 Possible failure of restoration, deterioration of the status of a lake
 Fast developing tourism: increasing number of visitors at lakes, lack of facilities or their low
level, disorganization, etc., can result in deterioration of the status of water bodies
 Fast privatization process: new land owners are not aware of legislation and special
regulations
 Different groups of interest do not agree about the aims and scope of restoration of a lake
To conclude, in quickly developing Estonia, the perspective for successful improvement of the
status of lakes, either through sustainable management or through restoration, is highly
promising. Several strengths as the preparation of future specialists, training of active mangers,
co-operation with experts from abroad, improving of the legislation, increasing financial and
technical capability, etc. help overcome the weaknesses and threats of this process.
References
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Environment Information Centre ; Compiled and edited by A. Raukas
Tallinn : Estonian Environment Information Centre
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Ripl, W. 1976. Biochemical oxidation of polluted lake sediment with nitrate. A new restoration
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Ripl, 1994. Restoration methods and techniques. Sediment treatment. In: Restoration of Lake
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