Last updated: October 2021
The main problem of Lake Ülemiste is high phytoplankton biomass, which increases the cost of water treatment (ref 1). Improving the water quality of Lake Ülemiste by biomanipulation has been considered as a management alternative. Lake Ülemiste was bio-remediated after reduction of external loading and the shifts in water quality were studied during the active-phase of the measure. (ref 1). Tallinn obtains 88% of the water it needs from Lake Ülemiste. Pine forest in the sanitary protection zone surrounding Lake Ülemiste offers several ecosystem services that help to improve the quality of the city’s drinking water (ref 4).
Source: https://mapcarta.com/13521868
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Lakes/ponds
Key challenges
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Improvements to water quality
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Green space creation and/or management
Focus
Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Protection of natural ecosystems, Other
Project objectives
The main objectives of this project were:
1. to reduce the chemical and energy costs of treatment caused by high phytoplankton biomass (ref 1)
2. Organization of more efficient protection against contamination of the catchment area around Lake Ülemiste as Tallinn’s surface water intake system and the supply of high-quality drinking water to inhabitants and other users (ref 1)
3. To improve water quality (ref 1)
4. A bio-remideation project was also carried out to make the food chain work and to get it under control. For this purpose, the fish population and biomass of the lake were monitored, predatory fish were introduced and non-predatory fish were caught (ref 2)
5. establishment of flood and stormwater management systems along the lake to maintain the quality and quantity of lake water (ref. 4)
Implementation activities
1. The renewal and expansion of the sanitary protection zone of Lake Ülemiste was completed in 2009 (ref 1)
2. Expanding the sanitary protection zone by more than was required under the Water Act (i.e. 90 metres) was deemed to be necessary (ref. 1)
3. A bio-remediation project as a lake restoration tool, was also carried out to intensify the lake management. For this purpose, approximately 180 metric tons of herbivorous in addition to demersal fish have been caught from lake Ülemiste. piscivorous fish was introduced into the lake (ref. 1)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Clear and control invasive alien species
- Other
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Researchers/University
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- National government
- Local government/municipality
- Private sector/corporate actor/company
- Researchers/university
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Unknown
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Lead organisation is the Water Utility company AS Tallinna Vesi, in which the city is one of the shareholders (ref 1) actors involved: In Biomanipulation project: Sven Miller (AS Tallinna Vesi), Ilkka Sammalkorpi (Finnish Environment Institute), Tiia Pedusaar (Estonian Environment Agency), Ain Järvalt & Kristel Panksep (Estonian University of Life Scineces) (ref 1)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
( Drinking Water Directive 98/83/EC (ref 1))
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(Tallinn Environmental Strategy to 2030 (ref 1))
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Unknown
Type of funding
- Unknown
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Improved stormwater management
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Improved prevention or control of invasive alien species
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Kampa E., Anzaldua G. and Langaas S. (2016). Rivers and lakes in European cities Past and future challenges. European Environment Agency. ETC/ICM task. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 19 July 2020)
2. Kampa E., Anzaldua G. and Langaas S. (n.d.) Rivers and lakes in European cities Past and future challenges. Annex. (Accessed: 19 July 2020)
3. Järvalt A. Tuvikene L. Pedusaar, T. Sammalkorpi I. and Hautala A. (n.d.) Restoration projects and bio-manipulation practice in Estonia. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 19 July 2020)
4. Tallinn City Council. (n.d.) Water-management Tallinn. Available at: Source link
5. Pedusaar, T. (2010). Management of Lake Ülemiste,a Drinking Water Reservoir (Doctoral thesis). Tallinn University of Technology. Available at: Source link. (Accessed: 19 July 2020)
2. Kampa E., Anzaldua G. and Langaas S. (n.d.) Rivers and lakes in European cities Past and future challenges. Annex. (Accessed: 19 July 2020)
3. Järvalt A. Tuvikene L. Pedusaar, T. Sammalkorpi I. and Hautala A. (n.d.) Restoration projects and bio-manipulation practice in Estonia. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 19 July 2020)
4. Tallinn City Council. (n.d.) Water-management Tallinn. Available at: Source link
5. Pedusaar, T. (2010). Management of Lake Ülemiste,a Drinking Water Reservoir (Doctoral thesis). Tallinn University of Technology. Available at: Source link. (Accessed: 19 July 2020)