Part 2 - Sampling Program to Address Critical Knowledge Gaps in Lake Mulwala

"September 2004".

Project Number: Lake Mulwala water quality study.

MDFRC item.

Part 2 of 4 part report (see Executive summary: Lake Mulwala Water quality study), Part 1: A review of the existing studies on Lake Mulwala and its catchment), (Part 3: Results of sampling program to address critical knowledge gaps identified in assessing the environmental condition of Lake Mulwala) and (Part 4: Developing a monitoring strategy for Lake Mulwala).

Following a review of existing studies on Lake Mulwala and its catchment (Howitt et al. 2004) five key knowledge gaps were identified. - Sediment quality in the Lake; - Does Lake Mulwala thermally stratify?; - Assessment of vegetation condition surrounding the Lake; - Understanding the factors affect algal distribution in the Lake; - Is Lake Mulwala a net source or sink for nutritients? An experimental program is presented to address the first 4 of these knowledge gaps.