Problems of wetlands and rehabilitation proposals: Case study of Akgol wetland

Putting forth the basic issues and the general status of wetlands in the world and inTurkey, analysing the differences of improvement methods and evaluation wetland rehabilitation techniques by researching in accordance with integrated watershed management approach and the principle of sustainability constitute the subject of this thesis. In this regard, the global distribution of wetlands, their general situation in Turkey and the fundamental problems of the wetlands in the world and in Turkey have been explained in detail and these issues have been grouped under five main headings. The fundamental problems that cause the extinction of wetlands which are considered as natural wealth museums of the world due to their biodiversity, potential for production, natural functions and economic benefits have been identified as follows; • Shortages in the amount of water in wetlands and drying for the purpose of providing land for agriculture or settlements, • Deterioration of water quality in wetlands, • Habitat destruction of wetlands, • Management issues in wetlands and • Insufficient public awareness and participation in management. Thus, it has been attempted to put forward the reasons for the need of wetland-based management plans. Dealing with the legal basis of the wetland management in our country, the administrative management of wetlands and the basic principles of the concept of wetland management plan; the methods of restoration, rehabilitation, creation and improvement applied in wetlands are identified within the scope of this study. It has been determined that the most appropriate healing method for wetlands among these concepts is 'rehabilitation' concept and rehabilitation techniques for improving wetlands have been discussed in detail. The recent examples of wetland rehabilitation practices especially in developed countries have been examined within the framework of the relevant issues. In view of the fact that this study is a supporting example for the section which asserts the development of a management plan for wetlands and the development of rehabilitation techniques, reseraches have been made in the Akgol Wetland which is one of the important wetlands on the bird migration routes in our country. As a result of thorough literature rewiew, the factors which cause the quantity and quality losses of wetlands in the instance of Akgol Wetland, which has been declared as a 1st degree natural site area have been identified and scientific contributions for rehabilitation of these problems have been intended. It is the ultimate objective to set ground for these processes in the development phase of the Akgol Wetland Management Plan and in the development of the management strategy for the area. Thus, rehabilitation recommendations on the basis of the wetland have been developed for the first two major problems (quantity and quality) of the wetlands that exist in the Akgol Wetland. In the scope of the thesis, it has been given such information that the international and national wetland legislation has been continuing to be developed and the wetland management plans in our country have reached to 25 by year 2017. In order to implement the plan before the phase of working out the management plan, it has been attempted to put forth the necessity of the development of rehabilitation techniques special for wetlands and performing maintenance and evaluation studies at regular intervals in wetlands within the scope of the thesis. It is of great importance to develop wetland management plans which comply with worldwide rehabilitation techniques in our developing country as well. In this context, the most basic rehabilitation recommendations developed against two of the major problems which are water shortage and deterioration of water quality are summarized below in terms of forming a base for the management plan of the Akgol Wetland. Within the scope of rehabilitation techniques applied for the improvement of water content and the construction of hydrology, the minimum volume of water that will keep Akgol alive and sustain the ecosystem throughout the year is 5 million m3. It has been put forth that in order to reach such water volume, the water promised in the construction stages of the dams blocking the water sources feeding the wetland have to be released to the wetland and other natural / artificial flows coming to the area have to be released for the sustainability of Akgol Wetland within the scope of the thesis. It is also emphasized that it must be ensured to strengthen the dike whose construction was completed in 2013 in order to increase and protect the water quantity and to eliminate the erosion and damage occurred over time at certain intervals within the scope of this study. The use of water for agricultural purposes which constitutes an important part of the water consumption in the area is one of the measures that is determined to be reduced within the scope of the 'changing agricultural practices' technique among rehabilitation techniques. Structurally improvement of water distribution and discharge channels, implementation of pressurized irrigation systems (drop or sprinkling irrigation) instead of surface irrigation method and preparation of water distribution programs have been determined as the solution recommendations to be performed in the area concordantly. It has been confirmed that the major sources of pollution in the water streams coming through the closed and open channels to the wetland are Eregli Organized Industrial District (OID) wastewater and domestic wastewater of Eregli district within the scope of this study. Therefore, the most important step to be taken in terms of water quality is the release of domestic and industrial wastewaters to the wetland by treating in accordance with the provisions of the current Water Pollution Control Regulation (WPCR). The replacement of Eregli OID Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) with a facility operated by advanced treatment methods is one of the most important recommendations to be applied in the area in terms of improving water pollution. Thus, Eregli OID will be able to discharge the wastewater to the receiving environment in accordance with the discharge standards. In addition, it is emphasized that instead of the replacement of 10 year-old Eregli District WWTP facility having no space problem in the area where it has been constructed, establishing a more efficient and functional WWTP organization is an important step in terms of removing pollution from Akgol. Moreover, it has been revealed that the necessity of transformation of the approximately 6,4 km of closed and 14 km of open channel which transports effluent of the two mentioned treatment facilities to Akgol into a closed channel completely in order to prevent the agricultural irrigation with poorly treated wastewater discharges and drinking water of animal groups grazing in the wetland area from these channels. In order to prevent visual pollution, soil - water pollution caused by leachate or air pollution due to incineration, it is among the most important rehabilitation proposals emphasized within the scope of this study is absolutely necessary to remove the unsanitary solid waste dumpsite which is located near the wetland and serves Eregli district from the vicinity of wetland boundaries as stated in the Wetland Protection Regulation. During the implementation of all the rehabilitation proposals set out within the scope of this thesis, it is obvious that the mechanisms of self-control should be developed instead of legal constraints. Since the Akgol Wetland Area is an ecosystem in which interdisciplinary studies can be carried out with many characteristics, it is thought that this wetland-based management plan will serve as a model for the management plans to be formed in other wetlands. In this sense, the results of this work which reveals the issues of wetlands, brings rehabilitation proposals and sets ground for the work out of the management plan of Akgol Wetland, is important for the sustainability of wetlands.