Loch Leven 2007: trends in water quality and biological communities

Loch Leven is eutrophic and has suffered from periodic cyanobacterial blooms for many years. These blooms have had a direct impact on the various users of the loch and on the local economy. In terms of conservation interest, algal blooms reduce light penetration into the water, reducing macrophyte growth, with associated changes in macroinvertebrate, fish and bird communities. For these reasons the loch has been the focus for a series of restoration measures since the 1980s, specifically targeting reductions in the external nutrient load from a woollen mill and sewage works in the catchment. This report is one of a series that describe and interpret physical, chemical and biological information from Loch Leven on a regular basis to measure the success of restoration and inform on-going management. Temporal and spatial variation in a number of key water quality parameters in 2007 are presented and considered in relation to long-term trends and established restoration targets.