Anthropogenic impact in and around Lake Coatetelco (south-central Mexico) from land use and landcover analysis between 1980 and 2020 CE

Abstract

Land use/land cover (Lu/Lc) changes of last four decades (1980–2020 CE) helped to evaluate the anthropogenic impacts in surroundings of the Lake Coatetelco at central-south Mexico. Reduction in lake area during an interval of more precipitation between 1980 and 1989 CE reflected the perturbations such as dredging of lake bottom sediment, and a growth in lake area (ca. 1.3 km2) after 2010 CE suggested more sedimentation from enhanced erosion in the watershed due to 2.5-fold increase in built-up land with more growth dynamicity at NNW, WWN and WWS of the lake. It caused the influence of agricultural sector to decline by gaining from the crop land and (uncultivated) fallow land. Lack of correspondence between the total population and increasing urbanization could be an indicator of migration from this region due to climate change. This pilot study provided baseline data in a rural part of Mexico about some of the important changes occurred in and around a perennial lake for assessment of the short- and long-term anthropogenic impacts and planning for their mitigation.