APPLICATION OF A CONCEPTUAL WATER BUDGET MODEL FOR SALDA LAKE, (BURDUR/ TURKEY)

Abstract

Sustainable water resources management is a priority issue today. One of the major problems in the sustainable usage of lakes is the estimation of water budget components. The determination of the water budget of lakes is fundamental to an understanding of their hydrological characteristics. The Salda Lake is an inland closed basin and located within the Lake District of Turkey. In addition, the Salda Lake is one of the important wetlands of Turkey and is in the status of protected areas. Therefore, the Salda Lake is indispensable water source for region. The Salda Lake area is 44.7 km2 and lake level is 1136.5 m. In this study, conceptual water balance model of the Salda Lake was developed. Recharge of the Salda Lake is supplied from especially precipitation, surface and groundwater inflow. The directly recharge from the precipitation was calculated as 22.04 (x106) m3/year. The discharge components of the lake are evaporation. The evaporation amount from the lake was determined as 53.98 (x106) m3/year. The unmeasured recharge from groundwater was calculated as 26.33 (x106) m3/year. According to rainfall, evaporation and the lake water level relations, rainfall is dominantly effective on the lake water level change.