Current aspects of freshwater quality protection in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation

Abstract

The state of freshwater reservoirs is a component of the complex conceptual space of the Arctic zone. On the example of the largest reservoir of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation Lake Imandra, the article describes the current trends in water quality changes due to the massive development of potentially toxic cyanobacteria, which is not typical of high latitudes. “Blooming” of waters deteriorates water quality, causes deaths of valuable fish species, deteriorates the recreational attractiveness of water bodies. As a result of complex long-term observations, the main reasons for these phenomena were established. These are a change in the hydrochemical parameters of water along with the Arctic climate system. A decrease in the intake of toxic heavy metals and a high level of biogenic elements have created favorable conditions for the development of phytoplankton, including cyanoprokaryotes. To prevent the environmental risks of water quality deterioration and justify the adoption of strategic decisions for drinking and fishery water bodies in the urbanized regions of the Arctic, it is recommended to control the concentration of nutrients and the ratio of ammonium nitrogen to nitrate nitrogen.