Dominant conservation parameters to control environmental destruction of oxbow lake in Kapuas River Basin, Indonesia

Abstract

Global climate change has significantly impacted the ecosystem of a specific aquatic region, including its lake area. Lakes provide immense benefits in efforts to meet various needs and enhance community well-being. These include the provision of raw water for clean drinking, household and urban water supply, industry, supplemental irrigation for agriculture, hydroelectric power generation, and various other purposes. However, fluctuations in river water availability trigger adjustments in both the river flow patterns and their inherent characteristics. These modifications in land features and ecosystems have consequently brought the morphological transformations in rivers throughout the adjacent region. The characteristics and functions of oxbow lakes must be preserved, and conservation efforts must be undertaken. To maintain their functionality, it is essential to conduct a study to determine the dominant parameters that influence the characteristics of oxbow lakes. This study aims to identify the primary parameters for conservation efforts in oxbow lakes. Based on a field survey of physical conditions, most oxbow lakes exhibit suboptimal conditions, as nearly all water storage areas are already overgrown with wild vegetation and possess high sediment levels. It is essential to continuously monitor several parameters to maintain the performance of oxbow lakes. The results of this research show that the dominant parameters for the oxbow lake in west Kalimantan are divided into 3 (three) aspects: reservoir, oxbow lake embankment structure, and oxbow lake embankment crest.