The Impact of Inhabited Areas on the Quality of Streams and Rivers of a High Alpine Municipality in Southern Kosovo

Halil Ibrahimi,Agim Gashi,Bardh Xërxa,Astrit Bilalli,Milaim Musliu,Linda Grapci-Kotori

doi:10.12912/27197050/135449

Halil Ibrahimi, Agim Gashi + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.12912/27197050/135449

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Abstract

The Impact of Inhabited Areas on the Quality of Streams and Rivers of a High Alpine Municipality in Southern Kosovo

Highlights

Dragash is the southernmost municipality in Kosovo, covering an area of 435.8 km2, sharing borders with the neighbouring countries of North Macedonia to the east and south, and Albania to the west
During the spring of 2011, forty-five macrozoobenthos samples were taken from streams and rivers all over the Dragash Municipality in order to assess the impact of inhabited areas in these freshwater ecosystems, considering the fact that there is no sewage treatment and waste management is dysfunctional in many parts of this Municipality
On the basis of the habitat structure evaluation, basic physical and chemical analysis and Family Biotic Index according to Hilsenhoff and EPT Index (Ephemeroptera Plecoptera Trichoptera), this study shows that the freshwater ecosystems in the Dragash Municipality are heavily polluted and impacted by human activities in their midstream and downstream segments

Summary

Introduction

Dragash is the southernmost municipality in Kosovo, covering an area of 435.8 km, sharing borders with the neighbouring countries of North Macedonia to the east and south, and Albania to the west. Dragash is rich in freshwater resources, with numerous water springs from the lowest altitudes to the highest areas above 2500 m, and on average 1130 mm/m2 rainfall per year. The average density for the municipality is 2.1 km of water courses per km of surface area, with 0.4 km of large permanent water courses and 1.7 km of smaller often temporary ones. 76% (700 km) of water courses in the Dragash municipality are located in the mountainous Gorë region, where river valleys and postglacial lakes contribute to the high number of waterways. About 24% of Dragash waterways are located in Opojë (215 km). Large water courses in Dragash are approximately 170 km in length. The two main lakes are Lake Shutman and Lake Brezna (Bank et al, 2014; Hajredini et al, 2013)

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