Abstract
Long term record (1933-2014) of Water Level (WL), nutrient concentrations, plankton densities, and temperatures in the epilimnion of Lake Kinneret was analyzed. The aim is to identify if water quality is deteriorated when the WL is low. It was found that water temperature increased and the composition and biomass of plankton communities were modified. Nitrogen and TDP decreased but TP slightly increased in the epilimnion during low WL conditions. The quality of epilimnetic water was not deteriorated and followed by a slight oligotrophism trend.
Highlights
Lake Kinneret is the only natural freshwater lake in Israel located in the Syrian-African Rift Valley in northern Israel
The period after the construction of the south Dam, (1933-2014) or the period later than the operation of the National Water Carrier (NWC) (1965-2014) were considered and divided differently: the first divided into 4 groups of 20 years each
Measurements of the Jordan outlet threshold bottom indicated an altitude of −212.35 mbsl and Water Level (WL) data indicate water depths at the Jordan outlet of 4 m and 2 m in winter and summer respectively (Figure 1)
Summary
Lake Kinneret is the only natural freshwater lake in Israel located in the Syrian-African Rift Valley in northern Israel. The Israeli climate conditions are varied between desert in the south to subtropical in the north and mild Mediterranean in the center. 95% of the Israeli natural water resources are utilized. Rain distribution over Israel (total 7.9 bcm/y) varied between 1300 (north) < 100 (southern desert) mm/y: 70% evapo-transpiration, 5% runoffs, and 25% infiltration. Total national water supply is 2.11 bcm (109 m3) of which 0.55 bcm from the Kinneret-Jordan system and 0.7 bcm from desalination sources. Thirty percent (0.750 bcm/y) of supplied water is given as drinking qualities for housing consumption. The only open options to enhance water resources are desalination and recycling.
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