Application of Source IMS Lake Tai – China Dave Waters

Lake Tai (or Taihu) Lake Tai (or Taihu), is the 3rd largest freshwater lake in China (southern part of Yangtze River delta). Total area of Lake Tai approx. 2,338 km 2, average depth of 2m The lake provides water to 30 million residents. Lake Tai has been increasingly polluted due primarily to rapid economic growth and increased population in the basin area

(Google Earth) Wuxi City Yixing City Suzhou City Lake Tai Water Crisis in Lake Tai Large algal bloom outbreaks in Lake Tai since The most significant algal bloom broke out in 2007 in Mei Liang Bay near the Wuxi City, and led to the " Wuxi City Water Crisis. Huzhou City

2007 Water Crisis in Lake Tai - Water quality worse than Class V of the Surface Water Quality Standard (GB ). - Tap water supply in Wuxi City had to be temporarily terminated due to the crisis. - Led to the development of the Lake Tai Master plan 2008

Project Australian China Environmental Development Partnership (ACEDP) 5 year, $25Million Aust Gov. AusAID initiative Aimed at supporting and enhancing Policy development in China Working in areas of mutual interest – focus on water resource management

Aus Lake Tai Cluster AUS Cluster Lake Tai Team include: Earth Systems Melbourne Water DSE Victoria EPA Victoria Hyder Consulting Extension Activities: Existing AUS partners + DPI Victoria eWater Cooperative Research Centre Hunter Water Corporation

Chinese Lake Tai Cluster Lake Tai Basin Authority, China Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Science (NIGLAS) Environmental Research Institute, Suzhou Agricultural Bureau, Suzhou

The Lake Tai Project Demonstration of eWater tools November 2010 Resulted in a 1 year project - commenced March 2011 Workshops China/Australia 2011 Base models and scenario development Final meeting January 2012

Working Group in China June 2011

Visit to Australia September 2011

SOURCE IMS PROJECT OBJECTIVES Building capacity within the Chinese working group Apply Source IMS model to a pilot area (Dongshan Peninsula) Model demonstration to improve non point source nutrient management into the lake and inform policy

Model Development Pilot Area Dongshan Peninsula (82 km 2 ) Modelling water Quantity, Nitrogen, Phosphorus 7 landuse categories of interest Assessing relative contribution for each landuse Running a range of scenarios to look at management options to reduce nutrient export to Lake Tai

Lake Tai

Vegetables Industrial High Density Urban Low Density Urban Upland Trees Aquaculture Ponds Landuse

Aquaculture Ponds (50%)

Upland Fruit Trees (30%)

Vegetables (6%)

High Density Urban (10%)

Base Model Built

Modelling challenges Data access Data availability Replication of aquaculture pond management Replication of gate closure/pumping of rainfall runoff to lake

Source able to reflect aquaculture pond management

Canal gates closed at threshold lake level

Pumping to Lake Tai when gates closed

Scenarios Relocation of STP plant Conversion of remaining 20% septics Major wetland construction Improved management of inputs

Total Nitrogen Load

Conclusions Project has provided great exposure for eWater Source IMS flexibility key to success Versatility to be able to model rural/urban and regulated areas and simplicity attractive features to Chinese delegation

THANK YOU

The Lake Tai Project Activity Objectives: 1)Contribute to successful environmental governance mechanisms at Municipal, Province and Basin levels. 2)Assist greater use of science-based planning, management and interventions to support lake and river basin management to improve lake conditions 3) Contribute to a substantial decrease in the frequency and intensity of algae blooms as a result of specific and modern IRBM, science and management technologies.