Habitat evaluation model for ecologically successful lake restoration

Anthropogenic activities have severely affected the quality of Qianling Lake, China, causing mud and sediment deposition, poor water quality, and degraded fish habitat. In some regions of the lake, fish habitat that was formerly dominant has disappeared completely. A few areas of desirable habitatpersist as a result of purposeful restoration actions, and these areas provide important conservation and restoration opportunities. In this study, the ecological conditions of Qianling Lale were assessed to identify hydrodynamic conditions, sediment deposition, and fish habitat suitability to recommend strategies for, improving and restoring, these areas. Two restoration strategies, flood flush and add an artificial island were proposed and modeled to predict the restoration effects. Simulation results showed that the restoration scheme add an artificial island' could improve spinibarbus (Spinibarbus sinensis Bleeker) habitat quality. The analysis also indicated that this restoration strategy could succeed in restoring the fish habitat under natural dynamic processes.