Project Summary

Water Resources Management

INVESTIGATION OF POTENTIAL RECHARGE OF LAKE VEGORITIS IN PREFECTURE OF FLORINA

Client: Prefecture of Florina – Department of Land Reclamation
Year: 1999

ISSUE 
The purpose of the project was the investigation of the potential recharge of Lake Vegoritis in Prefecture of Florina.

SOLUTION 
The existing condition of the lake is described below:

•The absolute average elevation of the lake surface had been greatly reduced and was approximately at +509m.
•The area of the lake surface had been reduced approximately 51.5% and was 33km².
•The volume of the lake had been reduced approximately  67.8% and was 708 x 106m³.
•The entire lake had been connected to a system of dykes and tunnels, whereas in 1995 was an independent system without surface descharges into other natural or artificial recipient.
•The water quality of the lake had been deteriorated significantly and the water pollution had been highly increased.

The evaluation of the catchments in the broader area indicated potential recharge scenarios for the Lake Vegoritis which are presented below.

Recharge of Lake Vegoritis from Catchment Florina
The recharge of the lake from catchment Florina included the following works:

•Water intake works which included a terrace in the river bed for developing the required hydraulic flow regime, followed by an overflow weir for regulating the required diverted water volume.
•Pump station for lifting the water at elevation +730m.
•Small hydroelectric plant for power production from the diverted water flow.

Recharge of Lake Vegoritis from Subcatchment Edessaios
The recharge of the lake from subcatchment Edessaios was rejected for the following reasons:

•Dependence of the irrigation project of Edessaios (total irrigated area 5,500 hectares) upon the runoff from the subcatchment Edessaios through the tunnel Arnissa in Lake Nisiou.
•Operational problems in the hydroelectric stations of Agra and Agia Triada.
•Public opposition due to disturbance of the tourist, ecologic and fishery activities in the broader area.

Recharge of Lake Vegoritis from Subcatchment Almopaios
The recharge of the lake from subcatchment Almopais included the following works:

•Water intake works - Pump station for conveying water from Lake Polyfytou into Lake Vegoritis and lifting water at elevation +720m.

•Water pipeline with total length of 33km.
•Small hydroelectric plant for power production from the diverted water flow.

BENEFIT
The proposed potential recharge scenarios of Lake Vegoritis contributed in solving the environmental problem of the broader area of the lake.