The project team has prepared and published the Terms of reference for "Clean Ladoga" project scientists, who will implement a number of research activities on the following topics till the end of this year:
1. Anthropogenic load of point sources of pollution on the northern part of Lake Ladoga (July 17 - end of October, 2013)
- to carry out the collection of water samples from places of sewage discharge by point sources of pollution located on the Ladoga Lake shore and in Olonets area, as well as 500 m and 2 km away from the discharge points. Totally 19 sewage discharge points, 19 points located 500 m away from them and 10 points located 2 km away from them to be analyzed. As regards the latter case, the samples will be collected from both surface layer and bottom waters. Totally 65 water samples will be collected for the chemical analysis
- to assess the sewage water treatment efficiency in comparison with project data
- to assess the anthropogenic load of point sources of pollution on the northern part of Lake Ladoga, including the analysis of discharge outlets to rivers
- to prepare the final report on the topic
2. Anthropogenic load of nonpoint sources of pollution on the northern part of Lake Ladoga (July 17 - end of October, 2013)
- to carry out the collection of water samples from mouths of rivers - tributaries of the northern part of Lake Ladoga. Totally 16 water samples will be collected for the chemical analysis
- to assess the amount of anthropogenic wastes in river waters discharged by nonpoint (agricultural) and point sources of pollution
- to assess the anthropogenic load caused by nonpoint sources of pollution - trout farms located in the northern part of Lake Ladoga
- to prepare the final report on the topic
3. The assessment of Atlantic salmon and freshwater pearl mussel population condition in the Northern Priladozhje waters
The research is aimed at preparation of proposals for Atlantic salmon and freshwater pearl mussel population recruitment in the Ladoga Lake basin with due regard to environmental capacity of spawning river areas. It will allow to create conditions for the development of ecotourism and recreational fishing on neighboring Finnish and Russian territories, and will also contribute to tourist infrastructure development in Karelian and Finnish districts.
- Stage I (July-September, 2013): the assessement of river condition and population of juvenile Atlantic salmon in Northern Priladozhje rivers: Hiitola, Ihala, Tohma, Janisjoki, Suskuanjoki, Koirinjoki, Uuksa, Tulema, Miinala, Vidlitsa
- Stage II (September-October, 2013): the research of salmon rivers for discovery and conditioning of freshwater pearl mussel colonies (Hiitola, Ihala, Tohma, Janisjoki, Suskuanjoki, Koirinjoki, Uuksa, Tulema, Miinala, Vidlitsa rivers)
- Stage III (December, 2013): preparation and presentation of the final report
4. The assessment of current ecological condition of small rivers - tributaries of Lake Ladoga (August, 2013)
Chemical and biological analyses will be used for the assessment of anthropogenic load on chosen parts of rivers. The chemical analysis will reveal the levels of pH, electrical conductivity, basic ions and heavy metals; P and N. The biological analysis will define the soiling index through the study of phytoplankton, phytoperiphyton, zooplankton and zoobenthos structure.