Trophic status assessment of Anchar Lake, Kashmir

Abstract

The present study was carried on a Anchar Lake situated at a distance of 14 km in northwest of Srinagar at an altitude of 1584 m within the geographical coordinates of Lat. 34°20’ N and Long. 74°82’E. It is a single basined lake connected on the eastern side of Dal Lake through an inflow channel ‘Nallah Amir Khan’ via Gilsar and Khushalsar. Various physico-chemical parameters of water were assessed over a period of 12 months (December 2015 to November 2016) on monthly basis at four different sites. Results showed significant increase in Nitrate, Ammonia, Orthophosphate, Total Phosphorus indicating increased levels of pollutants in the lake due to anthropogenic pressures like discharge of sewage, agricultural runoff and urbanization.