Water Ecological Assessment of Lake Sulzkar (National Park Gesäuse)

In order to obtain a first in-depth insight into the water ecological status and conservation value of the stillwaters affected by grazing livestock and fishing use, the Gesäuse National Park Administration has under the management of Mag. Daniel Kreiner commissioned this study in 2003. It is part of the interdisciplinary project Pilot Study Sulzkaralm, in which a further hydrobiological survey on the Sulzkaralm is associated with the processing of important spring waters (Weigand & Graf, 2005). A first hydrogeological study of the environment of the Sulzkar Sea and survey of the morphology of the subsoil was recently carried out as part of another subproject (Pavuza & Stummer, 2003). Limnological/hydrobiological data have not yet been collected in Lake Sulzkar. This report is a limnological focus of the water of 3 October 2003 and summarises the first hydrochemical, plankological, macrozoobenthological and fisheries results. In addition to a first limnological characterisation of the lake, the basic data collected will also assess the extent of anthropogenic influence from a hydrobiological point of view. Management proposals for the long-term restoration of the natural water status are already to be broadly demonstrated if possible. The current situation of Lake Sulzkar, with fishing use and unprotected access to grazing livestock, does not meet the IUCN National Park Category II requirements. The lake is completely located in the core zone, which clearly defines the goal of a natural development that is unaffected by humans.