Lake PRESPA Sub-basin
(sub-basin shared by FYR Macedonia, Albania and Greece)

1.1. Geographical properties

FYR MACEDONIA

ALBANIA

GREECE

Longitude/latitude at downstream river outlet

41o N 21o E
Prespa Stenje: 40o57’02” and 20o54’24”

Latitude: 40o 46' - 41o 10 (N)
Longitude: 20o 54' - 21  70' (E)

Size of basin

Total catchment area is 1,046 km² of which 571 km² belongs to FYR Macedonia. Total volume of the lake is 4.8 billion m³.

Length and width in km

Total surface area of 274 km² (FYR Macedonian part 178 km², Albanian part: 49 km², Greek part 47 km²). The total length is 43.3 km and the width is 16.4 km.

Topography, including altitude range in m

The average elevation is 854 m asl. The maximum depth of the lake is 52.4 m. The lake is surrounded by the forested mountains Pelister (2,601 m asl), Galichica (2,288 m asl) and Sfika (1,741 m asl) There are four islands in the lakes: two in the Greek part of Micro Prespa, and Mali Grad and Golem Grad in Macro Prespa in the Albanian and FYR Macedonian part respectively.

Geology

The Prespa lake basin is generally characterized by permeable limestone in the western and southern part, while at the northern and eastern part of the area the water-impermeable granite rocks prevail.
In the valley, especially in the river beds, glacio-fluvial sediments are dominant. The alluvium is represented in big areas. The deluvia is also present, but in smaller areas.

Rainfall, average annual and seasonal distribution, etc.

The long-term average annual rainfall is 693.5 mm with the following seasonal distribution:
Spring: 174,8 mm; Summer: 96,9 mm; Autumn: 217,6 mm; Winter: 204,2 mm

River(s), with lengths and average annual flows and seasonal distribution – flood and drought incidence and impact

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FYR MACEDONIA

ALBANIA

GREECE

1.2. Demographic properties

Mountains, forest, wetlands, pasture, agriculture, irrigated lands.

Forest, mountains, irrigated lands, wetlands

Forest, mountains, irrigated lands, wetlands-tourism

General location of the basin

South-western part of the country

South-eastern part of Albania

North-western Greece

Total population in basin

17,680 inh.

1,524 inh. (census 1991)

Population of principal cities or towns

The only city in the Prespa region is Resen with 16,825 inhabitants and 4,849 households. In the basin there are many small villages (Sten-je, Otesevo, Pretor, Asamati, Krani, Strbovo, Nakolec, etc.) but the official data are given as total number within the territory of the municipality.

In the basin there are some villages but the official data are given as total number for the municipality

Average per capita income

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Industrial and agricultural GDP (Gross Domestic Product) (2003)

46.1% (1900)
21.9% (2000)

16.13 billion $ (estimated in 2003)

Population living below the poverty line

High rate of unemployment (over 40%)

30% (estimated in 2001

Other relevant characteristics

The most important economy sectors are tourism and fruit production

Tourism

The main economy activities in this region are tourism and fruit production.

1.3 Land Uses

Agriculture

Agriculture (50%), animal husbandry (34%), fishery (13%) and forestry (3%)

2. WATER RESOURCES / USES AND ENVIRONMENT SITUATION

Total available surface and groundwater resources

Longterm average dischares of the rivers are: Golema 0.45 m³/s, Pretorska 0.50 m³/s, Kranska 0.65 m³/s and Brajinska 0.95 m³/s

Biljana – Bej Bunar 1-2 m³/s
Shen Naum–Tushem. 10 m³/s
- Shen Naun 7.4 m³/s
-Tushemisht 2.5 m³/s
-Under the lake ??
-Devolli valley, Proger, Mon-çurisht, Golloborda ??

Volume of Small Prespa: 324*106 m³

Net usable capacity of surface reservoirs

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The annual flow of two lakes is 16.2 m³/sec

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Total surface water abstractions (estimated where not measured)

NA

Total groundwater abstractions (estimated where not measured)

- Bej Bunar 3 wells: 200l/s
- Stenie – Gorice: 10 l/s
- Vrondero – Kristalopighy: 3 wells with a depth of 200 m are dry

Surface and groundwater quality (in general categories only)

Around Macro Prespa agriculture is a particular problem. The lake level is dropping and the fields are widespread.

The water quality of Lake Prespa is naturally more nutrient-enriched than Lake Ohrid but the agricultural activities and human wastes have greatly accelerated this eutrophication. The water is warmest in August, 24.3 C° on the surface and its transparency is 7.2 m.

In general the water quality of the Lake Prespa is good.
Small Prespa: medium-eutrophic
Big Prespa: oligotrophic

Water uses (total, by sector, principal uses, current (estimated) and future (projected), include in-stream uses (fisheries, etc.) where appropriate)

Irrigation (works seasonally) with a capacity of 1.8 m³/s or cca 15 million m³/y. Water supply (Stenje, Carina, Otesevo) with an annual amount of 0.7 million m³. Industrial water use is estimated at 1.9 million m³/y.

Irrigation and water supply

Water supply, irrigation, fishery

Deficits and other resource concerns (e.g. quality, extremes, environmental degradation)

The lake area has much declined over the last 20 years. Maximum level registered in 1963 was 415 cm, in 1986 it was 241 cm, in 1995 it was -300 cm, and in 2000 it was -175 cm. These results show the increase amplitude of oscillation from 327 cm for the periof 1963-1978 to 541 cm for the period 1986-1995.
Gauge zero: 847,68 m asl.

The lake area has declined over the years.
Water gauge zero:
Max historic level was 852.91 m asl (1963)
Min historic level was 844.42 m asl (2002)
Maximum amplitude = 8.49 m

The lake area has much declined over the last 20 years (329 km² in 1980).

ENVIRONMENTAL PROPERTIES

Sensitive ecosystems, biodiversity and environmental impacts in the basin

Prespa Lake is the first decla-red transboundary protected area in the Balkan – Prespa Park (2000). In FYR Macedonia Prespa lake was declared as „natural monument“ (1977), and Pelister National Park and Galicica National Park are protected areas. Prespa is well known for its natural beauty and great biodioversity. Eutrophication is mainly due to human activities.

The lake has international status (Ramsar Convention, International Park and Special Protection Area-79/409/EEC)

• Lake Prespa is a Greek national park.
• Eutrophication has started due to human and agricultural wastes.

3. BASELINE INFORMATION AVAILABILITY

FYR MACEDONIA

ALBANIA

GREECE

Observation networks

Hydrometeorological Service (HMS): hydrological stations at the lake in Nakolec, Asamati and Stenje, and for the rivers in Resen at Golema, in Krani at Kranska and in Brajcino at Brajcinska)

Hydrometeorological Institute

Maps, with available scales, GIS and remote sensing imagery

Topographical maps: 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 (+GIS DTM from maps 1:25,000)
Geological: 1:200,000
Hydrogeological: 1:200,000
(in preparation 1:25,000)
Agriculture land (cadastral plans): 1:5,000
Urban areas: 1:2,500 and 1:1,000

Watersheds Map 1: 800 000
Geologic-Enginer. map of ALB: 1: 200 000
Topographical maps: 1:25,000 and 1:50,
Geological: 1:200,000
Hydrogeological: 1:200,000
Hydrological map 1:100 000

Data archives and their adequacy

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Research centres

Responsible institution for hydrometeorological observations and monitoring is the Administration for Hydrometeorological Service (HMS), under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy. For water quality and environmental issues the responsible institutions are the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning and the Hydrobio-logical Institute in Ohrid.

Responsible institution for hydrometeorological observations and monitoring is the Hydrometeorological Institute.
For water quality and environmental issues the Ministry of Environment is responsible.

EKBY (Greek Biotope/Wetland Centre)
AUTH (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)

NAME AND CONTACT DETAILS OF PERSON(S) COMPLETING THIS FORM

Prof. Cvetanka Popovska
Univ. of Ss. Cyril and Metho-dius, Fac. Of Civil Engineering
Partuzanski odredi bb
PO Box 560, 1000 Skopje, FYR Macedonia
Tel: +389(2) 3116066/ext. 209
Fax: +389 (2) 3117367
popovska@gf.ukim.edu.mk

Vladimir Stavric, MSc
Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, UNDP, NCSA Project Manager
Tel: +389(2) 3061665
e-mail: vstavric@mt.net.mk

M.Sc. Manjola Banja (Harja)
Deputy Director
Hydrometeorological Institute, Tirana, Street e Durresit, No. 219, Tirana, Albania
Tel:       (+355)(4) 259 360 / 22 35 18
Fax:      (+355)(4) 22 35 18
e-m:mbanja2002@yahoo.com

M.Sc. Emirjeta Adhami
Hydrometeorological Institute, Tirana, Dep. of Environment
Tel:(+355)(4) 223518 /222439
Fax:      (+355)(4) 22 35 18
Email: thadhami@icc-al.org

Prof. Jacques GANOULIS
Hydraulics Laboratory
Civil Engineering Department
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Tel:  +30-231-099.56.82
Fax:  +30-231-099.56.81
e-mail: iganouli@civil.auth.gr

FYR Macedonia

Albania

Greece

4. MANAGEMENT SETTING

4.1. International agreements / conventions and national legislation

Declaration on the Creation of the Prespa Park and the Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development of the Prespa Lakes and their Surroundings, adopted by the three Prime Ministers of FYR Macedonia, Albania and Greece, at Aghios Germanos in Greece (2 February 2000) on occasion of the World Wetlands Day (Ramsar Convention).
With this the PRESPA PARK is declared the first transboundary protected area in South-East Europe (SEE). According to this Declaration, in order to promote coordination among the 3 countries, as well as to achieve environmental protection and sustainable development of the Prespa Lakes and the region, the Prespa Park Coordination Committee (PPCC) was established. This 10 members body represents the three sectors (government, local community and NGOs) from each country and one representative from the International Ramsar/MedWet system. The PPCC is the main political, administrative and institutional body. Its main responsibilities are to guide future measures, activities and projects carried out in Prespa region.

Strategic Action Plan for Sustainable Development of Prespa Park, Trilateral document between the Ministries of Environment, NGOs and experts from FYR Macedonia, Albania and Greece, 2000
Fire Departments of Greece, FYROM and Albania have reached an agreement on the protection of the park.

Memorandum of Understanding to develop a joint Agreement on Water Economy between Albania and Greece (2003)

International Legal Framework:

National legislation and documents:

• Law on Protection of Ohrid, Prespa and Dojran lakes, The Official Gazette of RM, No. 45/77

For this information please see the MAK section in chapter 3.11

Micro Prespa has trilateral status. The lake basin is a National Park (1957), under the Ramsar Convention as International Park and Special Protec-tion Area (79/409/EEC) and an impor-tant area for the fauna (ICBP – IWRB)

Convention on the Protection and Use of transboundary rivers and lakes, Helsinki [1992]

National legislation and documents:

• Decision of Minister Council for pollu-tion control ( 1974)
• Law for Environment Protection (1993, rev. in 2002)
• Law for Resources Management (1996; revised in 2000)
• Law for the Protection of Transboun-dary Lakes (lakes Ohrid, Prespa and Shkodra; 2003)
• National Water Strategy (2004)

1. Greece, FYROM and Albania have jointly designated the area as Protected Park. An independent body The Society for the Protection of Prespa (Etairia Prostassias Prespon) was recently crea-ted in Greece to deal with the manage-ment of the lakes.
2. The lakes were designated in Greece as a Ramsar site. The area is also a designated site of special natural beauty.
3. The lakes are bound to the Helsinki Convention (transboundary watercour-ses and lakes 1992) and the Espoo Convention.
4. The area is also bound to the CITES Convention, Bern Convention and Bonn Convention, Convention for the Protec-tion of the Architectural Heritage of Europe, and the Biodiversity Convention.
5. The lakes are designated as pSCI/ SAC according to Dir. 92/43/EEC and SPA according to Dir. 79/409/EEC.
6. The new law in Greece (L3199/03), which activates the WFD should regulate all necessary actions for the manage-ment of the lakes.

4.2. Institutions / distribution of responsibilities

The responsible institutions are:

• Ministry of Environmental and Physical Planning (regarding NEAP, Spatial Plan)
• Ministry of Water Economy, Forestry and Agriculture (regarding Law on Waters and Water Economy Master Plan)
• Ministry of Health (regarding drinking and bathing water quality monitoring and standardization)
• Ministry of Transport and Communications (re. Municipal and industrial water supply)
• Ministry of Economy (re. Mineral and groundwater resources and hydropower production)
• Ministry of Finance (regarding planning of the national budget)
• Ministry of Local Self-Government (regarding local development)
• Public Water Enterprise “Vodostopanstvo na Makedonija”- Branch Resen (regarding irrigation, drainage, river regulation, torrent control and erosion protection)
• Public Communal Enterprise “Proleter” in Resen (regarding water supply and sewer systems in the region)

The responsible institutions are:

• National Water Council (headed by the Prime Minister; includes Ministries for Tourism, Foreign Affairs, Energy, Agriculture, Health and Environment plus Academy of Sciences and the Technical Secretariat for Water)
• Sub-ordinated are 6 river River Basin Councils (managed by the related Pre-fectures) with Water Agencies as executive bodies
• For all transboundary waters, a govern-ment commission established specific sub-commissions for the neighboring countries.
• The Hydrometeorological Institute monitors all surface waters (quality and quantity)
• The Environmental Inspectorates controls overall environment protection of waters and air
• The Public Health Institutes monitor drinking water.

At local level, a new management body (Foreas Diachirisis) has been formed. This agent (Society for the Protection of Prespa, Etairia Prostassias Prespon) is now fully responsible for the integrated management of the lakes.

At national level, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Economics share different responsibilities with very low coordinaon.
For transboundary lakes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also involved.

FYR Macedonia

Albania

Greece

4.3. Planning / Decision making processes

In 2003 within the project “Integral Management with the Ecosystem of the Transboundary Region of Prespa Park”, two office units in Resen (FYR Macedonia) and Lemos (Greece) have been established. It is planned in the near future to open also one in Korcha (Albania).

Common planning and decision-making in the basin is poor although considerable efforts on problem definition are undertaken.

The National Water Council organizes and decides on all water management issues. It can take specific initiatives (e.g. in 2004 to assess impacts of gravel excavation).
The sub-ordinated River Basin Councils decide on the regional water use (alloca-tion and tariffs).
The complex water problems are partly not clearly sorted out in the new laws (overlapping of tasks).
For transboundary waters, no bilateral meeting was held yet due to the lack of a respective Agreement (Greece: negotia-tions started in 2003).

The lakes in Greek side are designated as NATURA 2000 site so all planning and decision-making is carried out according to the provisions of the relevant national and EU legislation

4.4. Finances

Management system of Prespa Lake ecosystem does not exist. Up to now financial resources have been mobilized by domestic institutions and through bilateral projects in the region:

• German Government through GTZ Assistance Program in FYR Macedonia – support of small transboundary projects
• KfW Bank- reconstruction of wastewater treatment plant
• Project Integrated Management with the Ecosystem of Prespa Park Transboundary Region – Governments of the three countries, GEF, KfW.
• Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning
• Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy
• Fund for Waters
• Public Enterprise for Water Management

• GTZ: 300 000 DM (1996-2000)
• Greek Ministry of Environment: 92,000 US$ (2000 – 2002)
• GEF/UNDP: 350,000US$ (2005)

All management activities related to the lakes are funded by the national government and EU resources

FYR Macedonia

Albania

Greece

4.5. Past and present major projects (including listing of donor interests)

UNDP/GEF grant, German Government (KfW Bank) and the Governments of FYR Macedonia, Albania and Greece co-support the mega project: “Integrated Management with the Ecosystem of Prespa Park Transboundary Region.” Within this project different feasibility studies have to be worked out.

• Prespa Lake Environmental Protection. The Project started in 2000. The total funding is 510,000 US$ (German Governt, KfW Bank, Contract DEU 0067)
• Strategic Action Plan for the sustainable development of the Prespa Park (SAP). First joint project of the PPCC. Project started in 2001, finished in 2002 and was funded with bilateral development assistance funds of the Greek Ministry of Environment. The SAP is trilateral study written in English, Macedo-nian, Albanian and Greek. Coordinator of the project was the biologist Myrsini Malakou.
• Environmental Protection of Prespa Lake-Accompanying measures. Project started and finished in 2004. The total funding is 300,000 US$ (German Government, KfW Bank, Contract DEU 0079)
• GEF (PDF B) project (2004) on the Design of a full-sized GEF Project Brief (elaborate the technical basis of the full sized project; establish the project’s management structure and coordination mechanisms; and put in place the stakeholder participatory mechanism required for the successful future implementation of the full-sized project) has a funding of $ 929,000 (UNDP/GEF, KfW and small support from governments of ALB, Rep. MAC & GR).

The Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning of FYR Macedonia has supported the project: Integrated Management with the Ecosystem of Prespa Park Transboundary Region.

• “Institutional strengthening of protected areas on Albanian side of Lake Ohrid and Prespa”; Donor: GTZ, 300,000 DM (1996-2000)
• “Strategic Action Plan at Prespa Park”: Donor: DAC Program on the protection and management of environment in Albania, financed by the Greek Ministry of Environment, 92,000 US$, (2000 – 2002)
• “Study of Prespa Lake using a nuclear method and the other methods related with it”, supported by IAEA
• “Project proposal for Prespa Park”: Donor: GEF/UNDP, 350,000 US$ with support of UNDP and GTZ, in collabo-ration with Greece and FYR Macedonia (pro-ject proposal for application to GEF).

• -Operational Programme “Environment” of the Ministry of Environemnt
• -EU CADISPA programme
• -EU PETRA programme
• -WWF (co-funded by Allianz for Dadia)
• -MAVA Foundation for restoration of an Education Centre
• Well over 2M EU have been invested in the area mainly through the above projects.

4.6. Stakeholder Participation

The biggest stakeholders in the region are the Local Community, the people living of tourism and the farmers in agriculture (mainly fruit growing) and food production. NGO’s are also engaged in the actions of protection the environmental uniqueness of the lake.

The biggest stakeholders in the region are the Local Self Governments, the tourism business/companies and the farmers. NGO’s are also engaged in actions protecting the environmental uniqueness of the lake.

Local people were trained to become guides and were employed on a parttime basis, while a number of associ-ated activities were developed via another EU programme jointly fun-ded by WWF and the EC (CADISPA Conservation and Development in Sparsely Populated Areas).

4.7. Awareness / Communication

Since ancient times the Prespa Lake and its surrounding area are well known as scenic beauty. During the last decade this natural heritage is vitally threatened because the lake’s water declined seriously and the water pollution increased dangerously. The awareness of the water use in the catchment and the communication with Albanian and Greek side is very poor. The economic development in the region (especially domestic tourism) has stopped completely.

With communities through different projects like “Rising Public Awareness for halting anthropogenic damages to Micro Prespa Lake” in the framework of UNDP-GEF/SGP Programme, 2000

Three visitor’s centres.
The organization of a network of path-ways for environmental education.
The placing of informative signs and kiosks in all villages and important areas.

5. CONCLUSIONS / RECOMMENDATIONS

FYR Macedonia

Albania

Greece

5.1. Identification of critical problems (transboundary situation)
- problems related to the resource
- problems associated to uses, needs and demands
- problems affecting ecosystems

The critical problems regarding Prespa Lake can be related to the inconvenient hydrological conditions the last decade, to the lack of finances in Local Community, to the pollution due to solid waste disposal and use of pesticides in agriculture, to the political wish for cooperation on the three sides and finally to low awareness of the affection on the ecosystem. The most affected in the region is biodiversity and human health.
The water quality of Lake Prespa has been seriously affected by human activities. Lake Prespa is naturally more nutrient-enriched than Lake Ohrid, but agricultural activities and human wastes have accelerated this eutrophication. Because Lake Prespa drains into Lake Ohrid through the porous karsts mountains of Galicica and the springs at Tusemiste and St. Naum, a comprehensive water quality restoration must address the pollution problems in the watersheds surrounding both lakes.

• The uncontrolled human activities have greatly damaged the ecological values of this system
• A huge amount of 1.2 million m³ of alluvium have been deposited on the lake bottom and shore, which was transported by Devolli River waters since 1974.
• Irrigation system of Devolli and Korca fields by Prespa Lake water
• Discharge of polluted urban waters
• About 20% of the Albanian part of Micro Prespa Lake is destroyed

Water level decrease.
Reed bed management
Agrochemicals and fertilizers in surface runoff
Eutrophication conditions

5.2. Main achievements

• Trilateral Prime Ministerial Declaration on Protection and Development of Prespa region
• Establishment of Prespa Park Coordination Committee (PPCC)
• Implementation of SAP as the overriding document that will guide the activities of the PDF B Project, for which funding was approved by the GEF (initial funding in June 2003). The overall objective of this project is to promote integrated ecosystem management of the transboundary Prespa Park region with the participation of all stakeholders. The GEF project aims to conserve the regions’ biodiversity and to promote its sustainable development. Co-funding is mainly by UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) and KfW (German Bank for Reconstruction and Development).
• Bilateral agreements between the three countries
• Improvement of water supply and sewer systems in the region
• Education and public awareness raise

Rise of awareness of local authorities concerning the problems related to the 2 lakes, especially Micro Prespa Lake

Actions in the area literally comprise a 40-years project for the integrated pro-tection of the natural environment of the lakes.
A biological station operates since 1975 hosting students, scientists and visiting researchers, as well as conferences and volunteer activities.

FYR Macedonia

Albania

Greece

5.3. Key challenges

• Start projects with Albanian and Greek sides.
• Establishment of regional cooperation.
• Capacity building on systemic, institutional and personal level.
• Local community and NGOs involvement.
• Search and mobilization of all kinds of capital.
• Building strategy for stakeholder participation.

Conservation of the natural Prespa Park

Maintain the high protection status

5.4. Donor interests

Overall ability to mobilize domestic and private capital is poor. The reasons are low institutional and personal capacity, social status of the population and missing the general strategy for management in the three countries.

Mobilizing domestic and private capital is not at the desired level. Reasons are low institutional and personal capacities, the low social status of local people and the missing general strategy for environmen-tal management on both lake sides.

• MAVA Foundation
• RSPB,
• The A.V. Jenson Foundation,
• The Danish Ornithological Society

5.5. Recommended priority actions

• Identification of causes of water volume decrease
• Identification causes of flora and fauna disappearance
• Improvement of the monitoring of hydrological and water quality monitoring
• Water supply and waste water management in the region

• Evaluation of hydrological-hydrogeological behavior of the Prespa Lakes System.
• Biological studies and evaluation of the biodiversity
• Demonstration of the possibilities for regeneration and conservation of the ecological values and bio-diversity of Prespa lakes
• Selection of a suitable area for tourism development, according to the geological environment.
• - Study of the human activities’ impact on the Prespa lakes ecosystem

• Integrated project management
• Functional evaluation
• Socio-economic evaluation

6. MAIN REFERENCES, BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS

• Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan of FYR Macedonia,
• Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, 2004 
• Physical Plan of FYR Macedonia,
• Public Enterprise for Spatial Planning, 1998 (revised 2004)
• National Development Strategy,
• Academy of Sciences and Arts of FYR Macedonia, 1997
• National Environment Acton Plan,
• Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, 1997 (in revision)

• Hydrometeorological Institute
• UNDP-GEF/SGP Program
• Project “Rising Public Awareness for halting anthropogenic damages to the Micro Prespa Lake”
• Secretariat of National Water Council
• National Water Strategy for Albania – Final report, BCEOM French Engineering Consultant, 1996
• Technical Secretariat for management of Prespa Lakes
• Albania FYR Macedonia-Greece

• NATURA 2000 national database
• Greek Biotope/Wetland Centre records
• Ganoulis, J. et al. (eds.), 2000: Transboundary Water Resources in the Balkans: Initiating a Sustainable Co-operative Network. NATO ASI SERI-ES, Partnership Sub-Series 2: Environmental Security, Vol. 47, 254 pp.
• Mountain Forum, European Mountain Forum 28 Rue Mauverney CH 1196 Gland, Switzerland