The 4th action plan of CIPEL is articulated around three main strategic axes, 12 themes and 29 actions
ACTION PLAN 2021-2030
Scientific actions in one click :
- Monitoring and predicting the occurrence of algal blooms
- Prospective study of thehydrology in the watershed
- Improve the understanding of the global functioning of the lake ecosystem in a context of climate change
- Assess the presence and impact of microplastics and define a coordinated monitoring strategy
- Develop and implement a monitoring strategy for micropollutants in water and sediment
- Organize an annual meeting for amateur and professional fishermen
- Assess the impacts and limits of thermal uses of surface water bodies in the context of climate change
- Develop and implement a strategy to control phosphorus inputs
Drinking water resource
MONITOR AND PREDICT THE OCCURRENCE OF ALGAL BLOOMS
Cyanobacteria are phytoplanktonic species that are potentially toxic to humans. Their rapid proliferation (bloom) in Lake Geneva can impact the production of drinking water. Most of these species have a benthic life cycle which is favored by the improvement of water transparency.
High frequency measurements and identification of areas favorable for benthic cyanobacterial recruitment are needed to complement the annual CIPEL monitoring program to better understand and increase the reliability of algal bloom predictions.
Climate change
PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF THE HYDROLOGY IN THE WATERSHED, INCLUDING A HYDRAULIC FLOW DIAGRAM
Changes in the hydrological regime of the Rhone, the main tributary of Lake Geneva, and of other tributaries are to be expected with climate change (increased melting of glaciers, precipitation patterns). These modifications are likely to cause a cascade of changes in the functioning of the lake.
It is a question here of studying the evolution of the hydrology of the tributaries of the lake for the next decades (quantities of water entering the lake, their distribution in the year, evaporation, distribution in the lake, temperature), in order to anticipate the potential changes in the functioning of the lake.
Climate change
IMPROVE THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE GLOBAL FUNCTIONING OF THE LAKE ECOSYSTEM IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change is likely to modify the nature and intensity of the interactions that link the different components of the lake ecosystem. These changes will lead to an evolution of state variables that will influence the ecological state of Lake Geneva.
This action aims to assess the sensitivity of biotic and abiotic interactions to meteorological and hydrological forcing, and to acquire the knowledge to anticipate the impacts of climate change, thus paving the way for an adaptation of the objectives of the CIPEL and its future actions.
Waste and microplastics
QUANTIFY THE PRESENCE OF MICROPLASTICS IN THE LAKE GENEVA BASIN AND IDENTIFY THEIR SOURCES; DEFINE A COORDINATED MONITORING STRATEGY AT THE WATERSHED SCALE INCLUDING POTENTIAL IMPACTS
The ubiquity of microplastics in Lake Geneva has already been demonstrated, while their impact on aquatic fauna is not yet very clear. Despite these uncertainties, CIPEL considers that the presence of microplastics in Lake Geneva should be reduced to a minimum.
In recent years, public opinion, the media and politicians have taken up the subject and a better knowledge of the situation of Lake Geneva with respect to this emerging problem will allow the CIPEL to be able to answer the questions raised.
Micropollutants
DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A MONITORING STRATEGY FOR MICROPOLLUTANTS IN WATER, SEDIMENT AND FISH
Numerous drug residues, pesticides and industrial products are present in the waters of Lake Geneva, sediments and fish. The environmental risk of impregnation of these compartments by micropollutants needs to be assessed more precisely.
CIPEL will take advantage of advances in several areas (chemical, ecotoxicological and bioindication analysis) to better interpret existing chemical data or data that will be acquired during future analysis campaigns, and to better assess the trajectory of the ecological status of the lake and its tributaries.
Fish resource
ORGANIZATION OF A JOINT ANNUAL MEETING BETWEEN THE CIPEL AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION IN CHARGE OF THE FISH MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL FISHERMEN
Fishing in Lake Geneva is an emblematic ecosystem service of the lake and is an important issue on the societal, economic and patrimonial levels. Catches are dependent on the ecological state of the lake ecosystem and its evolution, exploitation levels and regulations.
The objective of an annual meeting is to share the knowledge about the lake and the quality objectives to be reached so that the fishermen can take note of this information but also share their own perception of the lake with the scientists of the CIPEL.
Thermal use
ASSESS THE IMPACTS AND LIMITS OF THERMAL USES OF SURFACE WATER BODIES IN THE LEMAN WATERSHED, IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE
The need to reduce our use of fossil fuels has given rise to projects based on the thermal exploitation of the waters of Lake Geneva. These projects have positive effects in terms of energy transition, but they can also generate undesirable effects for the lake.
The evaluation of the potential impacts and limits of these projects will lead the CIPEL to examine the applicable regulatory requirements and their capacity to manage the possible undesirable effects, in order to propose a strategy in this matter and to issue, if necessary, an adapted recommendation.
Phosphorus
DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A STRATEGY TO CONTROL PHOSPHORUS INPUTS
The stock of phosphorus in the waters of the lake has decreased since the 1980s, as a result of a voluntary policy of reducing domestic and non-point source inputs. But the appearance of algae blooms show that this reduction is not sufficient.
The growing demographic pressure and climate change make it essential to control phosphorus inputs in order to maintain, if not improve, the ecological state of the lake, which contributes to the quality of the services provided.
Assessment and prospects
The assessment of the 3rd action plan of the CIPEL highlights two elements between 2011 and 2019: the fragility of the equilibrium of the Lake Geneva ecosystem, and the increasingly marked impact of climate change on the processes at work in this ecosystem.
This assessment calls for the continuation, and even intensification, of the control of inputs to the lake, whether of nutrients or micropollutants, for the maintenance of a high level of monitoring efforts at a high level, and to continue the development of knowledge on the processes at work in the lake. knowledge of the processes at work in the lake.
ACTION PLAN 2021-2030
Follow-up campaigns
Discover the different monitoring campaigns of the CIPEL which aim to better understand Lake Geneva to better preserve it
