The Interreg Latvia-Lithuania programme project No.LLI-449 “Improving Governance and Management of Lakes in Kurzeme and North Lithuania” (LIVE LAKE) which has been jointly implemented by the Kurzeme planning region and its eight partners for more than two years concludes with an educational seminar on freshwater habitats and lake governance, management and related issues.

A two-day seminar for lake managers was held on May 23-24, at the Hotel USMA SPA in Ventspils County Municipality and gathered more than 50 participants.

The achievements of the partners from Kurzeme and Lithuania involved in the project – various measures to improve the management of lake areas in ten lakes and one reservoir in Kurzeme and three lakes in Northern Lithuania, as well as the educational measures implemented in the project.

Within the LIVE LAKE project, lake exploitation (management) regulations have been developed for several lakes in Kurzeme – Durbe, Usma, Puze and Sasmaka, while a Nature Management Plan has been developed and approved for the Nature Reserve Tosmare. Also, a plan has been developed for Lake Plateliai in Lithuania to improve water quality.

Also, various measures have been taken to improve the management of lakes in both Latvia and Lithuania, including clearing overgrowth, clearing banks of waste, managing reeds, purchasing navigation equipment, installing a system of surveillance cameras and other activities. Biotope management measures have been taken in the lakes of Bušenieku, Tosmare, as well as Kirkilai karstic lakes in Lithuania. Reed cutting equipment has been purchased for Tāši, Ciecere, Remte, Brocēni, Plateliai and Usma lakes and reed management has been started. In order to reduce overgrowth and improve the ecological situation, the cleaning of the Dzirnavu pond on the Tebra River in the town of Aizpute has been carried out. In Lake Sirvena in Lithuania, clean-ups were organized to free the shores from waste. Water level gauges have been purchased and installed for Tosmare and Plateliai lakes to measure ground water level fluctuations. Navigation equipment – buoys and navigation signs – has been installed in Lake Ciecere. A surveillance camera system has been installed in Moritssala Nature Reserve in Usma Lake, as well as equipment has been purchased to ensure monitoring in the water area of Moritzsala in Usma Lake. The locks in Sasmaka Lake have been reconstructed.

In addition to various activities related to lake management, educational events were also held within the project, including an educational campaign in schools to limit the use of phosphorus and nitrogen. An educational campaign about amphibians “Mission – TOAD. Save the prince!” was organized and received a great response among children and young people, and drew public attention to the extinction of amphibians. A traveling mobile exhibition “Life in the lake” has been created about the development of lakes and natural values. Nature Conservation Agency has also created an educational program and methodical materials for introducing to lake ecosystems. An environmental education room with equipment, interactive games and laboratory equipment has been created in the Biržai Regional Park in Lithuania.

As a result of the project, the capacity of the involved partners to manage natural resources has been increased, providing both infrastructure investments and new knowledge, as well as improving the management of lake territories.

Information about the project results is available at Kurzeme Planning Region webpage:

https://www.kurzemesregions.lv/projekti/vides-aizsardziba/live-lake/