Partners of the project “Improving Governance and Management of Lakes in Kurzeme and North Lithuania” (LIVE LAKE) have been implementing the planned activities.

Development of lake exploitation rules is onging in four lakes of Kurzeme region – Sasmaka, Usma, Durbe and Puze. Most of them are planned to be elaborated by the end of 2022.

The two biggest investments of the Project are completed. Cleaning of Dzirnavu Pond on Tebra River in Aizpute has been completed in the section from Liepājas Street until the pedestrian bridge at 5B Liepājas Street. During the vegetation period, the Pond was overgrown with aquatic plants. The treatment of dead parts of aquatic plants has a positive effect on species diversity. Sediments, which were 1.2 – 1.5 m thick mineral sediments and sludge mixtures, were taken out, which significantly improved the water quality in the Pond. The value of the river has increased from environment point of view as well as from landscape, health and well-being of the town population as a whole.

Also, reconstruction of the partially collapsed sluices of the Lake Sasmaka has been carried out. The sluices will prevent flooding risks, stabilize the water level, thus providing major contributing to the improvement of the ecosystem status of Lake Sasmaka in the future.

The Latvian Nature Conservation Agency has been implementing habitat management activities in nature reserves “Būšnieku ezera krasts” and “Tosmare”. Also, the Latvian Nature Conservation Agency completed the education campaign for protection of amphibians, as well as started to develop educational programme about coastal lakes.

Within the project, Saldus County Municipality (the former Brocēni Municipality) has purchased reed cutting equipment and ensured reed cutting in Lake Remte, Lake Ciecere, and Lake Brocēnu. Also, Ventspils County Municipality purchased reed cutting equipment and started reed cutting in Lake Usma.

Directorate of Žemaitija National Park has purchased a reed cutter and started manage reedland in Lake Plateliai to reduce the area overgrown due to eutrophication.

Directorate of Žemaitija National Park started to develop Action Plan for Improvement of Water Quality in Lake Lake Plateliai.

Directorate of Žemaitija National Park, in cooperation with Kurzeme Planning Region is preparing to implement education campaign in schools for limiting phosphor and nitrogen use in project region in autumn 2022.

In June 2022 Kurzeme Planning Region organised study visit to Rāzna and Lubāna lakes in Latvia for project partners and other target group representatives. It was a great possibility to introduce with lake management and nature conservation in lakes of Latgale region in Latvia and exchange experience.