A Landscape Connectivity Approach for Determining Minimum Ecological Lake Level: Implications for Lake Restoration

Abstract

We proposed a new approach to determine the minimum ecological lake level using a landscape connectivity approach. Using MIKE 21 and ArcGIS software, we simulated the water landscape and corresponding connectivity of Baiyangdian Lake on the North China Plain and analyzed the relationship between landscape connectivity and lake level. The minimum ecological lake level was defined as the breakpoint of the lake level-connectivity curve. Results suggested that the minimum ecological lake level of Baiyangdian Lake is 7.8–8.0 m, below which lake ecosystems become fragmented and potentially fragile. Alternatively, better connectivity at lower lake levels may be achieved by engineered modification of landscape patterns. Such approaches can mitigate the waste of water and economic resources due to excessive reliance on increasing water levels to meet minimum connectivity requirements. This approach provided a new perspective for lake ecosystem restoration of use in water-resource- and landscape management.