ABSTRACT
The paper describes a water quality case study conducted on the Lake Pusiano catchment. In recent years an integrated lake/catchment approach has been developed with aims to model the nutrient input and the ecological response of the lake. The catchment model uses a semi-distributed approach that has been applied to study water balance and transport of nutrients into the lake. The studied environment is strongly influenced by the observed hydrodynamic regime, while primary production depends on nutrients availability and ecological phenomena. In order to model these processes a coupled physical/ecological model (DYRESM/CAEDYM) has been applied, which works in connection with the catchment model. Following this integrated approach, it has been possible to identify satisfactory solutions to reach "good water quality conditions" in the lake and its effluent, and to draw guidelines for the catchment restoration plan as requested by the Water Framework Directive.
