ABSTRACT
Palic and Ludas lakes are in the northern part of Serbia, a few kilometers south of the Hungarian border. Palic lake has a long history as a touristic attraction and a nice recreational setting, Ludas lake and the surrounding habitats are of international importance and protected by the Ramsar convention. The lakes are connected by a canal. Ludas lake is fed from Palic lake, but also supplied by the Körös river, which is originating from Hungary. The majority of the catchment area of the Körös river being in Hungary, most water supply problems of the Ludas lake are mostly depending on water-related problems in Hungary. Water quality problems and water quantity decrease are both identified and are escalating threatening factors at the lake system. Several studies have been carried out in the past about the possible reasons and solutions. The authors have studied the previously published results and have been participating in a cross-border co-operation project, in frame of which a comprehensive survey and measurement program has been carried out in order to develop a strategy for decision makers substantiated by modeling, on which the planning and execution of future monitoring actions can be based for the sustainable management of the whole watersystem. In our presentation we introduce the area, the problem, the field surveying and measurement methodologies and results, the obtained GIS databases and the modeling of flow, concluding transboundary responsibility for water supply to the lake system, with complex connections to Hungary’s major water management issues.
