ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY AND FISHERIES ACTIVITIES IN UPPER AKCAY RIVER IN DENIZLI-MUGLA PROVINCE

Abstract

Upper Akcay River (Denizli-Mugla, Turkey) is located in Mugla and Denizli province from Buyuk Menderes Basin, in Southern part of Turkey. Kemer Dam Lake separates the river from the downstream and prevents the fish passages. Akcay River is important for aquaculture activities, irrigation and fisheries activities. In upper Akcay River have many threats which affect the study area these are pollution of agricultural and domestic activities, fishing pressure, habitat degradation, over-abstraction of water and barriers. The study was conducted to assess the physical and chemical water quality parameters and fisheries activities of upper Akcay River. The upper Akcay River goes through Kemer Dam Lake, in this river fisheries and aquaculture are practice. This study was carried out between June 2012 and May 2013. Water samples were taken in three stations from upper Akcay River and were analyzed for water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, amonium nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and orthophosphate. In this study, fish samples were collected by electrofishing and cast net from tree station from the river. River water quality is important because it is used for domestic purpose, drinking, irrigation and aquatic activity. The upper Akcay River is one of the most prominent and a sensitive region that is not too exposed to human effects in Buyuk Menderes Basin. The river can play a vital role in contributing to social economic and development. This study describes the water quality assessment of upper Akcay River in the Southwestern Anatolia. The mean values of overall water quality parameters results have been observed as water temperature (15.15 degrees C), pH (7.58), conductivity (555.25 mu S/cm), TDS (371.44), dissolved oxygen (8.56 mg/L), ammonium (0.09 mg/L), nitrate (3.84 mg/L), orto-phosphate (0.04 mg/L). The economic species caught in the river are Onchorynchus mykiss, Capoeta bergamae, Alburnus escherichii, Vimba mirabilis, Chondrostoma meandrense, Squalius fellowesii, Barbus pectoralis and Carassius gibelio. According to the WPRA, surface water quality of the upper River was classified as level I. At the end of the analyses, it was revealed that the areas is suitable for trout aquaculture and fisheries. The results show that, aquaculture activities has no negative affect in upper Akcay River