Review and Evaluation of Research on the Eutrophication of Lake Balaton -- A Background Report for Modeling

A consistent management of the cultural eutrophication of lakes requires systematic analysis based on the joint and coordinated effort of a variety of disciplines. This notion led the Hungarian Academy of Sciences to the foundation of the Coordinating Council for the Environmental Research on Lake Balaton, as an answer to the growing concern about the slow deterioration of the water quality of the lake, one of the primary touristic resorts of Hungary. The same idea made IIASA's Resources and Environment Area adopt the problem of eutrophication of waterbodies as one of its study objects. Mutual contacts awoke mutual interest in each others work, and in April 1978 IIASA and the Coordinating Council signed an Agreement to establish cooperative links aimed at the further development of ecological models and their practical application in the case of Lake Balaton. For IIASA the existing data and research material promised to be an excellent basis for a case study that could help to realize the objectives of the REN Area Task on Models for Environmental Management and Control. For the Hungarian partner, the cooperation gave access to IIASA's international scientific network and the ready availability of IIASA's computer facilities was also highly appreciated. From the outset of the collaboration, a principal concern of the partners was the collection of the relevant data. In performing this activity it appeared that a broadening of the spectrum of research covered by the Hungarian partner was desirable. A solution was found in the formation of a subcommittee of the Hungarian Bureau of Systems Analysis for the Environmental Research of the Balaton in January 1979. Apart from the representation of the Computer and Automation Institute (MTA SZTAKI) and the Biological Research Institute (MTA BKI) of the first initiator, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA), the official involvement of the National Water Authority (OVH) and its Research Institute for Water Resources Development (VITUKI) could be welcomed. Now, a rapid disclosure of the vital data followed soon after, thus enabling the setup of the IIASA computer data base, appended to this report in a graphical form. The realization of this data base, though not complete yet, is one of the first concrete achievements of the collaborative project. The publication of this background report can perhaps be seen as the second major achievement of the cooperation. An overview and appraisal of relevant research and data material on Lake Balaton as presented in this report is of paramount importance for a comprehensive modeling effort, and it can only be said that it has been lacking for too long a time. The authors are aware of the fact that there may be different interpretations than their own, and they are, therefore, open to criticism that could improve the picture of the problem of the eutrophication of the Balaton. The authors wish to express the hope that this report will be a stimulus for further ecological modeling research, in the interest of the international community, but even more so, in the interest of the actual protection of the "Hungarian Sea" itself