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Impact on Biodiversity
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5.3. Impact on Biodiversity
The Dnieper River Basin and its receiving water body, the Black Sea, are under significant stress from human activities throughout the basin. Discharge of effluents from point sources of pollution is only one of many sources of impact and, from the perspective of biodiversity, these point sources are not the most significant stress. One symptom of the stress in the basin is eutrophication of the reservoirs that comprise much of the lower Dnieper including those upstream and downstream of Kyiv. Eutrophication is caused by the presence of excessive amounts of nutrients, phosphorus and nitrogen in particular, which leads to algal blooms. These algal blooms increase water turbidity and decrease oxygen content, thus slowing natural recovery processes, degrading fish habitat and having a negative impact on drinking water supplies. Eurtophication of the Kanevskoe Reservoir, downstream of Kyiv, is caused by excessive nutrients from upstream sources.
The BWTP is a source of phosphorus and nitrogen. COWI estimated that the increase in background phosphorus and nitrogen levels in the river caused by BWTP would be on the order of 5% to 10% if stormwater was included (Reference 1, Section 9-9). Although BWTP specifically and Kyiv in general may not be a decisive source of the precursors and eutrophication, they are significant sources.
The proximity of KVK effluent discharges from the perspective of officially protected areas is limited as follows:
- Kanivsky wildlife sanctuary, distance from discharge point: 120 km;
- Romanivske Marshes Reserve, distance from discharge point: 10 km;
- Kozynsky Reserve, distance from discharge point: 8 km;
- Lisnyky Reserve, distance from discharge point: 4 km;
- The Golosiivsky National Park , distance from discharge point: 4 km.
A planned expansion of the Golosiivsky National Park will incorporation the mouth of the Vita River at the confluence with the Dnipro River. This area is considered unique from the perspective of biodiversity and, along with the Dnipro islands, is a valuable spawning areas for many fish species, nesting areas for waterfowl, and for riparian animals.
In the immediate vicinity to the Hot Spot, there is a unique mouth area of the Vita River and numerous Dnipro islands with the water bodies inhabited with many rare water plants species, and aquatic and riparian animals. Adjacent areas are also popular for recreational activities such as picnicking, fishing and hunting.
Cases of numerous fish kills are periodically observed and have a variety of causes including summer and winter fish kills, as well as the turbines of the Kyiv Hydro Power Plant.
