Wetlands of Cyprus

The reservoir of Germasoyia LIM025 is located within the administrative area of the Akrounta community, within a distance of 0.78 km west from the centre of the Foinikaria community which is the nearest residential area. It was constructed in 1968 within the bed of the river Germasoyeia (Amathos), in the confluence of three river tributaries, in a land which belongs to the Germasoyia Municipality as well as to the communities of Arkounta and Foinikaria. It has a capacity of 13,500,000 m3 and drains a catchment area of156,70 km2 to support the irrigation needs of an area of 1,924 hectares (1,2). According to the Water Development Department ranking, it belongs to the “Large Reservoirs” and in the list of the International Commission of Large Dams (1). More information - as for the criteria of ranking – are found in the “Archieve” of Wetland and on the website of WDD. It is fed by the catchment area and the presence of water is permanent. Downstream of the reservoir significant amounts of water are available for the enrichment of the underground pipe which feed the system of water supply of Limassol from pumping, for water supply of areas east of Limassol (3). For this reason is included into the Database of Protected Area of Dams of Drinking Water (4). Studies reported the importance of the linkage of the reservoir with the North Southevouy in order to be used in its maximum, so much the dynamic of the reservoir itself, as well as the availability of the water sources of the river (2). Within the Monitoring Scem of the Reservoir which falls within the provisions of the Directive 2000/60/ EK for Water (WDD), the average value of phosphorus in the reservoir is over the limit value (5) and its chemical status is evaluated as “lowered than good”. The ecological condition / dynamic according to the phytoplankton, chlorophyll a and cyanobacteria is considered to be “good and above”. For this reason, the total quality condition of the water of the reservoir is considered to be “medium” (5, 6). It has been recommended the increase in frequency of sampling for better observation. The biological value is considered to be medium. The vegetation which is found in the wetland includes arborescence / shrubby species such as Pistacia lentiscus, Nerium oleander, Ptilostemon chamaepeuce subsp. cyprius, Calicotome villosa, Tamarix sp., reeds with Arundo donax and Phragmites australis and the species Ecballium elaterium Verbascum sinuatum. In the fauna ,a species of amphibian Pelophylax bedriagae was recorded in addition, a species of reptile Stellagama stellio cypriaca and the bird species Anas crecca, Anas platyrhynchos, Aythya ferina, Actitis hypoleucos , Tringa ochropus, Ardea cinerea, Ardeola ralloides , Bubulcus ibis, Egretta garzetta, Columba palumbus , Alcedo atthis, Coracias garrulus , Falco peregrinus , Falco tinnunculus , Fulica atra, Carduelis chloris, Corvus corone , Corvus monedula, Hirundo rustica , Oenanthe cypriaca , Parus major , Phalacrocorax carbo, Tachybaptus ruficollis. The bird fauna is more likely adaptive to the circumstances of food availability and/or whatever is offered by the river (2). Within the reservoir leisure activities take place (rowing, leisure fishing, walks, motocross etc). In the catchment area there are arborescence cultivations fertilizers are also used. Continuous urbanization and Agricultural structures are also observed. The access to the area is relatively easy and there are paths and bridges. The wetland falls within the Temporary Restricted Area Hunting (7) and within the Close Protection Zone of Dams of Drinking Water (4). Additionally it falls within the area of Nature Production Natura 2000 “Limassol Forest” as Location of Community Importance (8) Reporting Period of Raw Data: 16/05/2014 Field Surveyors: Papatheodoulou A, Sergides L (1) Christofides N., Kyrou K., Pisti E., Ioannou E., Augousti M., Hatzigiannis N. (2009). Dams of Cyprus. Water Development Department, Ministry of Agriculture Natural Resources and Environment (2) Τμήμα Αναπτύξεως Υδάτων (2011). Εφαρμογή των Άρθρων 11, 13 και 15 της Οδηγίας Πλαίσιο Περί Υδάτων (2000/60/ΕΚ) στην Κύπρο. Παράρτημα ΙΙ- Αναλυτικό Πρόγραμμα Μέτρων. (3) Τμήμα Αναπτύξεως Υδάτων (2010). Εφαρμογή των Άρθρων 11, 13 και 15 της Οδηγίας Πλαίσιο Περί Υδάτων (2000/60/ΕΚ) στην Κύπρο. Σύμβαση Τ.Α.Υ. 97/2007. Προσχέδιο διαχείρισης λεκάνης απορροής ποταμού. (4) Water Development Department Data (Accessed 07/2015) (5) WL | Delft Hydraulics, ENVECO Α.Ε., Δ. Αργυρόπουλος & Συνεργάτες (2004). Ανάλυση των επιπτώσεων. Έκθεση ανάλυσης επιπτώσεων για την εναρμόνιση σύμφωνα με την ενότητα 1.5 του Παραρτήματος ΙΙ της Οδηγίας Πλαίσιο για τα Νερά. (6) Τμήμα Αναπτύξεως Υδάτων (2009).Παροχή Συμβουλευτικών Υπηρεσιών για Αξιολόγηση των Αποτελεσμάτων των Προγραμμάτων Παρακολούθησης για τα Επιφανειακά Ύδατα στα Πλαίσια του Άρθρου 8 της Οδηγίας 2000/60/ΕΚ. Σύμβαση ΤΑΥ 54/2009. Γ. Καραβοκύρης & Συνεργάτες Σύμβουλοι Μηχανικοί Α.Ε. Παναγιώτα Στυλιανή Καϊμάκη. (7) Game and Fauna Service Data (Accessed 06/2015) (8) BioCYPRUS (2009). Electronic database. Department of Environment. Ministry of Agriculture Natural Resources and Environment. Bibliographic Reference to Cyprus Wetlands: Papatheodoulou A., Sergides L., Michael K., Emirzade T., Victora M., Anastasi A. 2015 - (continuous updating): Cyprus Wetlands - Cyprus Wetland Inventory. Published in http://www.cypruswetlands.org, access [date].