
Streams Nutrients Load Response to Extreme Climate Regimes (ECR) Lake Kinneret Watershed as a Case Study
Mor-Federman T. (1,2), Bookman R. (2) and Be’eri-Shlevin Y. (1)
(1) Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Research Ltd., Tel-Shikmona, P.O.Box 8030, Haifa 31080, Israel
(2) The Dr. Moses Strauss Department of Marine Geosciences, Leon H.Charney School of marine sciences. University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3498838
(5) 1. The Kinneret Limnological Laboratory (KLL), Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Research (IOLR), Israel.
Stream nutrient and micro-nutrient fluxes in relatively undisturbed stream systems result from a combination of mechanisms, including soil flushing and in-stream transport processes, which involve biological transformations of nutrient species. The Lake Kinneret Watershed (LKW) encompasses several key perennial streams, such as the Jordan River and the Bteiha streams, along with other perennial and ephemeral streams. These watercourses drain into Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), a strategically managed drinking water source for local municipalities in Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, while also providing multiple ecosystem services. Consequently, fluctuations in nutrient loads and their composition have critical implications not only for stream ecosystems but also for the lake’s ecological balance and its associated services. This study examines the LKW as a unique case to explore the impact of climate change, particularly Extreme Climate Regimes (ECR), on nutrient/ micro-nutrient sources, stream transport mechanisms and finally nutrient loads to Lake Kinneret. By analyzing long-term monitoring data alongside new field sampling, this research aims to identify both historical and current trends, and identify sources and transport mechanisms in the LKW streams in relation to various factors, mainly precipitation regimes. This information will be used to assess how extreme climate events, such as dry winters and severe floods, will affect nutrient/ micro- nutrient dynamics in the LKW.