The anticipated degree of success of different approaches to lake rehabilitation

The anticipated degree of success for different approaches to water quality management (egosystemic, piecemeal, environmental, and ecosystemic) in four lake ecosystem types (hypereutrophic, urban, acidified, and recreational) at different stages of ecological degradation, was assessed. The success of an ecosystem approach, particularly its preventive aspects, appears to be inversely proportional to the state of ecosystem degradation. The highest degree of success is expected in relatively undisturbed lakes through stringent preventive and legislative measures. Combinations of all the available options and approaches should be utilized when deciding the optimum corrective measures to rehabilitate degraded ecosystems effectively.