A case study in restoration: shallow eutrophic lakes in the Norfolk Broads

Abstract

The Norfolk Broads, a series of lakes in lowland Eastern England, provide an excellent case study of the effects and the management of eutrophication. The history of the Broads and of the development of eutrophication is reasonably well understood from paleolimnological studies and historical records. The causes of enrichment bring into focus the problems of modern, highly intensive agriculture and urban sewage disposal. The biological effects are acute because of the value of the area for wildlife conservation, fisheries and recreation, and the consequent economic value of these uses to the local communities. A range of management strategies has been applied, with varying degrees of success, which provide guidance for similar strategies elsewhere. The development of our scientific understanding of the problem, its many interconnections, and the links between understanding and decision-making, offer us lessons in the application of science and technology to the solution of contemporary problems.