User:MEvalyn/sandbox/Lake Nakivale

Lake Nakivale is located in Isingiro district, Western Uganda. And it is part of the Lake Mburo-Nakivale wetland system with a catchment covering 26 km square in area with a maximum depth of 3.5 m at high water level. It is also, among the small lakes that form the Koki lakes system in southern Uganda.

History
Lake Nakivale was created in the 1960s when the Nakivale refugee settlement was established. The reservoir was formed by damming a natural watercourse or by excavating the land to create an artificial water body. The primary purpose of creating the lake was to provide water for the refugee settlement and surrounding communities.

The historical evolution of Lake Nakivale is directly related to changes in land use practices around the lake. Over the past few decades, there has been a significant shift from traditional pastoralism to sedentary crop farming in the region surrounding and this has led to various environmental challenges such as land degradation, loss of wildlife habitat, wetland encroachment, and siltation of the lake.

Geography and Features
Lake Nakivale is situated in a relatively flat region surrounded by rolling hills. It is approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) southwest of the city of Mbarara. The lake was created in the 1960s to serve the Nakivale refugee settlement, that was established to accommodate refugees fleeing conflicts in neighboring countries of Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). But currently it also has refugees from Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea and Kenya .The primary water source for Lake Nakivale is a combination of rainfall runoff, local streams, and  groundwater. The landscape surrounding Lake Nakivale is characterized by grasslands, shrublands, and agricultural fields. The area supports a variety of flora and fauna, including species adapted to wetland habitats.

Pollution
Due to the surrounding agricultural activities that involve the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. It results in runoff carrying sediment and chemical pollutants into the lake. also this lake is polluted because of improper disposal of solid waste such as plastic bags, bottles and household rubbish. Also, the lake has been polluted by silting.

As as result of pollution, the lake is starting to dry.

Uses and importance
Lake Nakivale plays multiple purposes for the local communities. It acts as a very important water source for domestic use, livestock, irrigation and other daily needs. It supports local ecosystems and biodiversity. The lake also provides habitat for aquatic species such as fish and waterfowl.Nakivale Refugee Settlement

Sustainable practices around the lake
There have been efforts to promote sustainable resource management and environmental conservation near the lake. These include tree planting, setting up a Green Environment Centre in the refugee camp.