Estimate of sediment inflow into Vistonis Lake, Greece

In the present study, the mean annual sediment inflow into Vistonis Lake （Thrace, northeastem Greece） was calculated. The sediment quantity originates mainly from the basins of Kossynthos, Kompsatos and Travos （Aspropotamos） Rivers. The whole basin area （mountainous part） contributing to the lake amounts to about 845 km2. The above mean annual sediment quantity was compared with the mean annual sediment accumulation in the lake. The latter quantity was estimated from the mean annual decrease of the lake water volume for a period of 22 years, which was determined by means of older and newer topographic maps （isobath contours）. For the calculation of the mean annual sediment yield at the outlets of the three above mentioned basins, a mathematical model consisting of three submodels was used： a rainfall-runoff submodel, a soil erosion submodel and a sediment transport submodel for streams. The comparison of the computational results by means of the mathematical model with the estimation results by means of the topographic maps is satisfactory and encouraging.