Water bodies

The Imatra region belongs to Järvi-Suomi. Its largest lakes are the sparsely nourished and clear-water Pyhäjärvi of Karelia in the northern part of the region, which is a Natura 2000 protected area, the fishy Simpelejärvi in ​​Parikkala, Torsa on the border of Rautjärvi and Ruokolahti, and Immalanjärvi in ​​Imatra. The most spectacular of the river waters are the majestically flowing and bubbling Vuoksi and the Hiitolanjoki, which is freed from rapids and restored for salmon. There are many lakes of different sizes in the region and the wide maze of water in southern Saimaa extends to Ruokolahti (Haapavesi) and in front of Imatra. Lakes with sandy shores have a great recreational value for the residents of the area as well as numerous summer cottagers and tourists. The region mainly belongs to the large river basin of Vuoksi. Many lakes of Parikkala and Rautajärvi belong to the Hiitolanjoki watershed.

A water management plan for the years 2016–2021 has been drawn up for the Vuoksi water management area. It was prepared by the ELY centers of the region and water management cooperation groups made up of stakeholders. Water management plans are based on EU legislation and citizens have also had the opportunity to influence them. In addition, a more detailed action program for the waters of Southeast Finland has been drawn up. A new water management plan is currently being prepared for the management season 2022–2027.

 Current information on water management (ymparisto.fi)

Water monitoring is carried out in most lakes and the results are recorded in the environmental administration's so-called To the open data system. Part of the monitoring of water bodies is also mandatory monitoring related to environmental permits of institutions and part of voluntary monitoring of water bodies paid for by municipalities. The easiest way to get information about the state of your own home or cottage lake is from the Vesikartta map service, which tells about the ecological classification of lakes. The Järviwiki online service, which is built and published with the cooperation of authorities and citizens, also tells about the state of the lakes. Anyone can record e.g. blue-green algae observations in Järviwiki.

Water map (ymparistonyt.fi)

Lake Wiki

The task of the Imatra region's environmental action is to promote water protection in the municipalities of its area of ​​operation. However, local residents and landowners are also the actual actors in water protection. Water conservation measures in agriculture and forestry and the treatment of wastewater in a sparsely populated area concern many people living in the area and leisure residents.

Projected water protection work is carried out e.g. In Immalanjärvi in ​​Imatra, Purnujärvi in ​​Rautjärvi and Nurmijärvi. Work has also been done to rehabilitate the waters of Simpelee's Kivijärvi, Uukuniemi's Kirkkolammi and Untamojärvi. In the years 2010-2012, the environmental department of the Imatra region had the Together for Simple Lake project, and in the years 2012-2014, the Sininen Haapavesi project was implemented. Many wastewater projects that have operated in the area have also supported water protection in the area.

In the Fish to benefit project 2018-2020 in Parikkala's Pien-Rautjärvi, utilization models were sought for the fish mass obtained in therapeutic fishing. Management fishing projects of cooperatives supported by the ELY Center of Southeast Finland are ongoing in Parikkala's Pien-Rautjärvi and Rautjärvi's Purnujärvi.

Environmental action projects