Lielupe River basin and Gulf of Riga (EE/LV/LT)

The Lielupe River drains the southern-central part of Latvia on the northern of Lithuania. The drainage basin covers 17 600 km2, an area characterised by flat terrains and a very dense river network. Thanks to fertile soils, it is mainly used for intensive agriculture, leading to severe fragmentation of semi-natural habitats, decrease of biodiversity, landscape homogenisation as well as pollution of water bodies. The Lielupe River ends in the Gulf of Riga, a particularly enclosed marine area subjected to diverse human pressures where eutrophication is one of the most severe issues threatening the unique ecosystems in the area. As connected systems, the eutrophication problem in Gulf of Riga will influence nutrient dynamics in the coastal areas of Estonia, potentially impacting their ES supply dynamics.