81 % of the catchment area is used for agriculture and the portion of irrigated areas quintupled in the last 50 years. The water running into Lake Chapala through the river is highly polluted with heavy metals and other toxic substances as a result of insufficient waste water treatment. In the last 5 years Lake Chapala lost 35,000 ha shoreline, presently the lake has 50 % of its actual volume. The lake depth was 4.5 m in former times, today it much below this level. The region is one of the most eroded areas of the country.
So far the lake is internationally not well known. Even most Mexicans seem to have no specific knowledge about the importance and environmental situation of the lake. The wetlands of the river Lerma delta are of great value and should be protected under national law and declared as RAMSAR site.
back
