A collection of interested bodies and groups have come together in a systematic attempt to save the dying lakes of the city of Concepción, Chile. Recuperation of the Lakes comprises neighbourhood organizations, corporations and NGOs, sanitary services, health and tourism groups, municipal and government bodies, universities and businesses. Until that time, Lake Chica of San Pedro was the only lake given any chance of survival. The six other lakes, set in the middle of the city, were slowly dying by eutrophication visibly accompanied by the growth of weeds and gradual conversion into marsh. Studies and excavations have been carried out. Shortcuts have been established to disentangle public resources and means. All activities were aimed at diminishing the amount of nutrients in the lakes by extracting those that had accumulated and by preventing more from entering. The filling of Lake Custodio was blocked and 1500 tonnes of aquatic plants were removed from the Three Pascuales Lake. A plan for a rainwater collector has been drawn up for the Great San Pedro Lake and for Lake Grande. Hope is now rising that two, three or even all of the lakes may be restored.
The Sustainable Ismailia Project (SIP) is undertaken with the assistance of the Sustainable Cities Programme. The city's surroundings include a vast tract of reclaimable desert land, the Suez Canal, and a number of associated salt-water lakes. Lake Timsah is a small and attractive lake, used heavily for tourism, recreation and fishing. Ismailia is keen to diversify its economic base and to boost the growth of agriculture and agro-industries. At the same time the city also seeks to preserve its environmental ambience and to protect the fragile ecosystem of the lake.