A Comprehensive Review of the Ecological Transformation and Anthropogenic Pressures Affecting Dal Lake in Kashmir

Dal Lake, situated in the heart of Srinagar in the Kashmir Himalaya, represents one of the region’s most important freshwater ecosystems and is simultaneously an ecological, socioeconomic, cultural, and tourism asset. Over recent decades, however, the lake has undergone substantial ecological transformation as a consequence of increasing anthropogenic pressure, urban expansion, catchment modification, agricultural intensification, tourism activities, untreated wastewater, solid-waste accumulation, encroachment, sedimentation, and the proliferation of floating gardens and aquatic macrophytes. Historical and contemporary investigations indicate progressive deterioration in several water-quality parameters and increasing nutrient enrichment, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, which have contributed to eutrophication and changes in the biological structure of the lake. Long-term studies have also documented substantial changes in land use and land cover around the lake and a reduction in the lake’s spatial extent. Recent research has further highlighted sediment accumulation, heavy-metal contamination, microplastic pollution, and the interaction between climate change and anthropogenic disturbances as emerging dimensions of ecological risk. This review synthesizes the major dimensions of ecological transformation in Dal Lake, examines the principal anthropogenic drivers, evaluates their consequences for water quality, biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, livelihoods, and tourism, and discusses the limitations of existing conservation approaches. The review argues that restoration of Dal Lake requires a shift from fragmented pollution-control measures toward an integrated catchment-to-lake management framework incorporating nutrient-source reduction, wastewater treatment, ecological monitoring, sediment management, sustainable tourism, community participation, climate-resilient planning, and scientifically informed governance.