Middle East Technical University (METU) actively supports regional off-campus water conservation, watershed restoration, and aquatic ecosystem protection across the Eymir–Mogan Sub-Basin. Pioneered by the METU Limnology Laboratory and sustained continuously since 2019 under the METU Center for Ecosystem Research and Implementation (EKOSAM), METU provides crucial scientific, technical, and operational support to conserve off-campus water bodies in direct partnership with national public authorities.

1. Long-Term Ecological Monitoring & Off-Campus Restoration (22-Year Legacy)

• Pioneering 22-Year Continuous Monitoring: METU conducts Turkey’s longest-running continuous ecological monitoring program (22+ years) across the Eymir–Mogan watershed system. This long-term dataset tracks hydrological parameters, eutrophication levels, and biodiversity indicators to protect off-campus water resources against pollution and climate change impacts.
• Biomanipulation & Eutrophication Reduction: Following heavy historical pollution from off-campus municipal sources (e.g., Gölbaşı town prior to 1997), METU deployed innovative biomanipulation techniques (selective removal of invasive fish species, submerged macrophyte mapping via GIS, and zooplankton dynamics regulation) to restore the ecological health of Lake Eymir and Lake Mogan.
• Rigorous Field Sampling Protocol: Technical monitoring includes multi-parameter physical profiles (YSI 556S), Secchi depth, underwater light availability (Licor 250A), hydrochemical analyses (total/dissolved phosphorus, silicates, nitrogen forms), chlorophyll-a, phytoplankton, and littoral/pelagic zooplankton tracking across all lake inflows (Gölbaşı, Kışlakçı, Sukesen, Yavrucuk, Çölovası) and outflows.

2. Institutional & Inter-Governmental Policy Support

• Mogan–Eymir Lake Sub-Basin Protection Action Plan: METU actively contributes to the execution of the official sub-basin protection plan in formal collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry General Directorate of Water Management (SYGM).
• Climate Adaptation & Biodiversity Safeguards: By providing empirical data to public water authorities, METU enables evidence-based regional water conservation, mitigating drought risks, identifying ecological threats, and enhancing regional climate adaptation.

https://www.tarimorman.gov.tr/SYGM/Sayfalar/Detay.aspx?SayfaId=7

https://ekosam.metu.edu.tr/tr/eymir-ve-mogan-golleri-uzun-donemli-ekolojik-izleme-programi