Lake Baringo expeition
Lake Baringo is a fresh water lake located in the eastern arm Rift Valley between latitude 0°36' N and longitude 36° 04' E. It lies approximately 60 Km north of the equator at an altitude of 975 m above sea level (Kallqvist 1987). The lake has a surface area of approximately 130Km 2 and a catchment of 6 820Km 2 . It has a maximum depth of 3.8 m and a mean depth of 3.5m. There are two main rivers that flow into the lake. These are Rivers El Molo and Ol Arabel. Other rivers are Endao, Perkera and Makutan. There are several hot saline springs that discharge into the lake. There is no outflowing river. The lake is thought to be loosing water by seepage at the northern end, which enables it to maintain some freshness.
The lake supports a small-scale fishery but a significant one in relation to the equally small size local population around. Major fish species include Oreochromis niloticus, Barbus gregorii, Clarias gariepinus and the now dominant Propterus aethiopicus . There are significant catches of Oreochromis niloticus in the Lake Baringo, which supports a small-scale fishery.
The ichthyofauna of Lake Baringo is well known from records of various expeditions. However, there have been no elaborate stock assessment of the fishery and the impact of the introduced lungfish Propterus aethiopicus on the fishery needs to be investigated. The lungfish was introduced in the 1970's. Besides, the fish in L. Baringo is frequently infested with nematodes but there has been no comprehensive research on fish diseases. River Chemeron, which drains into Lake Baringo was dammed in the 1980's to provide water for irrigation. The dam was stocked with fish from various sources. The fish species composition is not known. Recent investigations by Odhiambo and Gichuki (2000) and Omondi (2000) reveal that there is a decline in the lake's water quality and fish yields. The fishery has been closed for the last two years to assist it recover. With no recent fisheries data to guide the fisheries researchers and managers, there is need for elaborate fisheries, environmental and socio-economic studies on the so as to come up with sustainable management strategies. There is also need to investigate the fishery status of the associated rivers and dams as some of the species are potamodromous (KMFRI 2001).
The major environmental problem in Lake Baringo is siltation, besides the universal problem of lake level changes due to drought and damming of afferent rivers. Consequently water level has reduced, while siltation is filling up the lake thereby reducing its depth, thus affecting productivity (KMFRI 2001). The reduction of productivity implies reduced fishery. Solving the siltation problem requires a multi-sectoral approach, integrating management of the lake and its catchment.