Water quality profile of Pergau Reservoir or also known as Sultan Ismail Petra Hydroelectric Reservoir has been conducted from 28th October to 3rd November 2019 during Pergau scientific expedation 2019. Three (3) lentic sampling stations (P1, P2 and P3) were selected with eleven (11) water parameters such as water temperature, pH, biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solid (TSS), total dissolved solid (TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO), turbidity, ammonical-nitrogen, oil and grease (O&G), and total coliform were analyzed for water quality status of Pergau Lake. Stratification profile of DO, pH and water temperature were recorded by 10m depth at all lentic stations. Generally DO, temperature and pH reading at the surface lentic sampling stations ranging between 7.11 to 9.21 mg/L, 27 to 27.5 °C and 7.50 to 8.72, respectively. Anoxic layer was detected at depth of 9 m at P1 whereas 3 m at P2 and P3. Profiling of DO, pH and water temperature shown decreased pattern when the water depth increased. Others parameters such as COD at the subsurface were ranged from 1.3 to 1.4 mg/L, TSS reading recorded ranged from 4.00 to 6.80 mg/L, ammoniacal-nitrogen ranged from 0.05 to 0.07 mg/L whereas BOD5 were ranged from 1.3 to 1.4 mg/L. The Department of Environment – Water Quality Index (DOE-WQI) classification was used to assess the water quality status of the selected sampling locations. The results showed that all locations fall under Class I ranged between 92.66 to 94.55% and in summary the area can be classified as clean and suitable for sensitive aquatic organisms.

The Pergau lake basin is a man-made water catchment area comprise of 460 hectares due to the construction of hydroelectric dams in Pergau. It is located about 125 km southwest of Kota Bharu in the Jeli district in Kelantan and managed by Tenaga Nasional Berhad. The lake is rich in natural resources and the forest in the basin acts as a reservoir through water absorption and storage. Forests within the area catchments and basins can control soil erosion and erosion of river banks as well slope collapse is one of the sources of risk floods in terms of damage to property and infrastructure such as bridges and road. However, rapid population growth and urbanisation induced the pressure from human activities have been expanded into the forest catchment area. Therefore this study was conducted in the Pergau Lake (Dam) to safeguard their importance for socio-economic, well-being, ecotourism potential and sustaining its biodiversity. This study aims to predict the land use changes in the study area for 2035, parameterised with satellite images in 1988, 2003 and 2018 and the physical parameter such as slope, road, elevation, distance from built up area, green space edge and waterbody. The integrated approach of remote sensing, Geographical Information System (GIS) and Land Change Modeler-Markov Change Model were used to analyze the changes and their spatial pattern. The results showed that between 1994 and 2004, and between 2004 and 2014 the forest landscape in the Pergau Lake were decreased due to the development of the built-up area. Thus, the results will hopefully take into consideration for land use planning and forest protection for sustainable management planning of the forest catchment area. It is indicated that the spatial effect of green space is influenced by the historical spatial changes, implementation of the previous master planning efforts and uncontrolled land use expansion. This study is designed to provide the novel integrated approach for predicting landscape changes for the forest catchment area to provide the initial guideline for sustainable planning and management of forest catchment area.

No abstract

TNB Research (TNBR) was conducted a pilot study on the commercialization of catch and release sport fishing in Puah Reservoir, a new hydroelectric project within the Hulu Terengganu Hydroelectric Station (HTHS). The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of the sport fishing programme on socio-economic benefit and its potential as a component of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs). The evaluation was conducted in two phases, from November 2017 to May 2018 (Phase 1) and October 2018 to December 2019 (Phase 2), which covered the reservoir and its catchments, such as Terengganu Mati, Limbang, Pelagong, and Sireh rivers. The information was gathered from registered anglers who fished 12 days per month, using two boats with a maximum of two anglers per boat and casting methods from 0700 to 1630. The results show that November 2017 had the highest average of fish strikes per angler with a value of 11. This value was recorded as a standard for the best strikes at the Puah Reservoir. Every angler recorded an average of six fish strikes per month, with the exception of December and early January, which were closed due to the monsoon season. Based on the population of fish strikes, the Sebarau (Hampala macrolepidota) species had the highest catch for both phases, accounting for 71% and 73% of all strikes, respectively. Haruan (Channa striata), Bujuk (Channa lucius), Tengas (Neolissochilus soroides), Baung (Hemibagrus capitulum), Tengas Daun (Poropuntius normani), and Kelah (Tor tambra) were also observed. Based on the net income, the revenue had increased, indicating an increase in demand and willingness to pay from anglers. The monthly income (on a part-time basis) was determined by the number of anglers who registered for the Sport Fishing programme. The In-House Guide earned a total net income of RM35,560.00 or USD8114.09 (Phase 1) and RM41,640.00 or USD9501.43 (Phase 2). As a baseline study, all income was collected by the cooperation run by the local community. To summarise, sport fishing at Puah Reservoir supports NTFPs, which can serve as forest conservation, a sustainable environment, and a new source of income for the local community if proper management practices are implemented.

This study was conducted in several selected river intakes of the Pergau Lake as well as Sungai Pergau to determine the macroinvertebrate community, and also to update checklist of those macroinvertebrates known to the area. Previous study was done by Suhaila et al in 2017 with seven sampling points; Sungai Terang, Sungai Suda, Sungai Renyok 2, Sungai Renyok 3, Sungai Kalai, Sungai Long 1 and Sungai Long 2. Meanwhile, this study maintain the similar sampling points except Sungai Kalai, besides introduction of new sampling points at Sungai Renyok 1 and Sungai Pergau. Result shows the study rivers have great number of macroinvertebrates taxa. Sungai Renyok 2 recorded the most diverse aquatic insect collected with 29 genera while the least diversity of aquatic insects was recorded in Sungai Suda (16 genera). A total of 53 genera and 34 families from nine different orders of benthic macroinvertebrates namely Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Plecoptera, Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Trichoptera, Diptera, Decapoda, and Lepidoptera were recorded. The existence of some orders such as Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) showed rivers in Pergau has good water quality and habitats for macroinvertebrates especially aquatic insects.