Assessment of water quality in Yapialtin Dam Lake (Sivas, Turkey) during dry and rainy seasons using various parameters and water quality indices

There are many dam lakes in the ?ark??la district of Sivas, where agricultural activities are intense. Yap?alt?n Dam Lake, which constitutes our study area, is one of them. The research was conducted at three stations in Yap?alt?n Dam Lake during the dry season in August 2023 and the rainy season in May 2024. Eighteen physicochemical variables of lake water were measured. The quality of dam lake water was assessed using indices such as the eutrophication index (EI), organic pollution index (OPI), nutrient pollution index (NPI) and water quality index (WQI). The similarity of the stations in terms of physicochemical parameters was determined using Bray?Curtis similarity analysis. Additionally, Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses were employed to examine the relationships among the physicochemical data. The analyses revealed seasonal variations in all water quality indices. In conclusion, the study provides recommendations for the sustainable use of the dam lake.