MAL075 - Tal-Isqof 2
Description
Tal-Isqof is an artificial pond inside a quarry, located in south-western Malta within Mqabba. The quarry is still actively being used, and the pond within it has two different water levels; deep areas which were full of water and shallower areas which contain water as a large puddle. The pond covers an approximate area of 1,380m2. The site is located on privately-owned land. Two water pipes are present within the pond. It is not clear whether they are used to maintain water levels within the pond or to remove excess water once full capacity is reached. Within the pond decoys were visible, indicating the site was being used to attract other birds for hunting activities. The pond holds a small population of Phragmites australis and Typha domingensis both within the pond and around its basin. The site is not protected by any legislation.
Wetland data
Basic information
| Wetland location: | Inland |
| Wetland type: | Artificial |
| Wetland area: | 0.10 Ha |
| Hydrological interaction: | - |
| Water salinity: | Fresh (< 0.5 g/l) |
| Type of fresh water input: | Catchment area (precipitation) |
| Surface water runoff | There is no obvious water outflow |
| Open water area (%): | 76 - 95 |
| Hydroperiod: | Permanent |
Geographic information
| Census district: | South Eastern |
| Island: | Malta |
| Local council: | L-Imqabba |
| Longitude: | 14.474510 East |
| Latitude: | 35.848850 North |
Biological significance
| Biological significance: | Low |
Ramsar wetland type
| Type | Coverage (%) |
| 7 -- Excavations; gravel/brick/clay pits; borrow pits, mining pools |
Property status
| Private |
Ecosystem services
| Type of ecosystem service | Ecosystem service | Scale of Βenefit (%) | Importance |
| Cultural services | Recreation and tourism | ||
| Regulatory services | Water regulation |
Activities on wetland
| Activity | Intensity |
| 301 = quarries | Medium |
| 920 = Drying out | Medium |
Activities on catchment area
| Activity | Intensity |
| 301 = quarries | High |
| 410 = Industrial or commercial areas | Medium |
| 412 = industrial stockage | High |
| 419 = other industrial / commercial areas | Medium |
| 440 = Storage of materials | Medium |
| 501 = paths tracks cycling tracks | Low |
| 800 = Landfill land reclamation and drying out | Medium |
Impacts
| Impact | Intensity |
| ES- = Increase in water supply | Medium |
Vegetation types
| Type | Coverage (%) |
| Emergent |
Flora
| Species | Presence status | References |
| Phragmites australis |