Mastryukovsky lakes

The natural monument was created by the decision of the executive committee of the Kuibyshev Regional Council of People’s Deputies dated 06/14/1989 No. 201 “On attributing natural objects of the region to state nature monuments of local importance” ^[1] . Subsequently, the status was confirmed and clarified by Decrees of the Government of the Samara Region dated December 29, 2012 No. 838 “On approval of the provisions on specially protected natural territories of regional significance” ^[2] and No. 566 dated September 11, 2014 “On amendments to the Decree of the Government of the Samara Region dated 29.12. 2012 No. 838 “On approval of the provisions on specially protected natural territories of regional significance” ” ^[3] . The purpose of the monument is to preserve the forest and limnological complex; habitats of plant and animal species listed in the Red Book of the Samara region . Mastryukovsky lakes are a nodal element of the regional ecological framework of the Samara region. Lakes have resource conservation, scientific, aesthetic and recreational significance ^[4] .

A natural monument is the floodplain old- fashioned lakes with a weak current, replenished with numerous springs. Lakes are stretched along the Volga for about 7 km ^[5] . They are rare examples of the Volga floodplain, which practically did not remain in the Samara region due to the rising level of the Volga during the creation of the Kuibyshev and Saratov reservoirs ^[6] . The natural monument consists of one site with an area of ​​321.29 hectares, of which 298.68 hectares are located within the boundaries of the Krasnoglinsky district of the Samara urban district and 22.61 hectares within the rural settlement of Vasilyevka, Stavropol District, Samara Region ^[4] . The territory is in federal ownership, managed by the Zadelninsky district forestry Novo-Buyanskoye forestry. Of the total area of ​​the natural monument, 195.1 hectares are occupied by forests, 47.9 hectares - by meadows, lakes occupy 24.1 hectares, 19.7 hectares belong to swamps , 5.09 hectares of the territory are occupied by roads for various purposes and 29.4 hectares - others plots. The climate is moderately warm with low humidity. The average January temperature is −13.5 ° С, July - +20.5 ° С; the average annual temperature is +3.8 ° C. The frost-free period lasts 137-140 days. Annual precipitation: 380-450 mm ^[4] .

Plant in the lakes are covered with dense aquatic vegetation ^[5] . The coasts are covered with dense coastal-aquatic vegetation that forms thickets: forest reeds, common reeds , loosestrife loosestrife , there are also sedges and willows. The outskirts of the lakes are covered with meadow vegetation ; forest plots of pine , oak , hazel , poplar and currant are frequent on the plains. The floodplain slopes are occupied by coniferous broad-leaved forests with various plant communities: terrestrial pine forests, bracken and others, oak forests of birch-tree-lily of the valley and motley grass, aspen bracken-tree, and various transitional forms of these communities. Among the trees, pine, oak and aspen dominate, pine undergrowth is well formed. The species composition of the grass cover is very rich, but in general the flora of the lakes is not well understood and needs to be inventoried. The fauna is generally typical of the region ^[4] . Clean and well-heated water of the lakes creates favorable conditions for the existence of aquatic animals. In the coastal zone, various mollusks are found: toothless pond , common pearl barley , zebra mussel , horn coil, horn ball , river meadow , common and eared ponds . Large aquatic predatory bugs live in the coastal thickets: plautus and aquatic scorpion ; colonies of plumatelle bryozoans are found on plants. The waters are rich in plankton , which provides a reliable food base for fish. Both lake species live here: pike and crucian carp , and river representatives: large breams are found. Outside the surface of the water there are at least 15 species of butterflies , various species of beetles , dragonflies , grasshoppers and other insects, especially the housefly and woodpecker . There are numerous birds in the forests surrounding the lake ^[5] .

Rare and Endangered Species

The flora of the lakes was not subjected to an inventory, so the list of rare species of plants and animals, including those found in the Red Book of the Samara Region and living in the Mastryukovskiy Lakes region, varies between sources. In total, Siberian killer whale (Iris sibirica L.) ^[4] , a pure white water lily (Nymphaea sandida (J.Presl)) ^{[7] [8]} , a yellow capsule (Nuphar lutea (L.) Smith.) ^{[ 7] [9]} , rdest cereal (Potamogeton gramineus (L.)) ^[4] , bifurcated miniculum (Maianthemum bifolium (L.) FW Schmidt) ^[7] , Cheremoid napkin (Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz) ^[10] , backache (Pulsatilla patens (L.) Mill.) ^[7] .

The factor of the negative impact of moderate power on the state of the natural monument is the felling , as well as the recreational load ^[4] . The territory of lakes for recreational purposes is used very intensively. So, on the territory of Mastryukovsky lakes there is a festival glade, where the Grushinsky festival is held , attracting thousands of people. Numerous motor boats cause coastal destruction and water pollution ^[5] . The threat to the monument is the probability of forest fires ^[4] . Any activity that entails a violation of its preservation is prohibited on the territory of the natural monument, in particular: felling of forest stands, harvesting of wood by citizens; plowing of land and other work related to violation of the integrity of the soil cover; construction of main roads, pipelines, power lines; landfills, storage and disposal of waste; hunting, amateur and sport hunting, as well as the placement and construction of hunting facilities; industrial and commercial harvesting of non-timber forest resources , food forest resources and collection of medicinal plants ; cultivation of forest fruit, berry, ornamental plants, medicinal plants, the creation and operation of forest plantations; the use of toxic chemicals to protect and protect forests and agricultural land; warehousing, storage, destruction of pesticides , agrochemicals, other chemicals and fuels and lubricants; exploration and extraction of minerals ^[2] .

Allowed subject to damage to protected natural complexes: free access to the territory of citizens; collection by citizens for their own needs of non-timber forest resources, food forest resources, medicinal plants; limited sanitary cuttings in forest stands as part of sanitary-improving measures, measures to localize and eliminate pockets of pests in forest stands; activities to protect forests from fires; limited use of non-toxic pest control in agriculture and forestry; biotechnological activities aimed at maintaining and increasing the number of individual animal species ^[2] .

• Register of specially protected natural territories of regional significance of the Samara region / comp. A.S. Pazhenkov. - The Ministry of Nature Management, Forestry and Environmental Protection of the Samara Region. - Samara: Ecoton, 2010. - S. 193—194. - 259 p. - 200 copies.
• Ministry of Forestry, Environmental Protection and Nature Management of the Samara Region. State cadastre of specially protected natural areas of regional and local significance. Cadastral business No. 145 . - Samara, 2015.
• A consolidated list of specially protected natural areas of the Russian Federation (reference). Part II / Ans. ed. D.M. Foci. - M .: VNIIprirody , 2006 .-- S. 132. - 364 p. - ISBN 5-7640-0031-9 .