Joanna Sender
Recreational lakes serve as important spaces for human restoration, yet their soundscapes remain understudied. This research provides a systematic assessment of nearshore sound levels and vegetation-mediated noise attenuation at two lowland lakes in eastern Poland. Over 450 measurements of A-weighted equivalent sound levels (LAeq) were collected during spring, summer, and autumn, across gradients of shoreline vegetation, tree cover, and distance from roads or open shorelines. Seasonal variation emerged as the strongest predictor of LAeq, with summer levels exceeding spring by more than 5 dB—an acoustically meaningful increase linked to peak recreational and traffic activity. Emergent macrophytes, particularly Phragmites australis and mixed reedbeds, significantly reduced noise by 4–6 dB relative to unvegetated shorelines. These effects were consistent across statistical models, underscoring the role of macrophytes as effective natural noise buffers. In contrast, tree-covered shorelines were associated with slightly elevated noise levels, suggesting limited acoustic benefits from riparian woody vegetation in this context. While sound levels decreased with distance from roads, attenuation rates differed between lakes, reflecting the influence of local shoreline configuration. Notably, over one-third of measurements exceeded the WHO guideline of 55 dB LAeq for outdoor environments, particularly in summer and at road-exposed, unvegetated sites. This raises concerns about the acoustic quality of lakeside recreation areas, even in natural landscapes. The study highlights the importance of incorporating soundscape considerations into freshwater management. Preserving or restoring emergent macrophyte belts may offer a cost-effective, nature-based strategy to reduce anthropogenic noise and improve recreational soundscapes.