The water level in Lake Balkhash has shown positive dynamics over the past year, rising by 12 centimeters. The mark reached 341.64 meters according to the Baltic height system, while a year earlier it was 341.52 meters. This increase led to an increase in the total volume of water in the unique reservoir by 2 billion cubic meters, reports the press service of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The key factor in improving the situation was targeted releases of water from the Kapshagai reservoir, located in the Almaty region and regulating the flow of the main water artery of the region – the Ili River. Since the beginning of this year, 3.8 billion cubic meters of water have been sent to Lake Balkhash. This is significantly more than in the same period last year, when the volume of output reached 2.9 billion cubic meters.

The increase in water inflow has a beneficial effect on the ecological situation of the entire region, including the condition of the lake itself and the unique Ili River delta. In addition, the stable filling of the Kapshagai reservoir provides the necessary resources for a successful irrigation season on the Akdalinsky and Shengeldinsky irrigation massifs, which is important for the region’s agriculture.

The water balance of Lake Balkhash critically depends on the flow of the transboundary Ili River, which originates outside Kazakhstan. This flow is regulated through the Kapshagai Reservoir. Plans for the current year – to send a total of 12 billion cubic meters of water from the reservoir to Balkhash to maintain and improve the condition of the lake.

Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nurzhan Nurzhigitov said that his department is carrying out comprehensive work to provide Balkhash with the necessary volumes of water. He announced the upcoming discussion next week with experts from France on the development «of a Master Plan for the Conservation of Balkhash». This strategic document will be designed for the long term, until 2040. The minister also recalled the agreement reached last year to conduct a joint study of the entire Lake Balkhash basin.