A large-scale joint expedition of Kazakh and French specialists has launched in the Balkhash district of the Almaty region, aimed at saving the unique ecosystem of Lake Balkhash, reports the press service of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan. This is a practical step within the framework of international cooperation, the goal of which is — to develop a comprehensive plan for the conservation of water resources in the region for decades to come.
An international team, including representatives of the Ministry of Water Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the French Scientific Consortium and leading Kazakh research institutes, has begun a detailed study of the state of the Lake Balkhash basin. The main task is to collect objective data on the state of surface and groundwater, analyze the efficiency of irrigated lands and verify information to create an accurate model of the water balance of the entire region.
During the field work, experts inspected irrigation systems in key rural districts such as Boyauli, Bereke, Bakanas, Bakbakty and Birlik. Particular attention was paid to the technical condition of the canals, issues of modernizing outdated infrastructure and the potential for introducing modern water-saving technologies. At meetings with local specialists, opportunities for water reuse and problems related to the state of reclamation systems and groundwater levels were discussed.
The expedition route also covered strategically important water bodies, including the Kapshagai reservoir, which plays a key role in regulating the flow of the Ili River — the main water artery supplying Balkhash. Participants visited the mouth of the river, examined reclamation and artesian wells, and also studied the condition of the Sorbulak storage lake. Scientific work continued in Almaty, where meetings were organized with colleagues from leading research institutes.
According to Marat Imanaliev, Deputy Director of the Department of Water Policy of the Ministry of Water Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the result of large-scale research will be a detailed analytical report. «Based on the results of the study, an analytical report will be formed with recommendations for government agencies and other interested parties, — he said. — The project, implemented jointly with French experts, is aimed at developing a master plan for the conservation of Lake Balkhash with a forecast until 2040. The ongoing research is an important step towards strengthening the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and France in the field of ecology, water use and scientific exchange».
The current expedition was made possible thanks to a tripartite agreement signed last December. The document was concluded by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan, the French Development Agency (AFD) and the French Bureau of Geological and Mining Research (BRGM), enshrining intentions to jointly study the Lake Balkhash basin and develop a long-term plan for its conservation.
