Kazakhstan and France have launched a mission to save Lake Balkhash
A large-scale joint expedition of Kazakh and French specialists aimed at saving the unique ecosystem of Lake Balkhash has been launched in the Balkhash district of Almaty region, the press service of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan reports. This is a practical step in the framework of international cooperation, the purpose of which is to develop a comprehensive plan for the conservation of the region’s water resources 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 Kazakhstani 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 effectiveness of irrigated land 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 Boyauly, Bereke, Bakanas, Bakbakty and Birlik. Particular attention was paid to the technical condition of the canals, the modernization of outdated infrastructure and the potential for the introduction of modern water-saving technologies. At meetings with local specialists, the possibilities of water reuse and problems related to the state of reclamation systems and the level of groundwater 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 waterway feeding Balkhash. The participants visited the mouth of the river, examined reclamation and artesian wells, and also studied the condition of the Sorbulak storage lake. The scientific work continued in Almaty, where meetings were organized with colleagues from leading research institutes.
According to Deputy Director of the Department of Water Policy of the Ministry of Water Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan Marat Imanaliev, the result of large-scale research will be a detailed analytical report. “Based on the results of the study, an analytical report will be prepared 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 preservation 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 trilateral agreement signed last December. The document was signed by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan, the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Bureau of Geological and Mining Research of France (BRGM), consolidating intentions to jointly study the Lake Balkhash basin and develop a long-term plan for its conservation.
Original (in Russian): Казахстан и Франция начали миссию по спасению озера Балхаш
