Kazakhstan Stabilizes Lake Balkhash Water Levels Through Strategic Discharges

Water levels in Lake Balkhash have stabilized following the targeted discharge of nearly 40 billion cubic meters of water over the past three years. Data indicates that the regulation of the transboundary Ili River is yielding results. Approximately 13.9 billion cubic meters were directed into the lake in 2022, followed by 15.9 billion in 2023. Since the beginning of the current year, the lake has received more than 9.7 billion cubic meters.

The Kapshagay Reservoir serves as the primary instrument for regulating the lake’s condition by accumulating and distributing water from the Ili River. Storage levels at the reservoir have remained at near-maximum capacity in recent years, reaching 100% of its design capacity over the previous two seasons and 98% during the current year. These volumes facilitate the release of sufficient water into Lake Balkhash without compromising the integrity of the hydraulic infrastructure.

Current inflow from the Ili River aligns with average multi-year values, allowing Lake Balkhash to maintain an optimal water level of 341 meters – the standard elevation according to the Baltic system of heights. To ensure the continued hydrological balance of the basin, a Master Plan through 2040 is under development in collaboration with French experts. Field studies and the analysis of collected data are currently underway.

The involvement of international specialists is necessitated by the unique characteristics of the local ecosystem. Lake Balkhash remains one of the largest endorheic lakes in the world, with a freshwater western section and a saline eastern section. The lake’s dependence on external inflows requires precise modeling and constant environmental monitoring. The forthcoming strategic document will establish water resource management regulations for the entire Ili–Balkhash basin for the next fifteen years.