State Hydraulics Works refuses to supply water to revive dried lake in western Turkey

Photo: Nature Association

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Lake Marmara, an alluvial barrier lake with a size of 6,000 hectares and a bird sanctuary in Gölmarmara, Manisa, in western Turkey, has lost 98 percent of its surface area in the past decade due to bad agricultural and water policies.

In the years when the water levels were higher, about 65,000 water birds would overwinter in the lake. The destruction of the lake ecosystem means birds, fish and humans lose their living spaces.

However, the State Hydraulics Works (DSİ) previously refused a request by local administrations to supply one million cubic meters of water to the lake throughout 2021, citing the fact that the Gördes Dam is one of the drinking water sources of İzmir, the third largest province of the country.

The water of Gördes Stream, the main water source of the lake, is held in Gördes Dam. The water should be transferred from Ahmetli Creek via a channel, which is not done.

Sand quarries in the area also contribute to the drying of the lake. While Kumçayı stream and Gördes Stream would normally converge and flow into the lake, quarries use water from the streams to process materials.

"Requests are turned down"

Tuba Kılınç, the head of the Nature Association (Doğa Derneği), said this time of the year is the best time to supply water to the lake as the soil is saturated with rainwater and because of that, water released from the dam would reach the lake without leaking into the soil.

"Simultaneously, the winter and spring water from Ahmetli Creek should be released through a channel and reach the lake ," she added.

However, Kılınç said, the authorities deny their requests concerning the matter.

"Moreover, it is said that there is a water leak from the Gördes Dam due to a defect. We don't know where this water goes," she added. "Along with the measures to be taken for the use of water in agriculture, the water coming from Gördes Dam and Ahmetli Creek should be reunited with the birds and fish of Marmara Lake, and the lake ecosystem should be preserved and transferred to future generations."

Migration

The drying of the lake caused many people to migrate to different places, said Rafet Kerse, a board member of the Gölmarmara and Surroundings Water Products Cooperative.

"The authorities say the water from Ahmetli Creek is not pumped into the lake because it's dirty; but we see for ourselves that the water is clean," he said. "Citizens doing fishing had to migrate; we are unable to pay our debts."

About Lake Marmara

Recognized as an Important Bird Area, Lake Marmara hosts as many as 65,000 water birds in winter.

Nine percent of all dalmatian pelicans in the world spend the winter in the lake. The drying of the lake threatens the vulnerable pelicans, as well as other birds.

Lake Marmara is also an Important Natural Area and has two endemic fish species, which are also endangered due to the drying. (TP/VK)