The effort to revitalize Lake Urmia is progressing with the commencement of the second phase of water release from the Mahabad Dam.
Khalid Rahmani, the head of Mahabad Water Directorate, announced the start of the release of 20 million cubic meters of water from the dam to Lake Urmia.
According to Rahmani, the Mahabad Dam currently holds 172 million cubic meters of water, with previous releases already benefiting the lake.
The dam not only serves the city’s water needs but also supports over 12,000 hectares of agricultural land.
In the initial phase, water was transferred to the lake through the Chaprabad Dam, which has a capacity of 38 million cubic meters.
Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian, secretary of the National Working Group for the Rehabilitation of Lake Urmia, recently stated that the lake’s water level is expected to rise by 47 centimeters until 2023.
Lake Urmia, once spanning 5,200 square kilometers, has experienced an 80% decrease in water levels by 2022. The ongoing efforts aim to restore this vital ecosystem to its former glory.
