In an ongoing joint scientific study, hydrologists from Iran and the US have set new objectives to revive the troubled Urmia Lake straddling the provinces of East and West Azarbaijan -- one of the world's largest saline lakes, an assistant professor at Tehran’s Tarbiat Modares University said.
"Iranian researchers and Utah State University have synthesized 40 years of available experimental, field, satellite, and model data for Lake Urmia to define new restoration objectives not only to lower salinity, sustain Artemia and greater flamingo populations, reduce lakebed dust but also to improve recreational access from resort beaches,” Somayeh Sima was quoted as saying by IRNA.
The current government-sponsored restoration program (cost $1 billion) underway since 2013 has focused on raising the lake’s water level to an ecological target of 1274.1 meters.
Nonetheless, the ongoing study (started in 2018) has found that increasing the water level alone cannot help revive the lake unless other important variables namely lake evaporation, salt dissolution and climate change impacts as well as socioeconomic factors are taken into account.
“Over the past three years, scientists from the two countries have used data from peer-reviewed, state, and non-governmental sources to define standards to raise the lake’s level and improve its ecology,” she noted.
Details of the study “Managing Lake Urmia, Iran for diverse restoration objectives: Moving beyond a uniform target lake level” conducted by Somayeh Sima, and American researchers namely David E. Rosenberg, Wayne A. Wurtsbaugh, Sarah E. Null, Karin M. Kettenring , will be published in the next edition (volume 35) of the Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies in June.
Following two decades of intense agricultural development, reservoir construction, and reduced stream flows, the water level of Lake Urmia --once the second-largest saltwater lake in the Middle East-- and a sister to Utah's Great Salt Lake -- declined from a historical maximum of 1278 m by 6.5 m–1271.5 m in July 2020. During the 20-year period the lake lost almost 45% of its area.
The decline has caused an estimated $1.6 million loss to eco-tourism and recreation (boating, sunbathing, therapeutic baths).
“Together can we understand how to resolve these problems. We are at a tipping point and every step is crucial. We have to take action now.”
Restoring the lake is no easy feat, she stressed, adding that “It is everyone's responsibility, and we'll need public support to make meaningful change”.
The vast dry lakebed has become a growing dust problem for the five million residents in the Urmia Lake basin. The region’s ecotourism industry has collapsed and experts fear an environmental disaster waiting to happen.
Lake Urmia problems are not unique to Iran. Water levels at the Great Salt Lake are also at their lowest in recent years, and similar problems of land bridges, dust, changes in salinity, and ecological damage are a source of concern for American experts.
JICA Studies
In September 2013 Iran for the first time started to cooperate with the Japanese government to save Lake Urmia. After bilateral meetings, JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) undertook studies on the lake and potential solutions.
Earlier JICA had conducted "the Study on Integrated Water Resources Management for Sefidrud River (2007-2010)", "Project for Establishment of Participatory Water Management System in Golestan Province (2009-2014)", "Anzali Wetland Ecological Management Project Phase 1 (2007-2012)", and "Anzali Wetland Ecological Management Project Phase 2 (ongoing)".
After implementing those projects JICA had access to valuable knowhow in the field of integrated water resources management, promotion of participatory water management (water saving agriculture through farmers' self-determination), and establishment and capacity strengthening of wetland management.
JICA provided assistance for the restoration of Lake Urmia through the UN Development Program office in Iran and pledged to contribute $1 million to UNDP in 2015.
Iran's largest inland body of water (Lake Urmia) depleted significantly due to a variety of factors, namely construction of a 15-km causeway to shorten travel time between Urmia and Tabriz plus construction of several dams that have choked off water supply from the mountains on either side of the lake.
