Lake Urmia water levels stabilize following recent rainfall

The declining water levels of Lake Urmia have stabilized following significant rainfall in the month of Mehr, according to hydrological monitoring data. The lake's volume has stabilized at approximately 2.55 billion cubic meters at the start of the new water year, marking a notable departure from previous years when autumn typically saw continued declines.

To maintain ecological stability, experts state that an annual water supply of 3.4 billion cubic meters is required. Efforts to meet this demand include utilizing natural river flows, releasing water from basin dams, transferring water from the Kani Sib dam, and repurposing treated wastewater from Urmia and Tabriz.

Environmental authorities are also focusing on protecting the lake's biodiversity, including the Iranian yellow deer populations on Ashk Island and various satellite wetlands. Ongoing initiatives include monitoring water transfer routes to prevent unauthorized withdrawals, dredging wetland paths, and implementing sustainable agricultural pilots in 11 villages to reduce water consumption.