Srebarna Nature Reserve receives 2.8 million cubic meters of water from Danube

Authorities are conducting an emergency water transfer operation to protect the Srebarna Nature Reserve due to critically low water levels in the Danube River. Since the operation began on July 14, more than 2.8 million cubic meters of water have been mechanically transferred to the lake to maintain a suitable habitat for waterbirds.

The effort is a collaborative operation involving the Ministry of Environment and Water, the General Directorate Fire Safety and Civil Protection, the Silistra Municipality, and the regional administration. To combat high temperatures and low river levels that restrict water flow, crews are working around the clock, using excavators and boom barriers to prevent algae from clogging pumping equipment.

Due to the ongoing hydrological crisis, the partial state of emergency in the Silistra Municipality within the reserve's boundaries is expected to be extended from August 30 to September 29. Despite the environmental challenges, officials report that the measures have successfully maintained water levels sufficient for local wildlife, including large populations of pink and curly-crested pelicans, herons, swans, and ducks.