Following the statements of an Iranian parliament member regarding the initiation of a project to transfer water from Armenia and Georgia to the nearly dried-up Urmia Lake, a member of the lake's revival headquarters stated that during an Iranian delegation's visit to the United States, American experts said that "transferring water from elsewhere" is not a solution to the issue. Razieh Lak, head of the geology committee at the Urmia Lake Revival Headquarters, told ISNA news agency on August 10 that this ten-member Iranian delegation traveled to the U.S. last July at the invitation of a university to learn about similar experiences in that country. Ms. Lak stated that this trip was aimed at understanding lake revival methods in the dry states of America. The delegation visited four lakes with conditions similar to Urmia Lake. American specialists informed the delegation that transferring water from elsewhere would not solve the revival of the lake and that water should be managed within the watershed. According to Ms. Lak, these experts believe that transferring water is time-consuming and costly, and "not only will it not revive the lake but it will also deplete the water available elsewhere." This Iranian expert emphasized that under current conditions, there should be a focus on "integrated water resource management" before anything else. Her statements came just a day after Ali Alilou, a representative from Shabestar in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, mentioned that according to a plan that has undergone study phases, water supply to Urmia Lake will be conducted through springs in Georgia and a lake in Armenia. Currently, the volume of water in Urmia Lake has decreased from 36 billion cubic meters to 2 billion. Marzieh Lak, who stated that American experts do not consider transferring water from elsewhere a proper solution, also emphasized that the Iranian government has allocated appropriate financial resources for the revival of the lake and that efforts should be made to address the situation of Urmia Lake "without missing any opportunities." She suggested that Iranian experts residing in the U.S. collaborate with their counterparts in Iran to assist in the revival process. Ms. Lak added that without seeking help from specialists in the U.S., all steps would have to be "trial and error," which she deemed "illogical."
Member of Urmia Lake Revival Headquarters: Americans Say Water Transfer from Elsewhere is Not a Solution
An Iranian delegation learned from American experts that transferring water from Armenia and Georgia to revive Urmia Lake is not a viable solution. Instead, they emphasized the need for integrated water resource management. This highlights ongoing challenges in addressing Iran's environmental crises.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
An Iranian delegation learned from American experts that transferring water from Armenia and Georgia to revive Urmia Lake is not a viable solution. Instead, they emphasized the need for integrated water resource management.
- Urmia Lake's water volume has drastically decreased from 36 billion cubic meters to 2 billion.
- American experts advised against water transfer, citing it as costly and ineffective.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Urmia Lake has been facing severe drought and environmental degradation, prompting discussions on various revival strategies. Water scarcity is a pressing issue in Iran, affecting agriculture and local communities.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%