The Volume of Lake Urmia Water Has Decreased Over the Past Year

Mojtaba Zolajoodi, the Deputy for Marine and Wetland Environment of the Environmental Protection Organization, reported a "decrease of 0.97 billion cubic meters in the volume of Lake Urmia over the past year." According to ILNA news agency, he stated that with the current trend of evaporation from the lake's surface and increased evaporation intensity during the warm months, it is expected that the level of Lake Urmia will decrease in the coming months. This official noted that the lake's level reached 1270 meters and 18 centimeters on July 17. Additionally, based on Landsat satellite images, the area of the water surface of Lake Urmia at this level is equal to one thousand square kilometers, which is a decrease of 801 square kilometers compared to the same time last year. Recently, the Iran Watch website reported that the level of Lake Urmia on June 3, 2023, was the lowest recorded for that date since 1964. It has also been reported that the level of Lake Urmia has reached its lowest point in the past 60 years. Furthermore, a study published by Iran Watch indicated that the volume of Lake Urmia has reached its lowest in the past decade and is even lower than in 2015. The Deputy for Marine Environment told ILNA that this water year, "since June 1, with the warming weather, surface evaporation from Lake Urmia has intensified, and since then, the lake level has decreased by 24 centimeters." He added, "Considering the continuation of the warm months, reduced rainfall, and significant water consumption in agriculture, the trend of the lake's level will continue to decrease in the coming months, and there is no hope for an increase in the level until mid-autumn." In this context, Roozbeh Eskandari, a water expert, previously told Voice of America: "Contrary to the government's claims of successful restoration and salvation of Lake Urmia, the current level of the lake and its difference from the ecological level indicate that this lake will completely dry up this year." According to the Deputy for Marine Environment, over the past years, mismanagement, drought, and improper management of water resources, as well as the failure to pay the minimum annual water rights, have resulted in significantly less water entering the lake, and the continuation of this trend over several years, along with reduced rainfall in recent years, has led to this environmental disaster. Kaveh Madani, head of the Water, Environment, and Health Institute of the United Nations University, also rejected the Iranian officials' claims about the "satisfactory" restoration process of Lake Urmia by releasing satellite images of the lake's gradual drying. Roozbeh Eskandari stated that Lake Urmia has turned into a salt desert. Mansour Sohrabi noted that Lake Urmia has never been this dry in the past 60 years; dust storms are on the way. Amir Aghakuchak mentioned that the decrease in water levels of Lake Urmia and the Aras River affects the health and livelihood of the local people. Kaveh Madani dismissed the Islamic Republic's claims about the "improvement of Lake Urmia's condition." The "Open Data Iran" database reported that 97% of Iran's area is experiencing drought.