Fergana.ru reports that the Syr Darya is at record low levels, to the point where the fish population has been decimated due to inability to reach spawning grounds.
What effect could this have on the Aral Sea? The Fergana.ru story closes with the comment:
Ecologists say such low river level is unprecedented and environmental repercussions of it are yet to be seen.
The state of Aral, last I heard, was that the Amu Darya [which flows into the Aral Sea in Uzbekistan] rarely reaches the shores of the “Big” Aral sea, and that the building of the dam to create and sustain the “Little” Aral Sea in Kazakhstan was made possible by the continued contribution of waters from the Syr Darya [which flows into the Aral through Kazakhstan]. The drought/dry winter seems to have effected the rivers, which it seems to me will accelerate the shrinking of the “Big” Aral, and possibly retard the re-growth of the “Little” Aral. Any thoughts?
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These things are hard to comment Michael, unless you have hard data on the water ballance. From what I have heard this year there is water shortage in Ili and Balkhash as well.
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