Nariman Kypshakbayev, former Minister of Land Reclamation and Water Management, as well as an honored specialist in the field of hydraulic engineering, came up with the idea of ​​raising the dam by two meters. He voiced this proposal at a meeting dedicated to measures to improve the ecology of the region. This was reported by the Ministry of Water Resources of Kazakhstan. Kypshakbayev believes that raising the dam is necessary to preserve the ecosystem of the Small Aral Sea, which directly affects the lives of local residents.

The Kokaral dam was built in 2006 as part of the first stage of the Northern Aral Sea restoration project. It has already proven its benefits: the water in the sea has become less salty, different types of fish have returned, and fish processing plants have begun operating in the city of Aralsk. However, as Kypshakbayev noted, the current height of the dam does not allow for the accumulation of enough water. This is due to the fact that the Syr Darya River, which feeds the sea, does not provide the required volume due to a long-term deficit.

Kypshakbayev explained that even in years when there is a lot of water, the Small Aral cannot accommodate more than 30 billion cubic meters of water. The total volume of the Syr Darya is about 37 billion cubic meters, but the needs of the four countries through which the river flows have tripled in recent years. According to the specialist, without increasing the dam, it will be difficult to save the sea, and this directly threatens the ecology and economy of the region.

Kypshakbayev recalled that efforts to save the Small Aral began back in 1988. Before the construction of the dam, the sea had practically disappeared: the fish disappeared, and local residents who were engaged in fishing were forced to leave. After the construction of the hydraulic structure, the situation changed. The reservoir began to recover, and the region’s economy received a new boost thanks to the return of fishing. Now, according to the expert, the dam needs to be raised by two meters and further strengthened. This will allow it to retain more water and continue the restoration of the Small Aral.

Nariman Kypshakbayev is known not only as a professional in the water industry, but also as a person who openly expresses his opinion. Earlier, in an interview with the Zhas Alash newspaper, he said that former President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev paid more attention to the oil industry than to water problems. Kypshakbayev believes that over the years of independence, the country has failed to improve water management and has even lost out to neighboring states in this regard. According to him, due to the mistakes of past years, Kazakhstan has faced a shortage of water and deterioration of the land.

Currently, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan is analyzing various options for preserving the Northern Aral. Discussions with local residents have already taken place in the Aralsk region, where proposals were considered, including Kypshakbayev’s initiative.
Earlier, it was reported that the Kokaral dam, which is 14 kilometers long, helped raise the water level in the Small Aral and bring the reservoir closer to the city of Aralsk. Thanks to this, fish such as carp, pike perch and catfish appeared in the sea. Residents of the region were able to return to traditional fishing, which improved their lives.

The Northern Aral Sea, or Small Aral, after the construction of the Kokaral dam, became the only reservoir in the world that was partially restored after almost complete disappearance