Miankaleh Restoration Underway with Three Water Transfer Projects + Video

According to Rokna’s social affairs correspondent, during a press conference held with members of the media, Ahmadreza Lahijanzadeh, Deputy for Marine Affairs at the Department of Environment, emphasized the critical importance of restoring the Miankaleh International Wetland and the Gulf of Gorgan. He stated that this matter has been placed on the department’s special agenda, and serious actions have commenced to save this valuable ecosystem.

Lahijanzadeh stressed the time constraints involved in the restoration process and declared:
"Given the critical condition of the wetland and the limited time available, this issue is being pursued with high priority. Fortunately, the implementation of a dredging operation in 2023 helped bring the Gulf of Gorgan to a relatively stable state. That dredging operation effectively created an opportunity to plan and execute long-term projects for the wetland’s restoration."

He went on to highlight the defined infrastructural projects aimed at saving the area and said:
"Currently, three major projects are under study and planning. The first involves pumping water from the Caspian Sea toward the Gulf of Gorgan. Preliminary studies on this plan have begun, and funding for its research phase is being secured by the Planning and Budget Organization and the Ministry of Energy. This project is in its initial stages, and the related study documents have only recently been submitted to the department. Should the studies be finalized by the end of this year, the project could be included in the 2026 budget for implementation."

Lahijanzadeh continued:
"The second phase of these projects concerns transferring the return water from the cooling system of the Shahid Salimi Power Plant. This power plant uses water from the Caspian Sea, and if the studies are approved, a significant volume of return water could be redirected to the Gulf of Gorgan."

He identified the third project as the use of the effluent from the Sari city wastewater treatment plant, stating:
"Approximately two weeks ago, preliminary steps for this project began, and initial feasibility efforts are underway. If these three infrastructure projects succeed, there is substantial hope for restoring the Miankaleh Wetland and preventing its complete desiccation."

In conclusion, Lahijanzadeh emphasized that with the implementation of these plans, the path to Miankaleh's restoration will enter an operational phase, and cooperation among various agencies—particularly the Planning and Budget Organization and the Ministry of Energy—will be essential to achieving this goal.