Lake Urmia Faces Complete Drying by Fall / Govt Seeks Emergency Funding + Video

According to Rokna’s social affairs correspondent, in a press conference held with the presence of journalists, Lahijanzadeh, Deputy for Marine Affairs at the Department of Environment, referred to the critical condition of Lake Urmia and stated:
"The water level of Lake Urmia has reached its lowest recorded level, and the current situation is extremely alarming. According to the latest measurements, the lake’s water level stands at 269.74 meters, and its surface area is estimated at about 581 square kilometers, although this figure may differ from field observations."

He added:
"At present, the volume of water in Lake Urmia has decreased to around half a billion cubic meters. This is while, due to the peak summer heat and increased evaporation during this season, the actual volume of water in Lake Urmia is likely even less than the reported figures."

Comparing the current state of Lake Urmia with last year, Lahijanzadeh said:
"On August 2nd of last year, the lake’s water level was recorded at 270.39 meters, and its surface area was 534 square kilometers. Despite a slight decrease in area, the water volume at that time reached approximately two billion cubic meters, which is in no way comparable to the current conditions."

He identified the severe drought of the 2024–2025 water year as one of the main causes of the crisis and stated:
"This year, the country is facing one of the most difficult periods of water scarcity, which has not only affected Lake Urmia but has also created challenges for the drinking water supply of many cities."

The Deputy of the Department of Environment referred to the predicted scenarios in studies conducted between 2013 and 2016 by the Lake Urmia Restoration Headquarters and said:
"Those studies examined all the possible consequences of the complete drying of Lake Urmia, including environmental, social, and economic impacts, migration, threats to local livelihoods, and the increase of diseases. Should these scenarios materialize, the region and the country will suffer irreparable damages."

Lahijanzadeh concluded by stating:
"The government is seriously pursuing the issue of saving Lake Urmia. Yesterday, in a special meeting attended by cabinet officials, the matter of injecting special funds and reactivating restoration projects was discussed. Additionally, meetings have been held with the Governor of West Azerbaijan, who currently serves as the Secretary of the Lake Urmia Restoration Headquarters, and another session focused on restoring Lake Urmia is scheduled for next week. Our goal is to implement a coordinated program that can channel more water into the Lake Urmia basin and thus prevent an environmental catastrophe."