A water deficit of 66 million cubic meters has been detected in Burdur Lake annually.

Burdur Lake: Strangled by Global Climate Change

Minister of Agriculture and Forests İbrahim Yumaklı made important statements about the Burdur Lake Action Plan. Minister Yumaklı stated that Burdur Lake has critical ecological significance.

The Importance of Burdur Lake's Ecosystem

Burdur Lake, a protected Ramsar Area, hosts threatened species and is the seventh largest lake in Turkey. The lake has a closed basin and is notable for its high evaporation rates. It was reported that the average rainfall in the lake for the first 11 months of 2023 was only 304 mm. It is aimed to close part of this gap with 8.5 million cubic meters of water to be provided from the wastewater treatment plant in Isparta.

Water Shortage Issue and Climate Change

Minister Yumaklı emphasized that an average of 179 million cubic meters of water is lost in Burdur Lake every year, and 78% of this loss is due to evaporation. In contrast, the amount of water entering the lake is only 112 million cubic meters. This results in an annual 66 million cubic meters water deficit.

Aiming to Close the Water Deficit with the Action Plan

Minister Yumaklı announced that the action plans prepared for the future of Burdur Lake require a total investment of 5.8 billion lira and aim to achieve 50 million cubic meters of water savings. The action plans will be implemented under three main headings with 8 main actions and 35 sub-measures.

Social Cooperation and Goals

Emphasizing the importance of working in collaboration with all stakeholders in society, Yumaklı highlighted that a joint effort is needed for the conservation and effective use of water resources. He stated that this action would be an important step in combating the drought problem across the country.

In conclusion, Minister Yumaklı expressed that the Burdur Lake Action Plan holds great importance both locally and nationally, saying, "We must all work together to protect this natural wonder."