Last year it was a warning, Ulaş Lake has officially dried up.

03.10.2025 12:15

Ulaş Lake, located in the Ulaş district of Sivas and designated as a 'Wetland of National Importance' in 2016, has dried up due to the decrease in rainfall and feeding water sources. It was observed that the water support provided from another source by the Sivas Special Administration and the Ulaş District Governorship as a lifeline for the lake in August was also ineffective.

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Ulaş Lake, located in the center of Ulaş district and declared a 'Wetland of National Importance' in 2016, hosts various bird species including the endangered red-headed duck, as well as the common pochard, mallard, whooper swan, black-winged stilt, and flamingo. The lake, which showed signs of drought due to a decrease in water levels last year, returned to normal with spring rains. However, this situation reversed with the cessation of rainfall. Due to the effects of heat and the reduction of its sources, water began to recede in the lake again. The decrease in lake water, which started in July, peaked in August.

CHANNELS TO CARRY WATER HAVE BEEN OPENED

As the lake began to dry up, the Sivas Governorship took action. It was decided to feed the lake with new water sources through a joint effort by the Provincial Special Administration and the Ulaş District Governorship. In this context, channels were opened to carry water from suitable streams, primarily the Tecer River, to the lake bed. However, this solution did not help the lake due to the inadequacy of the water sources feeding the opened channels. Ulaş Lake, from which water has completely receded, faced the risk of drying up. With its adjacent dilapidated facilities, Ulaş Lake drew attention with its abandoned appearance.

"THE LAKE IS IN A PITIFUL STATE"

Murat Sulakçı, a fisheries engineer and a resident of the district, stated, "The lake is our value. I am also from Ulaş. This lake has not been saved. Because the necessary work has not been done. Since the day it was protected, there was supposed to be work done from the Tecer River to the lake. As far as I know, this work has not been beneficial. Unfortunately, the lake has become pitiful. On one hand, we say wetland. Wetlands are places where migratory birds find a habitat. It is the home of wild ducks like the redhead, the common pochard, and the black-winged stilt. They breed here and migrate away. As you can understand, it is a habitat. I kindly ask the authorities. Such areas must be protected. These places are very important. Our people and those who govern us need to pay attention to this," he said.

"WATER MUST BE CARRIED FOR 12 MONTHS"

Sulakçı pointed out that the climate crisis also affects the drying of the lake, stating, "This situation affects our lakes as well. We need to prevent wild irrigation in our watering practices. Water is not an endless, inexhaustible energy. It needs to be used properly, not wasted. Currently, lakes like Ulaş Lake generally have a karst structure. They are usually filled with bottom seepages from Tecer Mountain and seasonal rains. However, due to the disruption of the rainfall regime caused by global warming, the only salvation for that area is to carry water from the Tecer River through a channel for 12 months. Other than that, we currently have no chance of saving this lake in any other way," he said.