Unusual shallowing or seasonal routine? Kazakh traveler shows what’s happening with the Ili River

Tengrinews.kz – A video shot by a Kazakh traveler sparked discussions about the state of the Ili River after footage showed its waters at an unusually low level. To clarify the situation, Tengrinews requested an official comment from the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation.

The video was filmed on September 7 near Tamgaly-Tas by Almaty resident Anatoly, who often visits the area for camping and fishing.

"This spot is popular for leisure. The water is usually clean and warm, and people often catch carp, pikeperch, and crucian here," he told Tengrinews. According to him, this year the river has become noticeably shallow: "In some places you can simply walk across it."

The ministry explained that the Ili is a transboundary river originating in China, where up to 80 percent of its water resources are formed. In Kazakhstan, the flow is regulated by the Kapshagai Reservoir, which operates in accumulation mode in autumn and spring. This helps sustain the Ili River delta, Lake Balkhash, fisheries, irrigation systems, and energy production.

Officials stressed that the current drop is not abnormal but part of the annual schedule. Since September 1, the reservoir has been switched to accumulation mode ahead of the 2026 growing season, reducing discharge to 250 cubic meters per second. At the same time, the natural inflow is steadily increasing — from 298 cubic meters per second on September 1 to 411 cubic meters by September 10.