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Tengrinews.kz - Aktobe’s main reservoir is rapidly drying up, while once-thriving fish spawning grounds are being destroyed due to unchecked industrial activity, local environmentalists warn.
According to activists, nearly one-third of the reservoir has already dried up. On the exposed lakebed, sand mining is actively taking place — a practice that, according to gamekeepers, is wreaking havoc on local fish habitats.
“The banks of the Aktobe reservoir are being destroyed not just by natural factors but by ballast extraction. These areas used to be spawning grounds. Now they’re almost completely gone — dug out and stripped of fertile topsoil and vegetation. This has caused significant damage to aquatic resources,” said Alexey Gogel, chairman of the Aktobe Society of Hunters and Fishers.
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Gamekeepers say the sand extraction has worsened the reservoir’s shrinkage. The mining allegedly disrupts the waterproof layers that feed underground water into lakes and rivers, accelerating evaporation and reducing water inflow.
“The excavation work increases the surface area of evaporation. It also destroys underground barriers that keep groundwater flowing into the reservoir. As a result, the water is disappearing. Total desiccation is a real threat,” said members of the Society of Hunters and Fishers.
Sand mining permitted, but controversial
According to official information, two subsoil users have been granted the right to extract sand at three sites along the Aktobe reservoir. The regional Department of Industrial and Innovative Development stated there are currently no grounds to suspend their operations.
“Two subsoil users are operating at three sand extraction sites along the Aktobe reservoir. The right to subsoil use was granted in 2024 for a 10-year period, based on approvals from authorized state bodies regarding environmental and industrial safety regulations,” said Abylai Zhumagulov, the department spokesperson.
Photo provided by the Aktobe Society of Hunters and Fishers
Environmentalists call for independent assessment
Despite the legal approvals, environmental groups insist that regulatory compliance should not come at the expense of the ecosystem. They are calling for an independent environmental assessment to measure the damage to aquatic life and recommend urgent action.
Nature protection organizations have submitted formal complaints to local authorities. Activists are now appealing directly to the regional governor to impose an immediate ban on all industrial activity in protected water zones.
Previously, Kazhydromet reported that the water level in the Shelek River in the Almaty region had risen due to the discharge from the Bartogay reservoir.
