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The once-mighty Aqtobe Reservoir, a significant water body in Kazakhstan, has dramatically shrunk and fragmented into dozens of smaller lakes. This alarming transformation is attributed to the expansion of sand quarries along its shores, which are effectively draining the reservoir and isolating its remaining waters.

Environmental Concerns Mount

Environmentalists and local activists are sounding the alarm, warning that this situation could escalate into a full-blown ecological disaster. Alexey Gogol, chairman of the Hunters and Fishermen Society, expressed grave concern over the rapid water loss. He noted that sand extraction from quarries, particularly during winter, has led to the fragmentation of the reservoir, creating isolated bodies of water.

"I warned 6 years ago that the Ilek River would dry up, and it did. Now they are destroying the sea," Gogol stated. "Water is being drained in enormous quantities, potentially reducing it by up to 50 million cubic meters, as seen in 2024, or even more! The draining continues. Now, the sand from these quarries will flood the main channel and inundate the entire sea. This is a real disaster! Will the Aqtobe Sea cease to exist? Do we have people who care about the environment, or is it all the same?"

Poaching and Fish Rescue Efforts

The fragmentation of the reservoir has also created new challenges, including increased poaching. Alik Nadzhafov, a senior inspector with the Hunters and Fishermen Society, documented the dire situation, observing that the isolated lakes have become havens for illegal fishing activities. "Near Bestamak, the water receded, leaving only a small stream. Large and small isolated water bodies have formed. We found poachers' nets in one large lake," Nadzhafov reported.

His team has been actively involved in rescuing fish stranded in these isolated ponds. "All the fish are trapped in these separated lakes. Now we are catching the fish ourselves and transporting them to the main reservoir, near the dam," he explained.

A History of Environmental Strain

This is not the first time the Aqtobe Reservoir has faced severe environmental stress. In the summer of 2024, a significant amount of water was released for dam repairs. This event led to the mass death of thousands of fish, destruction of their food sources, and disruption of spawning grounds. Ecologists had previously warned that the reservoir might not refill in the coming years.

While quarry operations were reportedly halted in 2025 following public outcry and media coverage of the reservoir's condition, sand extraction, including from the reservoir's bed, has resumed. The combination of ongoing water discharge and illegal sand mining now poses a severe threat to the very existence of the Aqtobe Reservoir.

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