MRC warns of low water levels on Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake
The Mekong River Commission (MRC) recently said that the annual reversal in the flow of the Tonle Sap River remained delayed, causing “very low” water levels on the Tonle Sap Lake, according to Cambodia’s news agency Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP).
Phnom Penh (VNA) – The MekongRiver Commission (MRC) recently said that the annual reversal in the flow ofthe Tonle Sap River remained delayed, causing “very low” water levels on theTonle Sap Lake, according to Cambodia’s news agency Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP).
In a weekly situation report, the MRC saidlow inflows from the Mekong and low rainfall in the Tonle Sap's upper-catchmentareas had “resulted in a very critical situation” for the lake.
More than half of the annual inflow to thelake originates from the Mekong mainstream. Thus, flow alterations in the mainstreamwould have direct impact on the Tonle Sap water levels and hydrology, it said.
The report, conducted by the MRC Flood andDrought Management Centre in Phnom Penh, said Mekong water levels in StungTreng, Kratie, Kampong Cham and Neak Luong had risen from the previous week.However, they were "still below their minimum levels” recorded between1960 and 2019, it said.
Water levels on the Bassac River atChaktomuk and Koh Khel as well as the Tonle Sap River at Phnom Penh Port andPrekdam had also risen but were below minimum levels seen over the past 60years.
The MRC reiterated that low waters in theTonle Sap Lake could affect fish spawning in the surrounding floodplain andlead to water shortages for agricultural production.
The report noted that a prolonged El Nino,which usually causes extreme heat and insufficient rain in the region, was"a cause of low water levels in the Mekong mainstream” in June and Julythis year.
In addition, the contribution from majortributary dams was another potential important reason for low flows in theMekong between January and July, it noted./.
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On Tonle Sap river (Photo: Khmer Times)
