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Facts and Perspectives of Water Reservoirs in Central Asia: A Special Focus on Uzbekistan

DOI:10.3390/w2020307
Authors:
Shavkat Rakhmatullaev at World Bank
Shavkat Rakhmatullaev
Frederic Huneau at Université de Corse Pascal Paoli
Frederic Huneau
Philippe Le Coustumer at University of Bordeaux
Philippe Le Coustumer
Mikael Motelica-Heino at CNRS Orleans Campus
Mikael Motelica-Heino
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The political transformation of the Central Asian region has induced the implosion of the interconnected physical hydraulic infrastructure and its institutional management system. Land-locked Central Asian countries, with their climatic conditions and transboundary water resources, have been striving to meet their food security, to increase agricultural production, to sustain energy sectors, and to protect the environment. The existing water reservoirs are strategic infrastructures for irrigation and hydropower generation. Upstream countries (Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan) favor the reservoirs’ operation for energy supply, while downstream countries (Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan) push for irrigation use. This paper provides an overview of the current challenges and perspectives (technical, institutional, and legal regulations) and presents recommendations for the sustainable management of man-made water reservoirs in Uzbekistan.
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... Since the water for irrigation is generated mainly from the mountain regions, a ring of water reservoirs now lines the edges of the mountains (Rakhmatullaev et al., 2010). However, this immense intervention in nature destroyed valuable ecosystems typical for the region such as Tugai forests, wetlands, and lakes particularly in the downstream parts of the river systems.. ...
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