In the late afternoon today, the transfer of water from the Danube River to the water mirror of the Srebarna reserve began. Currently, the transfer is being conducted with one hydropump with a capacity of 400 m3/hour, provided by the General Directorate of Fire Safety and Civil Protection (GDFSCP). A second hydropump is to be delivered tomorrow.

The preparatory activities have been completed, which allow for the effective pumping of water from the Danube River and its transfer to the water mirror. A section of the Danube River arm with a depth of about 1.5 meters has been treated and the roads and approaches to the designated site have been strengthened.

The Director of the Eco-Inspection Daud Ibryam is organizing all field activities. The Director of the GDFSCP - Silistra Commissioner Evlogi Stamov, is coordinating the relations and technical implementation with the General Directorate of Fire Safety and Civil Protection. The Mayor of Silistra Municipality Alexander Sabanov is providing the necessary equipment, food for the participants in the operation, and the security of the facilities.

The decision to fill the lake with water from the Danube River by pumping was taken on June 27 at a joint meeting of the Mayor of Silistra Municipality Alexander Sabanov, the Director of the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water - Ruse Daud Ibryam, the Regional Governor Ilian Velikov, and the Director of the GDFSCP - Silistra Commissioner Evlogi Stamov. The reason for the proposed measure is the critically low water level in the lake and the threat of potential loss of biodiversity. Optimistic expectations are to improve the hydrological regime of the aquatic ecosystem.

Within the boundaries of the Srebarna Maintained Reserve, the water levels are almost a meter lower than optimal. Lake Srebarna is fed with water through a direct connection with the river through constructed channels - Eastern and Western. The supply of fresh water to the lake from the river is only possible at higher water levels than the current level in the lake. Over the past 3-4 years, a permanent decrease in the water level of the Danube River has been reported. The last filling of the lake from the river was carried out in the spring of 2023. The reasons for this trend are complex - artificial control of the water level, the presence of hydraulic structures that control outflow, retention of larger volumes in the constructed dams, and reduction of outflow to the lower reaches of the rivers for the purpose of electricity production, as well as high water consumption for other purposes in the entire Danube catchment area. A significant factor for the low water level is also climate change, associated with an increase in temperature during the winter period and a decrease in snowfall, as well as a shorter retention of the snow cover in the river catchment area. Prolonged droughts and high temperatures, which lead to direct evaporation of water and increased transpiration (evaporation from vegetation), also have an adverse impact on the hydrological regime.