Диагностический анализ состояния, проблемы и перспективы водопользования в трансграничном бассейне реки Иртыш

Abstract

Outcomes of the diagnostic analysis of the water use system functioning in the Irtysh River transboundary basin located on the territories of Kazakhstan, China and Russia have been analyzed from the standpoint of strategic governing. Water resources have been assessed; several countries’ role in the Tobol, Ishym, and Irtysh per se basins water situation formation has been outlined. Current issues of water use in the basin’s national segments have been revealed, and prospects and opportunities of their solution proposed in different strategic documents concerning development of the relevant countries and regions have been considered. It has been noted that at present China ”regulates” water runoff in the Irtysh upper reaches and its strategy of the west-northern (bordering to Kazakhstan) territories development stipulates further expansion of the water use up to almost 45% of the runoff formed on its territory. Nowadays Kazakhstan also intends to implement plans of anticipatory growth according to the strategy of development up to 2050. Russian regions in the Irtysh basin are the end water users and now the steppe areas and the city of Omsk experience water resources depletion. Some territories of Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk oblasts located in the Tobol basin are in the stressed water situation, especially acute during the low-water periods. The Ishym basin on the territory of Russia also has lost its water content as a considerable share of its runoff is taken for water supply of the rapidly developing capital of Kazakhstan. The analysis outcomes support the necessity of the agreed institutional frameworks establishment for water use management in different national segment of the international basin.