Irtysh River Basin

The Irtysh River is one of the largest rivers on the Eurasian continent. The river originates in Mongolia and flows for 700 kilometers before crossing Kazakhstan's border to discharge into Lake Zaisan. On the other side of Lake Zaisan, the river flows for a distance of about 1, 174 km, crosses into Russia, joins the Ob River, and finally discharge into the Arctic Ocean. The Irtysh flows from the most populous state in the world, China, through one of the least densely populated states, Kazakhstan. River regions in China and Kazakhstan heavily depend on the Irtysh, for their industrial enterprises along the river banks, hydroelectric dams and reservoirs, agricultural irrigation, and services for the mining and oil exploration services. The long term average flow on the Kara Irtysh River was 33.66 km2 till 1990s.  However, the river flow fell almost by 50 % during 2006-2011 years. Additionally, the construction of new channels of Black Irtysh - Karamay and water intake can be up to 4.0 km3 per year, or extra 40% of the current annual river flow. At the same time, during the last three years, 2011-2014, the snowfalls were very high in the upstream mountains area that resulted in the big spring flooding. The peak flooding extremes in early spring and drought in summer is the current trend for the basin.
Better observation system is necessary to the flood and drought predictions and adaptations. Industrial and intensive agricultural pollutions are another area of concern. Additionally to the local people, the flora and fauna are under pollution impact. For this reason, UNESCO supports the biosphere reserves development including Korgalzhyn, Alakol, Ak-Zhayik and Katon-Karagay, within the Irtysh River Basin. Scientists from Chinese Xinjiing University and Gumilyov University are working together to improve monitoring and predictions analysis of the transboundary Black Irtysh River.