Irtysh-Karaganda Waterworks 9 (21982)
Kazakhstan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2006
National site name: Irtysh-Karaganda Waterworks 9
Central coordinates: Latitude: 50.7917, Longitude: 73.8333
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 395 to 411
Area of KBA (km2): 37.75104
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Irtysh-Karaganda Canal Waterworks facility number 9 is situated in the Osakarov district of the Karaganda region, close to the north-east edge of Molodezhny village, and 110 km from the regional centre. The facility is part of a series of waterworks established along the course of an artificial canal taking water from the Irtysh river to provide a regular drinking water supply to Karaganda city. The correct functioning of the canal is ensured by a system of heavy-duty pumps transferring water uphill through a series of ponds. All reservoirs are surrounded by a 500 m wide 'sanitary zone', and separated by a mean distance of 6-7 km. The rather deep waterbody of facility no 9 has an elongated shape and is approximately 1.5 km long and 800 m wide. It is surrounded by an undulating plain. The landscape consists mainly of large areas of agriculturally improved dry steppe, with a few patches of alkali soils. The vegetation of the open steppe consists mainly of Festuca-Artemisa associations. The banks of the reservoir are covered by a dense but narrow belt of reeds, giving way at the dam to shoreline thickets of Elaeagnus sp. and Hipophae sp.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: The site is used by large numbers and variety of waterbirds on passage. The most numerous are Coots, diving and surface-feeding ducks and several species of waders - Calidris ruficollis, Numenius arquata, Philomachus pugnax and Phalaropus lobatus. Each summer small flocks of Anser anser are present but breeding has not yet been confirmed. Podiceps cristatus, Bucephala clangula, Anas acuta, Anas platyrhynchos and Anas strepera are very numerous in autumn with numbers in the region of 25-30,000 birds. Non-bird biodiversity: Several typical dry steppe carnivores occur in the area adjacent to the waterworks - Vulpes vupes, Vulpes corsac and Meles meles are common. The most numerous mammals, though, are Mustelids - weasel, stoat and pole-cat.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The canal and associated waterworks, are maintained by the state. Unauthorised access to the area is forbidden. The reservoir is used by a small corporate fishing enterprise for raising and harvesting commercial species of fish.
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture (25%) | water management (55%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 1 | |
| Forest | 10 | |
| Grassland | 35 | |
| Artificial - Aquatic | 54 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The major impact on the site is the periodic large-scale clearance of overgrown sections of the canal. There also also occasional fires.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of surface water (domestic use) | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of surface water (commercial use) | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of surface water (agricultural use) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Pollution | Garbage & solid waste | Ongoing |