Kushmurun Lake (22004)
Kazakhstan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, A1d, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Kushmurun Lake
Central coordinates: Latitude: 52.6667, Longitude: 64.7667
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 102 to 160
Area of KBA (km2): 923.992407
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA is located in the northern region of the Turgai Depression where there is the transition of the Turgai Plateau into the Kostanai valley. Administratively, the lake is divided between two districts of the Kostanai Region: Auliyekol (south) and Altynsarin (north). The eastern shores of the lake are in Karasu district. The site is 90 km from the regional centre of Kostanai and 37 km from the district centre of Auliyekol (Semihozyornoye). The Kostanai-Astana highway runs 22 km from the southern end of the lake and there is a railway 15 km away in the same direction. Kushmurun lake is one of largest natural waterbodies of Kazakhstan. At times of maximum water levels, the lake covers 460,15 km2, and extends 60.7 km in length and 12.5 km in width. The shoreline is 225.9 km long. The maximum depth is 3.5 m. The watershed covers 10,480 km2. The Ubagan river (with its tributary Aschiba) and several seasonal watercourses draining the eastern and western slopes of the Turgai Depression enter the southern end of the lake. The Terekty and Shiyly rivers also feed the lake during periods of excessive flooding. In times of extensive flooding the lake overflows into the Solyony (Salty) Ubagan river. The lake is brackish and water levels are subject to natural cyclic fluctuations. The general landscape of the area is typical of the dry and temperate steppe region, with the local topography influencing moisture distribution and resulting in a relative diversity of scenery. As much of the depression lies on alkali-saline soils the area has not been converted to agriculture and much is virtually pristine. The eastern slopes also remain largely intact but all of the gently sloping western side has been ploughed. Original sod-grass complexes (predomintly Festuca sp. and Stipa sp.) cover the pristine areas from the Turgai plateau to the Depression's floor in combination with other complexes according to changes in moisture and salinity. Formerly the lake’s shore was covered by large reedbeds but nowadays the reedbeds are sparsely distributed and almost all of the shoreline consists of extensive muddy shoals. The southern part of the eastern shoreline has a complicated configuration with many peninsula-like protuberances and one large island. In the lowest parts of the Ubagan floodplain, close to the southern and northern extremities of the lake, a scattering of small, reed-covered lakes can be found. The eastern side of the Turgai Depression lies on average 3-5 km from the lake's shore and over the entire length consists of steep slopes cut with a network of gulleys and cliffs up to 100 m above the level of the shoreline. Along the upper edge of the slopes and by the side of many of the gulleys are small birch and aspen woods with a secondary growth of bird cherry, black alder and hawthorn. On the Depression’s floor there are lush Salsola-laden associations and Salsola-Artemisia compositions interspersed with fragments of meadows and Festuca-covered steppe. The shoreline is bordered by a narrow belt of salty floodplain. Alkaline areas are widespread on the higher terraces.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: 154 species have been recorded of which 75 are waterbirds. Even in years of low water levels the lake supports large numbers of moulting birds. The lake is very important during spring and autumn migration holding very large numbers of waterfowl and waders. On 1 August 2001, a count along a 7 km randomly selected stretch of the eastern shore recorded 10,000 feeding birds including Calidris minuta, C. ferruginea, C. alpina, C. temminckii, C. alba, Philomachus pugnax, Phalaropus lobatus, Arenaria interpres, Pluvialis squatarola and Tringa cinereus. Despite the brackish nature of the water, the lake supports impressive numbers of swans, geese, ducks, grebes and, in some years, flocks of Grus grus. Accurate counts of the entire lake are considered impossible due to access difficulties and size of the waterbody but estimates based on sample counts suggest that the lake supports tens of thousands of waterfowl annually. On 25 September 2005 a 2 km pedestrian count recorded 1,953 birds within a 200 metre-wide transect, while the adjoining open water held more than 30,000 birds. The total number of Anseriformes and waders considered to be present at that time was c. 120,000 birds: ducks – 70.1%; waders - 5.3%; gulls – 3.8%, swans – 1.2% (Cygnus olor, Cygnus cygnus and Cygnus columbianus). The adjacent steppe and forest plots hold small numbers of Grus virgo and the biome-restricted Melanocorypha yeltoniensis and M. leucoptera. About 17 species included in the National Red Book occur. Grus virgo and Tetrax tetrax breed in small numbers. Regular passage species are Pelecanus crispus, P. onocrotalus, Cygnus cygnus, Cygnus columbianus, Grus grus, Anser erythropus, Branta ruficollis, Pandion haliaetus, Haliaeetus albicilla, Aquila chrysaetos, Aquila heliaca, Falco peregrinus, Aquila clanga and Larus ichthyaetus. Grus leucogeranus has been reported from the southern part of the lake. Vanellus gregarius is suspected of breeding. Non-bird biodiversity: Ichthyofauna is represented by two common species Carassius auratus and C. carassius. In the shore zone and on the adjacent areas about 30 species of mammals occur: Alces alces (irregular), Capreolus pygargus (irregular), Canis lupus, Vulpes vulpes (common), Vulpes corsac (rare), Mustela eversmanni, Mustela erminea, Mustela nivalis, Meles meles, Marmota bobac, Spermophillus major (common), Ellobius talpinus, Phodopus sungorus, Allocricetulus eversmanni, Arvicola terestris (abundant), Microtus oeconomus, Microtus arvalis, Lagurus lagurus and others. Ondatra zibetica is common everywhere within the Ubagan Valley. Lepus europaeus is ubiquitous, while Lepus timidus is found within the vicinity of scrubby and woody plots around riverbeds or hollows. In areas with high soil salinity, and at the northern margin of their distribution, are two species of desert flora - Nitraria shoberi and Atriplex cana. Black alder - a relic tree species of the steppe zone – occurs irregularly on the major slopes of the Turgai Depression next to the south-eastern shore of the lake, together with a range of species representing boreal floral communities.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The lake is situated in a region of extensive agro-industrial development with well-developed infrastructure and a relatively high population density. However, due to the high mineral content, the lake's coastal lowland shores and the major slope of the Turgai Depression has avoided conversion and continues in a natural state. Before the impact of the economic crises of the mid 1990s, suitable areas neighbouring the lake were used for pastures and hay fields. Following a dramatic decline in regional livestock numbers, the cattle-raising economy is beginning to show signs of resuscitation, though it doesn’t yet have any perceptible influence on the lake’s ecosystems. There are several villages in the vicinity of the lake, including Kushmurun village. There is a large open-cast brown coal mining enterprise close to the southern shore of the lake. At present, the lake is not used for large scale fishery enterprises. The area of Kushmurun lake is rich in localities containing historical monuments and artifacts many of which pertain to the Paleolithic epoch or are related to the prominent historical figures of the Kazakh nation living in the XVIII-XIX centuries.
Land use: energy production and mining (5%) | hunting (50%) | rangeland/pastureland (30%) | urban/industrial/transport (5%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 | |
| Forest | 1 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 54 | |
| Grassland | 39 | |
| Shrubland | 1 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The major factor exerting a negative influence on the lake’s ecosystem is an insufficient water supply caused by ploughing of the watershed and modification of water flows. Pollution from pesticides and fertilisers may be becoming an increasing problem. Steadily increasing numbers of livestock may eventually lead to overgrazing. Steppe fires are an immediate threat to nesting birds. In recent years water quality has deteriorated due to the disposal of incidental groundwater from the lignite mine directly into the lake. Windblown dirt from the dumps of extracted rock represents a source of air and water contamination. Due to the lake's size, hunting pressure is low. Unregulated tourism and recreational activities are a potential problem.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Commercial & industrial areas | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Bragin E.A., and Bragina T.M. (2002) Wetlands in system of natural complexes of Northern Kazakhstan. General characteristic and nature-protection importance. The most important wetlands of Northern Kazakhstan (in limits of Kostanay and west part of North-Kazakhstan regions). Moscow: Russian University (series WWF, issue 5): 19-38. (in Russian).. Bragin E.A. (2002). Kushmurun Lake . The most important wet-lands of Northern Kazakhstan. (In the limits of Kostanay and western part of North-Kazakhstan regions). The editors: Bragin E.A. and Bragina, M., Russian University. P. 95-100. (in Russian) . Bragin E.A. (2004). Distribution and population numbers of swans in Kostanai Region in 1998-2002. Transactions of Institute of Zoology, V. 47. “Migrations of birds in Asia”, Almaty. P. 75-86. (in Russian). Vinogradov, V.G. and Auezov E.M. (1995). Turgai Depression as the system of most important wetlands for waterfowl. Proceedings of scientific-practice Conference on hunting management under new economic conditions. Almaty: 67-70. (in Russian). Derevyagin P.Y. 1930. Ornithofauna of Kushmurun Lake and its environs. // Transactions of Kostanai region-exploratory society (KRES). Kostanai. KRES - publishing initiative. Issue 1, P.21-39. Yerokhov S.N., Berezovikov N.N., Kellomyaki E.N., Ripatti N.L. (2000). Anser erythropus and concomitant species of geese on their migration in Kazakhstan. Brant # 6, Bulletin of the working group on geese and swans of Eastern Europe and Central Asia., M.,P.121-157. Yerokhov S.N., Berezovikov N.N. (2003) Monitoring of waterfowl and shore-bird species on the water-bodies of Kostanai Region (Northern Kazakhstan) in October of the years 2001and 2002. Russian Ornithol. Journal. The express-issue #228, P. 744-749. (in Russian) Yerokhov S.N., Kellomyaki E.N., Karpov F.F., Vilkov V.S. (2006). The results of the monitoring of waterfowl species’ autumn migration and their essential habitats condition’s assessment in Kostanai Region in 2005. Kazakhstan Ornithological Bulletin 2005. Almaty “Tethys”, P. 41-45. (in Russian) Shilinger F.F. 1934. Aral-Turgai Aincient Gulf Territory. / Moscow. Cooperative Publishing House “Zhyzn’ i Znanie” .136 p. J.Markkola, P.Pynnonen, P.Tolvanen, A.Veersaly & S.Yerohov. (1998) The second International Lesser White-fronted Geese Anser erythropus expedition in NW Kazakhstan in May 1997. WWF. Finland Report # 9. Finnish Lesser White-fronted Goose Conservation Project. Annual report, 1997. Helsinki, p. 21- 22. P.Tolvanen & P.Pynnonen. (1998) Monitoring the autumn migration of Lesser White-fronted Geese Anser erythropus and other gees in NW Kazakhstan in October 1996. WWF. Finland Report # 9. Finnish Lesser White-fronted Goose Conservation Project. Annual report, 1997. Helsinki, p. 19- 20.