Duhok Lake (32133)
Iraq, Middle East

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2015

National site name: Dohuk Lake

Central coordinates: Latitude: 36.8858, Longitude: 43.0075

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 575 to 639

Area of KBA (km²): 3.85627

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The lake is actually a reservoir created by an earth-fill embankment dam on the Dohuk River just north of the city of Dohuk. The dam was completed in 1988 with the primary purpose of providing water for irrigation and for the city of Dohuk. The dam is 50 m high, can hold 52 milllion m3 of water and has a maximum discharge of 81 m3. At normal operation level the reservoir is about 4 km long and 1.7 km wide. The area to be irrigated from this reservoir is about 46 km2 (Iraq & United States Army Corps of Engineers, 2003). The report also shows that there is no immediate or long-term action for Dohuk dam, except some short-term measures such as collection of data for evaluating trends and making some repairs

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)

Additional biodiversity: Additional Important Bird Observations: During the surveys, a total of 17 species were recorded. The European Roller Coracias garrulus (Near Threatened) was observed in the breeding season. Other Important Fauna: No survey was conducted for mammals or reptiles but fish data were collected in 2007 and 2008, during which eight species were reported. According to Coad’s (2010) criteria, significant species found were: Alburnus mossulensis, Carasobarbus luteus, Carassius auratus, Cyprinion macrostomum, Garra rufa, and Tor grypus. Also documented were Alburnus caeruleus and Capoeta damascina that have no economic importance but their conservation status in Iraq is unknown.

Habitats

Summary of habitats in KBA: This is a small lake fed by springs from the surrounding rocky hills and mountains. Human activity was low and fishing was not noted, but below the dam (outside of the delineated KBA site), the Dohuk River is an important center for recreational activities.

Land use: tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport | water management

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Artificial - Aquatic	100

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: An Iraq and US Army Corps of Engineer 2003 report noted some maintenance issues with the dam and recommended that it be monitored for “signs of dam movement.” The area is heavily impacted by human activities and garbage due to its close proximity to the city of Dohuk and attraction of the area for picnicking. The only threat given a medium score was road expansion and transportation.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Natural system modifications	Dams & water management/use	Large dams	Ongoing

Additional information