Ovtcharitsa Reservoir (395)
Bulgaria, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2005
National site name: Yazovir Ovtcharitsa
Central coordinates: Latitude: 42.2647, Longitude: 26.1855
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 139 to 225
Area of KBA (km2): 43.04217
Protected area coverage (%): 99.86
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A dam on the Ovtcharitza river, surrounded by low hills with arable land (mainly winter wheat). The reservoir is used for cooling an electric power-station at the site (`Other' land-use, below), and therefore the water does not freeze in winter. Human activities include hunting, fishing and irrigation.
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: Important in winter for fish-eating birds (Phalacrocorax spp., Pelecanus crispus) and for Anser albifrons. The site holds 20,000 or more waterbirds on a regular basis.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (20%) | fisheries/aquaculture (80%) | hunting (100%) | urban/industrial/transport (5%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 3 | |
| Unknown | 5 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 81 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 11 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Uncontrolled hunting of waterbirds is a serious threat. The reservoir is proposed as a protected area.