Project of development co-operation in 2007 - 2010

A new project „KYRGYZ REPUBLIC, analysis of the risk of failure of alpine lake dams and the mitigation of the consequent impacts“ has been approved so that further investigations of the glacial lakes in the Kyrgyz Republic can now proceed.

The project has been designed to extend and improve the work of the project that was recently completed.

The principal objectives of the project have not changed. The Ministry of Environment of the Czech Republic is again the client. The GEOMIN Co-operative is the contractor responsible for the execution of the technical program and RNDr. Michal Černý has been appointed the project manager. The Kyzgyz counterpart is the Gosgeolagenstvo and the co-operating Czech organizations include Charles University, the geophysical company G impuls Praha s.r.o. (Ltd). The co-operating institutions in Kyrgyzstan are the Ministry of Contingent Situations, the Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, Geopribor Co., the Institute of Water Management and Hydroenergy, and others.

Development goal of the project

Development goal of project is help in socio-economic development in mountain valleys and protection of their population and infrastructure against floods rising from dam failure of Alpine lakes. Effective planing of infrastructure, land settlement and tourism development will be enabled by provision of safety of residences situated in these valleys and their slopes against flood waves. Project results will contribute to the economic as well as social development of montanour areas of Kyrgyzstan. Tourism facilities will be also improved, this making ever more important part of Kyrgyz economics.

Definition of the target group

The target group are the inhabitants and other users of mountain valleys (herdsmen, tourists, fishermen) endangered by failures of alpine lakes. The results of the project will be used by relevant central and regional administrative authorities as well as by other organizations including research institutes and educational establishments contributing to the development of the infrastructure in the areas under consideration.

The immediate target groups:

The permanent inhabitants of mountain valleys and others who use these valleys constitute the immediate target group:

Permanent inhabitants of mountain valleys. This group includes people living in permanent settlements in the lower tracts of valleys where houses, access roads, bridges and other facilities are endangered by bursting of lake dams.

Herdsmen. They mostly exploit the middle and upper tracts of valleys and the immediate surroundings of streams for grazing herds of cattle, yaks, sheep and horses. They build their temporary shelters along streams and would be in direct danger if water bursts from an alpine lake.

Farmers. The lower tracts of mountain valleys, particularly where their mouths open into flat piedmont basins (Chuy, Talas, Issykul) are used for farming. Fields in the immediate neighborhood of streams are at risk when large bursts of water result in extensive flooding.

Tourists and alpinists. The increase in tourism is exposing a larger number of people in this category to the dangers caused by flooding in the alpine valleys.

Target groups benefiting from the project:

The Ministry of Contingent Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic. This Ministry is responsible for the prevention of natural disasters and the mitigation of their impacts. It is fully committed to the aims of the project and the prognosis of the growing risks associated with natural phenomena in the territory of Kyrgyzstan. The Hydrometeorological Department forms an integral part of the Ministry and is currently using meteorological data gathered from stations installed during the earlier stages of this co-operative development project.

Gosgeolagentstvo. The state institution of ministerial status that is responsible for monitoring and investigating exogene natural phenomena and the dangers arising from them. It is the direct Kyrgyz counterpart in the co-operative project and will take over operation of the Adygine research station when the project is concluded.

Administrations. Central and regional authorities responsible for land-use planning and development in mountainous regions will make use of the project outputs for modifying and upgrading development plans in mountain valleys.

Entrepreneurial Sector. This includes all private companies tendering for state and private contracts, particularly those focused on the development of communications and tourist facilities in mountain valleys

Other institutions with interests in the Co-operative Development Project:

Kyrgyz Universities (The Russian-Kyrgyz Slavic University, the Polytechnical Institute and others) – will use the results of the project, including the facilities at the Adygine Research Station, for research purposes and educational activities.

Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic – Individual scientists and research teams will actively participate in field operations and will also use the outputs of the project in their own investigations of climate, glaciation and associated hazardous phenomena.

Hydrometeorological Department – will co-operate in the assessment of climatic data and will also utilize observations from meteorological stations.

Institut vodnych problem a gidroenergetiki (Institute of water management and hydroenergy) – will co-operate in the project using the scientific results; it will also make available data and research facilities at its station in the Issykkul region for the purposes of the project.

Management of the Ala-Archa National Park – will utilize results of the project in its own development plans and to raise awareness of the issues related to glacial lakes and flood hazards among park visitors and users.

Goal aims of project

Goal aim No. 1: Assessment of hazardousness of particular lakes

Lakes situated in distant areas of Kyrgyzsatn have been selected for the detailed study. Last time no information about development and actual state of these lakes is available. The result of our study is assessment of their extent, development, state-of the-art of dam and actual hazardousness. In the case when some risk will be identified, measurement to mitigate these risks are suggested. Object of interest represent lakes in Talas, Issyk-Kul and Osh area.

Goal aim No. 2: Risk analysis of selected endangered walleys

Detailed risk analysis have been carried out and dangerous and safety zones demarcated within two selected walleys, endangered by possible dam failure: Ala-Arča, situated in the National Parc of the same name, situated south of Bishkek and walley below Koltor lake. Ala-Arča walley, everyday destination of tohousands of Bishkek citizens and tourists is endangered by several lakes. In the case of big failure flood will reach lower parts of walley and adjacent part of Tchuj basin including Bishkek. In the case of Koltor walley and neighbouring Kageta, its infrastructure and part of Thchuj basin are endangered.

Goal aim No. 3: Building up of permanent research and monitoring station

One of the main aims of project was building of permanent research station within glacier complex Adygine in the area of Ala-Arča. A few lakes occur at this locality, some of them being dangerous. Adigine glacier is quite quickly retreating. Small house have been built at locality, serving for yerly use. Two meteostation are now installed there together with next monitoring instruments. Station carries out programme aimed at study of glaciology, hydrogeology, climatology and monitoring of lakes development. Station will be available for Kyrgyz and foreign researches.

Goal aim No. 4: Security of Koltor lake dam

Erosion rill, made by recent landslide and extending after any new landslide due to overfalls have developed at the dam of Koltor lake. These overfalls are more and more frequent in recent years than before. There is danger that erosion rill breaks dam stability in so far as dam failure occurs. This, considering huge amount of water in lake (2 000 000 m³) could cause disaster of considerable dimensions.The basic ground shaping of erosion rill is financed by the project, reducing its next extension.

Goal aim No. 5: Predicting assessment of climate trends and development of lakes glaciationin the area of studied nountain ridges.

Archive as well as newly gathered data of montanous meteostations in Kyrgyzstan have been evaluated. New trends of climate development within individual montanous ridges of Tian-Shan have been studied together with their impact on glaciation and Alpine lakes.