RA NAS expert commission gives negative opinion on additional water  releases from Sevan

ArmInfo. The expert commission of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia (NAS) on the  protection of Lake Sevan gave a negative opinion on additional water releases from Lake Sevan, sending its decision the Water Committee of the Republic of Armenia. This was reported by the press service of  the National Academy of Sciences.

In particular, the Commission proposed to rule out exceeding the  water withdrawal standard set at 170 million cubic meters, given the  drop in the water level in Sevan in recent years and the  deteriorating ecological state of the lake, due to the intense  "blooming" of the lake.

It is noteworthy that the bill was sent to the committee for  conclusion, not before but after the RA government approved it. After  that, the committee convened an extraordinary meeting with the  participation of the leadership of the Water Committee of the  Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures of the  Republic of Armenia to discuss the draft law.

, the National  Academy of Sciences said in a statement. According to the source,  fluctuations in the level of Sevan lead to the deterioration of the  ecological state of the lake. When the level drops, the bottom waters  and the surface layers of the lake mix. 

Organic matter that has accumulated over the years in bottom  sediments creates fertile ground for the rapid development of  phytoplankton. This year, "blooming " has already begun in Sevan,  eutrophication is taking place in the lake. This, according to  Experts, will have a negative impact on both the bioresources of the  lake and the social status of coastal settlements.

It should be noted that the Expert Commission for the Protection of  Lake Sevan of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of  Armenia is an independent and expert body established in accordance  with the RA law "On Lake Sevan". The commission carries out  preliminary and final examination of complex and annual programs on  Lake Sevan, as well as documents substantiating their implementation,  draws up conclusions.