Water resources of Volgograd and the Volgograd region
The Volgograd region has an extremely vast area.
The length of the borders exceeds 2,000 kilometers. The water resources of Volgograd and the Volgograd region include about 200 rivers of various sizes, as well as many different reservoirs, lakes, ponds and other bodies of water. The length of these rivers reaches almost 8,000 kilometers. The reservoirs of the Volgograd region are replenished largely due to atmospheric precipitation and partly due to groundwater. The main water arteries are the two large rivers Volga and Don. Powerful hydroelectric power stations have been constructed on these rivers, as well as reservoirs, which are also used to irrigate agricultural land.
The future of the region: how lakes, eriks and rivers are saved in the Volgograd region
Articles 22 Apr 09:25, 7 photos
Interview with the head of the Regional Committee for Nature Protection, Victoria Romanova.
Photo: Sergey Zheltov / “City News”
The Volgograd region has amazing natural wealth: we are lucky to live next to the mighty Volga and Don, to enjoy the unique beauty of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain and small rivers. Even their names are fascinating: Archeda, Ilovlya, Medveditsa, Chir... But modern conditions pose a difficult task for the region: it is necessary to take serious steps in order to preserve unique water bodies.
Victoria Romanova, Chairman of the Committee of Natural Resources, Forestry and Ecology of the Administration of the Volgograd Region, talks about what has already been done to solve this problem, about plans and new ambitious and unique projects.
Photo: Dmitry Rogulin / “City News”
Problem from the past
– Recently, the issue of the need to water the Don and the rivers of the Don basin has been actively discussed. Is the problem really so serious that it requires an immediate solution?
– The problem of insufficient watering of the Don, the rivers of the Don basin and the Tsimlyansk reservoir is not new. A low-water period in the Don basin has been observed since 2007. But this problem has never been as acute as it has been in recent years. And 2021 became one of the most critical: in the spring, the water inflow to the Tsimlyansk reservoir was only a little more than 30 percent of the norm. The maximum flow rate during the flood was 20 percent and became abnormally low for the entire period of observation and operation of the reservoir.
– What does this have to do with?
– Mainly with climatic conditions: more than 90 percent of the drainage area of the Don basin is in semi-arid and arid zones. It is also affected by the fact that the flow is highly regulated by hydraulic structures located on rivers and in ravines. Such a serious load on small rivers leads to their depletion, shallowing and overgrowing. The situation is aggravated by deteriorating water quality. Discharges into the rivers of the Don basin are carried out by industrial and agricultural enterprises, as well as housing and communal services facilities. At the same time, treatment facilities either do not meet modern requirements or are absent altogether. Wind and water erosion have a negative impact. Every year, the banks collapse by 5–20 meters: the rivers become shallow, silt up, and blue-green algae begin to multiply in them.
Infographics: Artem Matveev / “City News”
Cleaning rivers, strengthening banks
– All these negative factors did not arise today. Have any measures aimed at solving the problem already been implemented in the Volgograd region?
“We must admit that these issues have not been resolved for decades. The movement has begun in the last seven years - the region has come to grips with the task of preserving water bodies and providing water to residents. On the territory of our region, a set of measures continues to be implemented to improve the situation with the ecological condition of the Don, the small rivers that feed it and the Tsimlyansk Reservoir. This includes environmental rehabilitation of water bodies and strengthening of banks. A section of the Buzuluk River has been cleared, and a project to clear the Perevozinka River has been implemented. This year we plan to complete the work on clearing the Nagolnaya beam, which has been going on since 2021. In addition, within the framework of the federal project “Preservation of Unique Water Bodies” of the national project “Ecology”, environmental rehabilitation of the Archeda River and its cleanup took place in 2021. As part of the same project, the administration of the Volgograd region proposed to clear the rivers Ilovlya, Medveditsa, Berdiya, Kraishevka, Shchelkan, Chir and Lake Lebyazhye by 2024. Work was carried out to strengthen the bank of the Tsimlyansk reservoir in the Kalachevsky district, we are planning to strengthen the bank in the Kotelnikovsky district - the project has already been prepared. Undoubtedly, all these measures help resolve individual local issues. However, we need a comprehensive program for the restoration and conservation of the rivers of the Don Basin and the Tsimlyansk Reservoir. Last summer, a conference was held in Volgodonsk, following which the governor of the Volgograd region, Andrei Bocharov, ordered the development of proposals for the federal program. And the region has already sent an appeal to the Federal Water Resources Agency about the need to develop a comprehensive action plan for river restoration.
Photo: Oleg Dimitrov / “City News”
The region's initiative is for the benefit of Russia
– Attracting federal funds assumes that the program will be designed to meet the interests of not only the Volgograd region, but also the needs of other regions?
– On the territory of the rivers of the Don basin there are 15 constituent entities of Russia. All of them are interested in solving the problem, so they supported the initiative of the Volgograd region and became involved in the development of proposals for a comprehensive program. We expect that scientifically based measures will be included in the draft comprehensive federal program for the improvement and development of the Don River and the Don Basin, which will become part of the Ecology national project.
– Is it true that the Volgograd region initiated the development of a comprehensive program not by chance? We already have experience in implementing similar measures to water the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain?
- Absolutely right. We already have effective experience in solving similar, and perhaps even more complex issues: we are talking about the improvement of the Volga and the unique ecosystem of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain. Today, within the framework of the federal project “Improvement of the Volga” of the national project “Ecology”, flow is being restored in the floodplain, and construction of structures for the passage of flood waters is underway. 45 kilometers of water bodies have already been cleared, more than 600 hectares of eriks and floodplain lakes have been rehabilitated, 35 objects have been completely restored. The costs amounted to over a billion rubles. In total, 93 objects will need to be restored in the region by 2024! After the spring flood, the maximum volume of water must be retained in the eriks: for this purpose, a network of culverts and an overflow dam are created on the Kashirin erik. As part of the national project, 17 structures worth a total of 400 million rubles have already been erected in the region, and more than 70 are planned to be built by 2024.
At the initiative of the governor, we have another unique facility within this federal project - the so-called bypass canal. This will be the only environmental project of this level in the entire history of the USSR and Russia - a complex of hydraulic structures for additional watering of the floodplain. It is already being called a project of the 21st century. It will improve living conditions not only in the Volgograd region, but throughout the entire south of Russia, and will also contribute to the preservation of a unique ecosystem. With its appearance, watering of the floodplain will be carried out from the Akhtuba River, and not only through the Volzhskaya HPP. Construction of the facility is planned for the next five years.
Infographics: Artem Matveev / “City News”
We act precisely
– Are similar measures being developed to improve Don’s health? Do we already have an understanding of what measures need to be taken to improve the situation specifically in our region? Is there an action plan?
– Yes, the administration of the Volgograd region sent proposals to the draft comprehensive federal program for the improvement and development of the Don and the Don Basin for inclusion in the national project “Ecology”. We are talking about the elimination of five landfills and places of spontaneous littering with waste, the clearing of the beds of 16 rivers with a total length of 228 kilometers, and biological reclamation, for which reclamation fish - silver carp, carp, and carp - are released into reservoirs. It is proposed to build and reconstruct sewage treatment facilities in Mikhailovka, Surovikino, Serafimovich, and Petrov Val for a total amount of 1.2 billion rubles. And also comprehensively update water intake structures in the Kotelnikovsky, Kamyshinsky, Ilovlinsky districts. The key event will be the transfer of part of the flow of the Volgograd reservoir to the Don - for this it is proposed to build a complex of hydraulic structures using the beds of small rivers. The estimated cost of the project is about 300 billion rubles. And the total cost of all activities proposed by the region for inclusion in the national project is 306 billion rubles. It is assumed that a significant part of the activities will be financed 98% from the federal budget and 2% from the regional budget. This is exactly how the financing of the “Improvement of the Volga” project is carried out.
Improvement of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain: - 45 kilometers of water bodies have been cleared, - more than 600 hectares of rivers and lakes have been rehabilitated, - 35 water bodies have been completely restored.
Under the Ecology national project, 17 structures have already been erected in the region with a total cost of 400 million rubles. More than 70 of them are planned to be built by 2024.
Author: Olga Bagrova.
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Volga-Akhtuba floodplain ecology national projects Victoria Romanova
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Volga
The largest river in the European part of Russia is the river belonging to the water resources of Volgograd and the Volgograd region - the Volga. Its length is more than 3,500 kilometers. In the world ranking of rivers, which takes into account their length, the Volga is in 14th place.
This amazing river originates on the Valdai Hills and flows into the Caspian Sea.
Don
In the Volgograd region alone, the length of the Don is 537 km, and the total length of the river exceeds 1,800 km. It originates on the southern slope of the Central Russian Upland and flows into the Taganrog Bay of the Sea of Azov.
It is located in fifth place in terms of length in Europe. Known throughout the country for its picturesque landscapes, recreational areas and fishing.
The largest rivers of the Volgograd region
List of the longest rivers flowing in the region.
Volga
The length of the river is 3530 km, in the Volgograd region – 318 km.
Don
The fifth longest river in Europe. Two large tributaries in the region are the Khoper and Medveditsa rivers. In the area of the city of Kalach-on-Don, the flow narrows, and the river’s floodplain is practically absent. The banks of the Don in the Volgograd region are famous for their picturesque landscapes, especially in the Kalachevsky, Serafimovichsky and Frolovsky districts.
The length of the river is 1870 km, in the Volgograd region – 537 km.
Khoper
The largest left tributary of the Don. It flows through the territory of five regions, from the source in the Penza region to the mouth in the Serafimovichsky district of the Volgograd region. The river is considered one of the most geologically ancient rivers in the south of Russia, and currently one of the cleanest bodies of water in Europe. The river is popular for fishing and hiking.
The length of the river is 979 km, in the Volgograd region – 325 km.
Ursa
The river originates in the Saratov region, at the confluence of two streams in the village of Starye Burasy. On the territory of the Volgograd region it flows through two large settlements - Zhirnovsk and Mikhailovka. A small hydroelectric power station was built on the river near the village of Fomenkovo. The name of the river is associated with the legend about its appearance from the tears that a bear shed over the cubs killed by a hunter. One of the cliffs of the Medveditsa bank was named “Koziy Yar”, and has the status of a natural monument.
The length of the river is 745 km, in the Volgograd region – 416 km.
Akhtuba
This is the left branch of the Volga, which separates from it just north of Volgograd. It flows in the Volgograd and Astrakhan regions. At the junction with the Volga there is a natural monument - the Volga-Akhtubinskaya floodplain. In the Volgograd region, the river crosses the cities of Volzhsky and Leninsk. Fishing is developed on the river, and the waters are actively used for irrigating fields.
The total length of the river is 537 km.
Ilovlya
The source is located on the Volga Upland in the Krasnoarmeysky district of the Saratov region. In the Volgograd region, the river flows through six districts and flows into the Don along its left bank. At the confluence of the Ilovlya and the Don there is a village that received its name from the name of the river. Another large settlement located along the Ilovlya river is Petrov Val. On the river there is a natural park “Donskoy”.
Ursa
Zhirnovsk and Mikhailovka are cities in the Volgograd region through which the Medveditsa flows. The river is known not only for its many picturesque places for recreation and fishing, but also for the presence of a small hydroelectric power station. The total length is 745 km, in the Volgograd region - 416 km.
According to legend, the river got its name due to the fact that it was formed from the tears shed by a mother bear, due to the fact that her cubs became victims of hunters. Koziy Yar" - a cliff located on Medveditsa is in the status of a Natural Monument.
In addition to rivers, the water resources of Volgograd and the Volgograd region include large reservoirs.
Road to Elton...
And so, about two weeks after the idea of going to Elton suddenly came to us and the preparations for the trip carried out during this time (studying the route and ways of faster and more comfortable travel, booking accommodation, purchasing the necessary products, etc.), June 1 at At 5 am we left Volgograd.
On the way to Lake Elton
The morning turned out to be cool. The ride was not hot and comfortable. Everyone was in a great mood. The new and unknown attracted us, and the excitement of seeing something unusual created an amazing mood. Everyone was waiting for a miracle.
An all-knowing navigator showed us the way. The distance from the city to the destination is 340 kilometers. We went to the east of the Volgograd region to the Palassovsky district. It is on its territory that the village of Elton is located. I am not very versed in the intricacies of navigation and route calculation methods, so in this matter we completely trusted our driver.
Having reached the village of Bykovo, we refueled again and continued on our way (we followed the advice of “experienced” travelers who recommended refueling in advance, since there could be problems with refueling later (or rather, not with refueling, but with the quality of gasoline)).
Route Volgograd – Elton
At Bykovo we turned east and along the road the names of the villages flashed: “Krasnye Zori”, “Krasnoselets”, “Sadovoe”, “Gormaki”, “Prudentov”, “Zolotari”, the village “Kaysatskoe”, “Vishnevka”, “Vengelovka” . And now we are at our goal - the village of Elton is ahead.
The road left much to be desired. Small sections of a more or less tolerable road were replaced by openly broken asphalt, or rather, what was left of it. Nevertheless, we reached our destination quite quickly, in about 4.5 hours.
By the way, initially there was an idea to go across the steppe, thereby significantly reducing the travel time. But, thank God, we abandoned this idea. According to the stories of tourists with whom we talked already at the lake and who got there this way, this was not the best option. The road through the steppe with viscous salt marshes in rainy weather turns into simply impassable terrain. In addition, a large number of military units and training grounds in these places also create obstacles to free passage.
Route Volgograd – Elton through the steppe
In my opinion, if you do not own a powerful SUV and have poor terrain awareness, it is better not to take risks.
Tsimlyanskoe
A reservoir located on the Don River, construction of which began in 1952. The reservoir extends over an area of more than 2,700 km2 and has a depth of more than 30 meters.
Its construction was conceived to solve some navigation problems and irrigate the lands adjacent to it. On the banks of the Tsimlyansk Reservoir there are fishing and tourist bases of varying levels of comfort.
Karpovskoe
It is the largest reservoir of the Volga-Don Canal. It was built on the Karpovka River and has an area of more than 40 km2. The depth of the reservoir reaches 4 meters and the width is 3 km.
The banks of the reservoir are replete with beaches and recreation areas, which is why the reservoir is very popular among vacationers. In addition to the “savage” holiday, recreation centers have been built on the Karpov Reservoir offering their services to vacationers.
Volgogradskoe
The reservoir was formed after the construction of a dam on the Volga River and has an area of more than 3,000 km2. Its depth exceeds 10 meters, and its widest point reaches 17 kilometers. The reservoir is used both for electricity generation and for water transport.
In addition to Volgograd, Samara, Kamyshin, Nikolaevsk and Bykovo are located on the banks of the Volgograd Reservoir. Like other reservoirs in the Volgograd region, “Volgogradskoye” offers tourists recreation in picturesque places and at specially equipped recreation centers.
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Lakes in the Volgograd region
The nature of the Volgograd region is very picturesque and diverse. This is facilitated by the fact that two famous rivers, the Volga and the Don, flow through this region. Thanks to such natural beauty and healing climate, tourists visit these regions at any time of the year. Avid lovers of good fishing are especially frequent guests in this region. After all, it is rich in lakes. The lakes in the Volgograd region are unique; here everyone will find a lake to suit their taste. Fishing in the Volgograd region leaves an unforgettable impression. Let's look at the features of each of their lakes.
Elton. The largest mineral lake located in Europe, having a round shape and a water area of 150 km. square. This lake is located near the border with Kazakhstan. Due to the algae that grows at the bottom of the lake, the water has a pink tint. This reservoir is not fishable, but it is quite possible to improve your health here.
White Lake. It is located in the West of the Volgograd region. White Lake has a water area of about 1130 km. square, and it is one of the ten largest natural lakes in Europe. All kinds of fish are found here, numbering about 29 species. The most common catch consists of burbot, chub, perch, roach, ruffe, gudgeon, bleak, silver bream, ide and pike perch. There is a high chance of catching pike perch in the northeast of the lake.
Serpa. Drying lake. The water area is 40 km. square, and the depth is less than 2 m. Despite this, many fishermen prefer this lake. The catches here are huge. Perch, crucian carp, chickamas, tench, and pike are found here.
Bulukhta. This lake is located away from roads and villages. The wild nature surrounding Batukhta helps you to completely relax and enjoy fishing.
Tsatsa. A fresh drying lake, which is a natural monument. The water surface area is 10 km. square, and it is considered one of the largest fresh water lakes. The bank near Tsatsa is overgrown with reeds. Turtles and grass snakes are found in the reeds. For those who like to fish from the reed bank there is a chance to catch tench, pike, perch, crucian carp and chickamas.
Azatskoe. The water surface area is 20 km. square, and the depth is on average about 6 km. square. This lake has running water and a muddy bottom. In Azatsky you will be able to catch roach, bream, perch, ide, smelt and pike perch.
Fishing is an excellent reason to visit lakes in the Volgograd region. Here you can find not only a good catch, but also the most picturesque places. At the same time, if you wish, you can improve your health by visiting Lake Elton.
