The Salvation of Dojran Lake

By Natasha Dokovska

SKOPJE, Macedonia, October 30, 2002 (ENS) - The Macedonian government has begun a US$12.5 million project to save one of the most beautiful and oldest lakes in the country, Dojran Lake, which has been slowly disappearing due to pumping from neighboring Greece.

Due to exploitation of the water in Dojran Lake and the streams feeding it, the lake level has dropped 2.5 meters (eight feet) below the minimum water level stipulated in the 1956 bilateral agreement with Greece.

Lake Dojran in southeastern Macedonia (Photo courtesy Macedonian Cultural and Historical Resource Center)

Another component of the Dojran Lake Hydro-system public enterprise will provide drinking water for nearby residents.

Experts say this system will add water to the lake at a rate of approximately 1,000 liters (264 gallons) per second, which is 10 times more than the current intake.

At this rate, the lake is expected to be fully replenished in eight years. Without this intervention, the lake was expected to go dry within 15 years.

Dojran Lake has a surface area of 42.5 square kilometers (16.4 square miles). On October 1, when officials from Macedonia's Environment Ministry measured the lake's depth, it was 348 centimeters (11.4 feet) below the optimal level.

The Macedonian Environment Minister Vladimir Dzabirski says this is largest retreat of the lake ever.

With an average depth of 1.5 meters (4.8 feet) and a three meter (9.7 foot) maximum depth, the lake is turning into a swamp. The plants and animals are dying out, and various diseases infect the fish.

Marjan Dodovski, the Macedonian minister of environment and urban planning, said that Greece, which borders on Lake Dojran, shares Macedonia's interest in preservation of the lake, and that that country has set aside €4 million for that purpose.

Macedonian Environment and Planning Minister Marjan Dodovski (Photo courtesy Office of the Minister)

Dodovski said that a study has shown that construction of the pipeline has no effect on the Vardar River. The same water pipeline system will be used for watering farmland in the Bogdansko Pole, Nikolic and Crnicko Pole regions.

The system is not currently functioning, but officials say that once release valves, shafts, and a command center have been installed, the pipeline from Gavato Pole to Lake Dojran will be opened.

Architects from the Engineering Institute of Macedonia have also completed work necessary to provide drinking water for the municipality of Star Dojran. Filip Doncevski, director of the Dojran Lake Hydro-system public enterprise, says that well is ready to be connected to the water pipeline network.

The four largest construction companies in Macedonia - Beton, Pelagonija, Granit and Mavrovo - have worked on the project as well as the October 11 factory in Kumanovo, which produces pipes.

The project, entitled Salvation of Dojran Lake, began on September 8, Macedonia's national day, and it was an issue in the most recent election campaign.

Financing of the project will be implemented with funds from the sale of Macedonia's telecom company as well as with international funds.

For more on Dojran Lake, go to Dokovska's report "The Disappearance of Dojran Lake" at: http://ens-news.com/ens/oct2001/2001-10-16-03.asp