The death of Damavand’s turquoise gem; Huyer Lake became a victim of drought

Quoted from Mehr; The drying up of Hoyer Lake has not only changed the face of Damavand’s nature, but also endangered the life of animal species, including the brown bear whose footprints were recently seen on the edge of the lake.

Lake Hoyer, one of the pristine natural attractions of Damavand in Tehran province, which until recently was known as a symbol of the beauty of Alborz mountains, is now completely dried up and silted up.

This event, which occurred based on official reports and field observations, is a serious alarm for the water crisis in the east of the capital.

Lake Hoyer, located in the central part of Damavand and near the village of Hoyer, was a vital resource for the local ecosystem and migratory birds with its fresh water, but the sharp decrease in rainfall and inefficient management of water resources have brought it to the point of destruction.

This situation has not only caused serious damage to the natural ecosystem, but also threatens the life of migratory birds and animal species dependent on this water area.

Environmental experts have declared consecutive drought, excessive extraction of underground resources and reduced water input from nearby springs as the main reasons for this disaster. Also, field observations show that the volume of lake water has gradually decreased in the past months and now only mud remains on its bottom.

Naqi Mirzakrimi, head of the Damavand Environmental Protection Department, described this situation as “worrying” and added:

The decrease in rainfall in recent years, along with unauthorized withdrawals from underground water sources, has caused the water input from the springs around this lake to be minimized. The drying up of this lake can have serious consequences for the wildlife of the region. Hover Lake is a part of the “Tar and Hover Lakes” protected area, which has valuable plant and animal diversity. Even brown bear footprints have recently been recorded on the edge of this lake, which shows the importance of this habitat.

Mirzakarimi mentioned the previous protective measures and said:

In the past two years, by blocking the access road 500 meters away from the lake, traffic was reduced and relative peace was created for wildlife, but the current water crisis has made these gains ineffective.

It seems that climate change and inefficient management of water resources have seriously threatened this valuable habitat.

Hamidreza Ramezani, senior expert on water resources, described the current situation of this lake as “unprecedented in the last century” and warned:

Climate change and improper management of water resources have seriously threatened this unique ecosystem. The snow line in our mountains is getting higher every year. Warm and rainless autumns, rainy winters instead of snow, and sudden snowfalls in the spring are all signs of climate change that our country is facing.

This senior water expert considered uncontrolled development in Damavand region as one of the main factors of the current crisis and said:

Unfortunately, in the last 30 years, development in Damavand has progressed regardless of the ecological capacity and water resources of the region. Water consumption per hectare of villa is more than 56,000 cubic meters per year, while agriculture in the same area consumes only 8,000 cubic meters of water. This means that water consumption in villas is seven times more than in agriculture.

Ramezani stated that the population of Damavand has increased 7-10 times compared to the last 40 years and added:

While Damavand can only accommodate 85,000 people based on its ecological capacity, in the summer season, the population of this area reaches nearly one million people. The water that comes out of wells today is actually “sap,” fossilized, highly saline water stored deep in the earth. Using these waters for agriculture is like pouring acid on the feet of trees. To save Damavand and its water resources, the population of Tehran province should be reduced between 10 and 13 million people and development should be planned based on the actual capacity of water resources. Damavand, as the beginning of the watershed, plays a vital role in supplying water to several provinces, and any development in this area must be done with this important issue in mind.

Hoyer Lake, which is located in a rhombus shape to the west of Hoyer village, has fresh water and was a trout fishing spot for the locals in the past. This lake is located in the northern highlands of Damavand County and is part of the Tar and Hoyer Prohibited Hunting Zone, which was recently officially announced to strengthen the protection of the upstream watersheds.