Iraqi Kurdistan’s Dukan Lake drops to 24% capacity

DUKAN,— Water levels at Dukan Dam in Iraq’s Kurdistan region have plunged to near-record lows due to declining rainfall and upstream dam construction, posing a growing threat to water access for millions, local officials told AFP.

The dam, located in Sulaimani province, currently holds just 1.6 billion cubic meters of water, about 24% of its maximum 7 billion cubic meter capacity. This is the lowest point in roughly two decades, Kochar Jamal Tawfeeq, the director of the facility told AFP.

“Levels have not fallen this low in nearly 20 years,” Tawfeeq said. He attributed the shortage to long-term climate shifts and irregular rainfall patterns that have become increasingly unpredictable in recent years.

During the latest winter season, the Dukan area received only 220 millimeters of rainfall—far below the seasonal average of 600 millimeters. The reduced precipitation has contributed to shrinking reserves across the region.

Satellite imagery reviewed by AFP showed that the lake’s surface area declined by 56% between May 2019, when the reservoir was last full, and early June 2025.

The visual data illustrates the extent of the drop in water levels and the changing shape of the shoreline, where cracks and dry zones have begun to appear.

Tawfeeq also cited damming activities on the Little Zab River in neighboring Iran as a key contributing factor.

The river, which feeds into Dukan Dam, has been increasingly tapped upstream for Iran’s domestic water needs. Dozens of new dam structures have been built on Iranian territory in recent years, affecting the river’s flow into Iraq.

Baghdad has long voiced concern over water restrictions linked to dam projects by Iran and Turkey. Both countries control key water sources that flow into Iraq, including the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Iraqi authorities argue that these upstream interventions have significantly reduced water availability downstream, worsening the nation’s water crisis.

Iraq, home to 46 million people, is experiencing widespread effects of climate change. Rising temperatures, recurring drought, and land degradation have intensified in recent years, pushing national water reserves to their lowest recorded levels in 80 years, according to the Ministry of Water Resources.

The shortage is affecting agriculture across the region. In the hillside village of Sarsian, farmer Hussein Khader Sheikhah planted wheat on 13 hectares last winter.

He said the crop failed almost entirely due to the lack of rain. “I lost about $5,700,” Sheikhah told Reuters.

In a bid to recover some of the losses, he has turned to planting summer crops—such as beans, chickpeas, melons, and cucumbers—on a smaller plot near the river. “One hectare won’t make up for the rest, but it’s all I can do,” he said.

The water crisis has also disrupted municipal supply systems. In Sulaimani and Kirkuk governorates, approximately four million people are affected by reduced access.

In Kirkuk, local official Zaki Karim reported a 40% drop in water delivered to treatment plants.

“We’ve had to impose stricter rationing measures,” Karim said. Authorities are also increasing oversight to prevent illegal tapping of water lines and are conducting awareness campaigns aimed at reducing household consumption.

“We’re working to ensure that even during reduced supply, no district experiences a full cutoff,” Karim added.

(With files from AFP)