Turkey Conducts Controlled Water Release at Karakaya Dam on Euphrates

The Turkish Water Authority declared on Friday that Karakaya Dam on the Euphrates River is undergoing a "controlled discharge of excess water" due to rising flood levels after the spillway gates of Atatürk Dam were opened.

Mohammad Akif Balata, the General Director of the State Water Authority affiliated with the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, stated in a post on the platform "X" that when the reservoir at Karakaya Dam reaches its maximum operational level, the surplus water is released downstream "in a controlled manner through the spillway system to ensure the safety of the dam."

The reservoir’s maximum operational level triggers this controlled release to maintain dam security, as shown in footage from Diyarbakır at Karakaya Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant.

The significant rise in the Euphrates River’s water level has caused a humanitarian and agricultural crisis in Syrian areas along both sides of the river. This situation followed Turkey’s increase in water flow by opening the spillway gates of Atatürk Dam, one of the largest embankment dams worldwide.

Located upstream on the Euphrates, Karakaya Dam has a total installed capacity of approximately 1800 megawatts generated by six units. It is a prominent dam within the Southeastern Anatolia Project but is smaller in size compared to Atatürk Dam.

The Turkish Karakaya Dam directly affects the volume of water reaching Syria, and any increase in its discharge can rapidly impact the river’s level within Syrian territory.