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Chardara reservoir construction (1960(1963)-1969)

The large scale irrigation and drainage construction in Central Asia started after launching a program for the USSR land reclamation on the Plenum of Central Committee in May 1966. Based on this program, each five years it was planning to introduce thousands of new irrigation lands, building of the waterworks facilities such as reservoirs, dams, pumping stations, water catchment systems and others (Ryabcev 2005). Initially, erection of the cascade of artificial water reservoirs on the Amudarya and Syrdarya rivers, extensive- irrigation network and collector-drainage systems in the 1960s was basically related to the issue of water redistribution security (Ivanov and Nikitin 1978).
In the period of 1965-1985 a large number of reservoirs of seasonal and over-year regulation on the Syrdarya River was built. The largest and most important reservoirs are Toktogul (Kyrgyzstan), Chardara (Kazakhstan), Kayrakumskoe (Tajikistan), Charvak and Andijan (Uzbekistan) ((EDB) 2009).

CEU eTD Collection
Gorelkin underlines that the construction of the Chardara reservoir is a determinate stage in the evolution of the Aydar-Arnasay lakes (Gorelkin 1977). Ivanov and Nikitin

describe that the impounding seasonal Chardara reservoir⁸
was set in operation in 1964.

Situated in the end part of the Syrdarya middle stream the Chardara, reservoir is responsible for the seasonal run-off regulation for irrigation and energy purposes in Kazakhstan (Figure 3). The reservoir occupies the Syrdarya river alluvial terraces formed by loamy sand and loam at 0.5-5.0 m thickness (Ivanov and Nikitin 1978).

⁸ Impounding reservoir - (civil engineering) a reservoir with outlets controlled by gates that release stored surface water as needed in a dry season; may also store water for domestic or industrial use or for flood control. Also known as storage reservoir (McGraw-Hill 2002)

The main component of the Chardara reservoir water balance is the inflow of the Syrdarya surface water amounting to 74-93% of total inflow. Side inflow coming from the Borsu channel, the Keles and Kurukkeles rivers and several collectors makes up 6-25% in the annual balance. Water release from the Chardara reservoir goes downstream through Chardara waterworks facility and is estimated as 86-97% of all releases (Ivanov and Nikitin 1978).
Figure 3. The Chardara reservoir (adopted from Google Earth and modified by the author)



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Among important characteristics of the Chardara reservoir it is necessary to point out the following: its volume (5,88 km³), water-surface area (900-915 km²) and net capacity (4,7- 5,0 km³). Ivanov (1978) analyzes that the Chardara reservoir water regime is characterized by three main phases: fall-spring filling up (October-March) spring equilibrium – level standing close to normal maximum operating level (April-June) and summer drawdown (June- September).
It should be mentioned, that 1963-1969 as duration of the second stage was assumed by the author nearly. This stage was proposed by the author due to the following factors:

• 
  All relevant archive materials somehow have underlined that construction of the Chardara reservoir is a significant point in terms of the AALS evolution;
  
• 
  In particular, the water discharges from the Chardara reservoir were responsible for to the Aydar-Arnasay lakes origin.
  

3.