Al-Habaniyah is nearing full capacity… Water is returning, tourism and fishermen’s livelihoods are flourishing
Al-Habaniyah is nearing full capacity… Water is returning, tourism and fishermen’s livelihoods are flourishing
2026-10-20
Shafaq News – Anbar
Lake Habbaniyah in Anbar province is nearing a significant recovery in its water health, with rising water levels and increased releases into the tourist city basin. This development reinforces hopes for a decline in the risks of drought that have affected the environment surrounding the lake in recent years, casting a shadow on tourism and the livelihoods of fishermen .
With the water reservoir reaching approximately 2.5 billion cubic meters, out of a total storage capacity of 3.4 billion cubic meters, attention is turning to the coming days, amid expectations that the basin will soon be filled and the lake will regain its environmental and economic role .
In this context, the director of the tourist city in Habbaniyah, Muayad Al-Mashouh, told Shafaq News Agency that water levels have witnessed a significant increase recently, coinciding with an increase in water releases to the tourist city basin, in coordination with the Ministry of Water Resources and the Governor of Anbar, indicating that the current releases amount to 300 cubic meters per second .
Al-Mashouh added that the lake’s water storage has reached about two and a half billion cubic meters, while its total storage capacity is 3.4 billion cubic meters, noting that the continued releases would raise the levels and contribute to filling the basin within the next few days .
He explained that the improved water levels have already boosted tourism, with an increase in visitor numbers, particularly among those who enjoy hiking, water sports, and activities such as jet skiing. He predicted that the continued rise in water levels will further stimulate tourism and attract visitors from across Iraq in the coming period .
The importance of the lake’s replenishment is not limited to tourism alone, as the return of water is an important factor in improving the environmental conditions of the region, supporting the natural habitats of organisms that depend on the aquatic environment, as well as its potential impact on fish stocks and the livelihoods of those working in fishing .
In addition, the environmental aspect stands out as one of the most important issues related to the lake’s recovery, especially after the water level decreased, leading to a decline in submerged areas and increased concerns about the local environment’s ability to maintain its biodiversity .
The rise in water levels provides an opportunity to improve the conditions in which aquatic organisms live, provided that water supplies continue and water quality and changes in the ecosystem are monitored .
In this regard, environmental expert Mohammed Al-Rawi told Shafaq News Agency that improving the water situation in Lake Habbaniyah could contribute to reviving environmental life by expanding the water areas available to organisms that depend on it, improving the conditions suitable for fish and aquatic life, as well as providing a more suitable environment for birds that use the lake and the surrounding areas as stations for living or resting during their travels .
The narrator explained that restoring the lake to its water levels represents an important step in preserving biodiversity, because the decline in water not only affects the natural landscape, but also extends to the habitats on which different organisms depend for food, reproduction and stability.
Continued improvement will help to gradually restore ecological balance, but this is linked to the sustainability of water releases, maintaining water quality, and reducing pollutants that may affect living organisms .
The environmental specialist pointed out that the filling of the basin, if it is achieved and its suitable water conditions continue, may give the surrounding environment a chance to recover after the drought period, but it does not necessarily mean the complete disappearance of risks; as preserving the lake requires sustainable water management, monitoring environmental changes, and not dealing with rising water levels as a final solution in isolation from the factors that control the flow and stability of the water .
On the other side of the lake, fishermen are eagerly awaiting the impact of this improvement on their daily work, after years of hardship during which fishing opportunities dwindled and continued work in some areas became increasingly difficult as the water receded. For those working in this sector, the return of the water represents not only an improvement in the natural landscape but also a glimmer of hope for regaining a livelihood they have depended on for years .
Fisherman Abu Hayat Al-Jumaili told Shafaq News Agency that the lake’s recovery has become clearly visible with the rise in water levels, expressing his hope that this will be reflected in the abundance of fish and improved fishing opportunities in the coming period .
He pointed out that the years of drought were difficult for fishermen, as opportunities to earn a living declined, and many were forced to move away from the lake or leave their areas of work in search of alternative sources of income .
Al-Jumaili added, “The improved water levels are restoring hope to the fishermen who depend on the lake to provide for their families,” explaining that the return of aquatic activity may help them resume their work in a better way, after a period in which the scarcity of water affected their ability to continue fishing as they used to do .
The fishermen’s experience reveals a social aspect of the drought crisis, as the effects of declining water levels are not limited to the environment or tourism, but extend to families who depend on natural resources for their livelihood.
Therefore, continued improvement in water levels may have direct economic repercussions for those working in fishing and tourism services, in addition to its potential role in revitalizing local markets linked to the return of visitors .
shafaq.com
