The ecosystem of Velykyi Luh, which existed before the construction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, is lost forever.
This was stated by environmental security expert, scientific director of the Ukrainian Laboratory of Public Research “Dovkola” Maksym Soroka in an interview with UNIAN.
According to the scientist, nature does not return to its former state, but creates on the former bottom of the artificial sea a new ecosystem – the so-called pseudo-forest. Currently, a rapid growth of willows and poplars is being recorded there.
“If current trends continue, over the next 10-15 years an active transformation will take place. Over time this ecosystem will transform into something new, absolutely unique both for Ukraine and for the whole world”, – he said.
In addition, Soroka stated that the presence of the new forest blocks the idea of flooding the area in the event of rebuilding the dam.
“Right now in this area we have a huge willow-poplar forest which grows bigger every day. Flooding such forested areas creates a long-term hydrochemical problem. Even if we somehow return the water, it will not be possible to use the facility fully. After all, if it is flooded, the decaying mass can turn the reservoir into an active swamp, and engineers don’t want that. We need to have a reservoir of fresh water, or water that can be cleaned, not a reservoir of rotten swamp”.
Soroka also said that demining specialists currently do not have ready solutions for cleaning the former bottom of the reservoir. Because of this, according to the ecologist, major works or reconstruction during the war and in the first years after it are technically impossible.
“Therefore we must prepare communities to live in new conditions – without a guaranteed usable reserve of fresh water”, – he said.
Earlier it was reported that scientists are considering groundwater as a reserve for the water supply of Kherson region after the loss of the Kakhovka Reservoir.