Water resources

Rivers and lakes

Water levels in Mekong hit worrisome new lows

The Mekong River Commission (MRC) has expressed concern that water levels in the river have dropped significantly, changing the colour of the water in some areas, and warned that this situation could impact agricultural production and wildlife migration in Cambodia and the other countries in ...

Lay Samean
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/water-levels-mekong-hit-worrisome-new-lows

26 families along Sangke River given land concessions with mixed response

Families living along the Sangke River have been asked by authorities to move to a new location due to plans to develop the area. Battambang provincial deputy governor Soeum Bunrithy said in a press conference yesterday that currently, there is a project to develop Sangke ...

Buth Sela
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50806926/26-families-along-sangke-river-given-land-concessions-with-mixed-response/

Hun Sen: Lakes filled in for national developments

Prime Minister Hun Sen has announced continued operations to fill some lakes in Phnom Penh to create land for developments, though he is against the unrelated practice of damming rivers or blocking waterways. ...

Nov Sivutha
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50806569/tamouk-lake-slated-for-development-reservoir-to-get-retaining-wall/

Fishermen worried for their future as lake getting filled

For nearly 40 years, Ing Choeun, a 63-year-old fisherman in Prek Pnov district’s Samraong commune north of Phnom Penh has relied on fishing at Tamouk Lake to make a living and to feed his family. ​ ...

Moeun Chhean Nariddh
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50804750/fishermen-worried-for-their-future-as-lake-getting-filled/

Illegal fish nets kill adult male Irrawaddy dolphin in Kratie

Conservationists and communities in the Anlong Kampi Irrawaddy dolphin conservation area in Kratie province said that despite the ban on fishing and regular patrols, fishing offences in the area are still happening which they said is cause for alarm. ...

Khouth Sophak Chakrya
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/illegal-fish-nets-kill-adult-male-irrawaddy-dolphin-kratie

Lake filling in capital draws CSOs concern

Civil society organisations (CSOs) working on the environment and human rights have expressed concern about filling parts of Boeung Tamok Lake to create new parcels of land on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. ...

Soth Koemsoeun
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/lake-filling-capital-draws-csos-concern

Mekong dam monitor launched by US State Department

The U.S. Department of State has launched the Mekong Dam Monitor in collaboration with the Stimson Center and Eyes on Earth. The new Mekong Dam Monitor is a significant step toward improving understanding of the water conditions in the Mekong River Basin. ...

Jason Boken
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50794746/mekong-dam-monitor-launched-by-us-state-department/

Cambodia faces plastic woes

The Ministry of Environment and several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working on environmental issues in Cambodia have expressed concern over the growing amount of plastic waste in Cambodia’s waterways, as many fishermen are now complaining that they have caught more rubbish than fish over the past ...

Long Kimmarita
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cambodia-faces-plastic-woes

Battambang ancient lake restored

Authorities in Battambang province’s Ek Phnom district have been given permission to begin restoration of Takom Lake, a 10ha ancient lake located in the district’s Peam Ek commune. ...

Nov Sivutha
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/battambang-ancient-lake-restored

Lake set for development

The government is set to hand over 38ha of Boeung Tamok Lake for development, according to two sub-decrees dated September 1 and seen by The Post on Sunday. The first sub-decree says 15ha of the lake will be given to the National Committee for Disaster Management, ...

Orm Bunthoeurn
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/lake-set-development

Ministry wants dolphin areas on UNESCO list

The Ministry of Environment has been tasked with compiling data on four areas that are home to Irrawaddy dolphins in Kratie and Preah Vihear provinces. The report is in preparation for possible inclusion on the UNESCO World Natural Heritage list. ...

Voun Dara
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ministry-wants-dolphin-areas-unesco-list

MRC sees ‘very critical situation’ in Tonle Sap as flow reversal still delayed

In a weekly situation report, the MRC said low inflows from the Mekong and low rainfall in the Tonle Sap’s upper-catchment areas had “resulted in a very critical situation” for the lake. ...

Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50751837/mrc-sees-very-critical-situation-in-tonle-sap-as-flow-reversal-still-delayed/

Mekong is at historical lows

The Mekong is once again at historical lows. The Mekong River Commission (MRC) gauge at Phnom Penh Port shows river level to be four metres below average for this time of year – and lower than last year’s record. ...

Mark Hughes
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50748811/mekong-is-at-historical-lows/

Work starts to restore collapsed Kampong Cham river bank

Kampong Cham provincial authorities have started work on a project to restore nearly 200 metres of river bank which collapsed in Kampong Cham city last June. ...

Sen David
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50705311/work-starts-to-restore-collapsed-kampong-cham-river-bank/

Boeng Tamouk lake residents in development crossfire

Boeng Tamouk is one of the last remaining lakes in Phnom Penh. The lake has stood the test of time and brought harmony to many villagers living around the body of water. ...

Som Kanika
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50704591/boeng-tamouk-lake-residents-in-development-crossfire/

Lake area allocated for garden, national park

The government has decided to allocate 83ha surrounding Tamok Lake (Kob Srov lake) to the Phnom Penh municipal administration and the National Police to establish a garden and national park and construct the Central Security Department buildings and infrastructures. ...

Khouth Sophak Chakrya
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/lake-area-allocated-garden-national-park

MRC story on livelihoods of fishing communities along the Mekong

The Mekong River Committee (MRC) today released a report on safeguarding livelihoods for fishing communities in Mekong countries, including Cambodia. ...

Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50698419/mrc-story-on-livelihoods-of-fishing-communities-along-the-mekong

Positive resolution for families living on Sekong riverbank in Stung Treng town

Stung Treng provincial authorities are coordinating a huge relocation of more than 130 families living on the banks of the Sekong River to prevent landslides and contribute positively to the town’s aesthetics. ...

Khorn Savi
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/positive-resolution-families-living-sekong-riverbank-stung-treng-town

Groups voice concerns over new dam

Civil society organisations working on water management in Cambodia have expressed concern that Laos’ proposed Luang Prabang hydropower dam project and the existing upper Mekong River dam project will potentially cause more transnational impacts on hydrologic flow, movement of fish and sediment. ...

Pech Sotheary
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50688101/groups-voice-concerns-over-new-dam

Unsustainable sand mining is threatening lives along the Mekong River in Cambodia

Now new research, as part of a project led by University of Southampton, has shown sand mining is causing river beds to lower, leading to riverbank instability and increasing the likelihood of dangerous river bank collapse, damaging infrastructure and housing and putting lives at risk. The ...

University of Southampton
https://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2020/01/mekong-river-sand.page

Phnom Penh Lakes ‘on the Brink of Elimination’: Report

Every lake in Phnom Penh has been damaged by development and its wetlands decimated, leading to severe flooding, loss of livelihoods and disappearance of fish species, a new report says. ...

Khut Sokun and Newsroom Cambodia
https://vodenglish.news/phnom-penh-lakes-on-the-brink-of-elimination-report/

Mekong levels to drop as China conducts equipment tests

The Mekong River Commission on Tuesday reported dam equipment tests in China will affect water levels in Cambodia, Thailand and Laos in the middle of this month. In a press release obtained yesterday, the MRC said the tests are being conducted in China’s Jinghong hydropower station ...

Mom Kunthear
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50675730/mekong-levels-to-drop-as-china-conducts-equipment-tests

Ministries, institutions discuss measures for Mekong conservation

Members of relevant ministries and institutions gathered on Friday and Saturday to discuss the importance of the Mekong to Cambodia from a policy standpoint and how the government can best work together to ensure the conservation of the river. The two-day meeting, held under the ...

Voun Dara
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ministries-institutions-discuss-measures-mekong-conservation

Officials to meet on Mekong crisis as fishing communities suffer

On Cambodia’s Tonle Sap, record low water levels have plunged fishing communities into crisis but with warnings of “severe drought”, there are concerns the situation will get even worse.​ ...

Leonie Kijewski
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/officials-meet-mekong-crisis-fishing-communities-suffer-191125070104119.html

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