The level of the Sea of Galilee, Israel's largest water reservoir also known as the Kineret Sea, now stands at 212.11 meters below sea level - ten feet below its optimal level. The hoped-for winter rains have barely begun, and instead of rising as expected, the Kineret has actually dropped eight centimeters over the past month.
The rain storms of last month raised the Kineret only a few centimeters, leaving the lake about a half-meter lower than it was at this time last year. Though weather forecasters predict that the coming winter will bring slightly less than average rainfall, it is hoped that over a meter of water height will be added to the lake.
Every ten centimeters (4 inches) of Kineret height mean another 17 million cubic meters of water, or roughly 2.5% of the country’s annual consumer demand.
For the first time, the Northern District Police and volunteer divers are about to begin a drive to clean the Kineret floor. Various pieces of garbage, including junk that is dangerous to both swimmers and the environment, have piled up over the years along the Kineret perimeter, and the police will try to get rid of them.
Magen David Adom reports that dozens of Kineret bathers were injured by cans, broken bottles, metal pieces and other items last summer. In addition, plastic bags, boxes and other environmental hazards must also be removed from the underwater beach.
"We generally deal with rescuing people and saving lives," Gali Gar'in, the head of the police divers unit, told Yisraeli newspaper, "but this time we decided to enlist in a cause totally dedicated to saving the environment and the Kineret. We have no other Kineret."
The operation will begin in the coming days at the Kibbutz Ha'On beach on the eastern Kineret, across the sea from the city of Tiberias. Other beaches are planned to be added, and the police ask qualified divers to volunteer their services.
The rain storms of last month raised the Kineret only a few centimeters, leaving the lake about a half-meter lower than it was at this time last year. Though weather forecasters predict that the coming winter will bring slightly less than average rainfall, it is hoped that over a meter of water height will be added to the lake.
Every ten centimeters (4 inches) of Kineret height mean another 17 million cubic meters of water, or roughly 2.5% of the country’s annual consumer demand.
For the first time, the Northern District Police and volunteer divers are about to begin a drive to clean the Kineret floor. Various pieces of garbage, including junk that is dangerous to both swimmers and the environment, have piled up over the years along the Kineret perimeter, and the police will try to get rid of them.
Magen David Adom reports that dozens of Kineret bathers were injured by cans, broken bottles, metal pieces and other items last summer. In addition, plastic bags, boxes and other environmental hazards must also be removed from the underwater beach.
"We generally deal with rescuing people and saving lives," Gali Gar'in, the head of the police divers unit, told Yisraeli newspaper, "but this time we decided to enlist in a cause totally dedicated to saving the environment and the Kineret. We have no other Kineret."
The operation will begin in the coming days at the Kibbutz Ha'On beach on the eastern Kineret, across the sea from the city of Tiberias. Other beaches are planned to be added, and the police ask qualified divers to volunteer their services.