The Gaaton River that crosses downtown Nahariya has overflown its banks, for the second time in two weeks, flooding homes and stores along the town's main street between Herzl and Weizman Streets and in other areas. Flooding has also occurred elsewhere in the north. This year's rainfall in some parts of the western Galilee is fast approaching the yearly average, and is approaching a full meter in some areas, such as Harashim (just north of Carmiel and west of Mt. Meron).
The Sea of Galilee (Kinneret) rose another 13 centimeters yesterday - a result of the heavy rains and runoff from the mountains around it. The Kinneret, Israel's largest reservoir and its yardstick for the national water supply, now stands at 210.18 meters below sea level, higher than it has stood in over five and a half months. Only another 1.28 meters of water-height (4.2 feet) is required for it to reach its optimal level. A year ago at this time, the Kinneret was approximately 3.5 meters lower than it is now.
Once the Kinneret reaches its optimal level, it will be necessary to open the Deganiah dam, in order to prevent the lake from overflowing onto built-up areas. This may happen as early as next week, when several factors converge: continued run-off, more rain, and the early date in the season. The last time the dam was opened was in 1992.
The opening of the dam does not mean that an adequate water supply is guaranteed, water experts warn, as many of Israel's aquifers and water sources are still relatively depleted. In fact, much water will go to waste if Kinneret waters are not efficiently diverted on time to other aquifers.
One place that would ostensibly welcome the opening of the Deganiah dam is the Dead Sea. Eli Raz, a native of the area and author of a book about the shrinking body of water, told Arutz-7 today that the Dead Sea always received water from the Jordan River. However, the combination of the construction of the Deganiah dam in the 1920's, its attachment to the National Water Carrier, and Jordan's diversion of Jordan River waters has led to it reaching a low point today of some 418 meters below sea level - a full 28 meters lower than its modern-day high point of 390 meters, reached in 1930.
"In the winter of 1991-92, which was particularly rainy," Raz said, "the dam was opened, and as a result, the Dead Sea rose two meters. However, it's not good to have such sudden fluctuations. The sudden influx of sweet water erodes the salty foundations on which the Dead Sea installations sit." He said that the entire area suffers from environmental problems, and encouraged the Environment Ministry to continue its recent efforts to find a comprehensive solution. For more information on the Dead Sea, see "www.jafi.org.il/education/noar/sites/deadsea.htm".
The Sea of Galilee (Kinneret) rose another 13 centimeters yesterday - a result of the heavy rains and runoff from the mountains around it. The Kinneret, Israel's largest reservoir and its yardstick for the national water supply, now stands at 210.18 meters below sea level, higher than it has stood in over five and a half months. Only another 1.28 meters of water-height (4.2 feet) is required for it to reach its optimal level. A year ago at this time, the Kinneret was approximately 3.5 meters lower than it is now.
Once the Kinneret reaches its optimal level, it will be necessary to open the Deganiah dam, in order to prevent the lake from overflowing onto built-up areas. This may happen as early as next week, when several factors converge: continued run-off, more rain, and the early date in the season. The last time the dam was opened was in 1992.
The opening of the dam does not mean that an adequate water supply is guaranteed, water experts warn, as many of Israel's aquifers and water sources are still relatively depleted. In fact, much water will go to waste if Kinneret waters are not efficiently diverted on time to other aquifers.
One place that would ostensibly welcome the opening of the Deganiah dam is the Dead Sea. Eli Raz, a native of the area and author of a book about the shrinking body of water, told Arutz-7 today that the Dead Sea always received water from the Jordan River. However, the combination of the construction of the Deganiah dam in the 1920's, its attachment to the National Water Carrier, and Jordan's diversion of Jordan River waters has led to it reaching a low point today of some 418 meters below sea level - a full 28 meters lower than its modern-day high point of 390 meters, reached in 1930.
"In the winter of 1991-92, which was particularly rainy," Raz said, "the dam was opened, and as a result, the Dead Sea rose two meters. However, it's not good to have such sudden fluctuations. The sudden influx of sweet water erodes the salty foundations on which the Dead Sea installations sit." He said that the entire area suffers from environmental problems, and encouraged the Environment Ministry to continue its recent efforts to find a comprehensive solution. For more information on the Dead Sea, see "www.jafi.org.il/education/noar/sites/deadsea.htm".