Hawizeh Marsh water levels rise, improving conditions for wildlife and residents

MAYSAN — Water levels in Hawizeh Marsh in Maysan have risen following recent rainfall and flooding, with technical teams directing water inflows through the marsh’s main feeders, the Ministry of Water Resources said Sunday.

The ministry said the rains were effectively channeled toward main rivers and marsh feeders, raising inundation rates and improving environmental and biological conditions. It said the higher water levels have reduced salinity, supported biodiversity and enabled the return of economic activities for marsh residents, particularly buffalo breeding.

The development is part of a broader improvement in Iraq’s water situation following recent storms, which the ministry said boosted strategic water reserves by about 6 billion cubic meters and raised storage levels in dams and reservoirs across the country. The gains come after authorities said reserves had dropped to their lowest levels in roughly 80 years in 2025 due to prolonged drought and reduced upstream flows from Turkey and Iran.