Seasonal marsh near Kut draws visitors but residents fear it will dry up again

WASIT — A seasonal marsh in the Shuwaija depression between Kut and the eastern border highlands of Badra has swelled into a vast water body following this year’s heavy rainfall, drawing boat operators and families seeking outdoor outings — but residents and officials warn the water is likely to disappear within a month.

Local boatmen have begun offering recreational trips across the marsh, with visitors arriving from Baghdad and other governorates. Mustafa Ali, a boatman and fisherman, said the marsh has become “an important outlet for families,” though he cautioned that some areas are not suitable for navigation and fishing remains limited. He warned that drainage outlets including Chabab and Umm al-Jari continue to channel water toward the Tigris, and called on the government to maintain the marsh to support fish reproduction and boost tourism.

Resident Adnan Fadil said the area offers families relief “away from gas crises and pollution in the Tigris River,” and argued the Shuwaija depression could become “an important storage project similar to Tharthar.” He said a lack of planning means water is discharged annually without investment, despite repeated calls from residents and specialists.

Karim Hussein, director of water resources in Wasit, said the marsh is part of a flood management system for the Kut area, designed to absorb flood waves from Badra in the east and western valleys before releasing water toward the Tigris through the Umm al-Jari canal and the Nashama project. He said recreational use is possible but would require a feasibility study, and cautioned that comparisons with Tharthar are inaccurate — Tharthar can hold around 75 billion cubic meters, far beyond Shuwaija’s capacity.