Operating modes of the hydroelectric power plants of the Volga-Kama cascade of reservoirs for February-early March

7 February 2025, Friday

The operating modes of the hydroelectric power plants of the Volga-Kama cascade of reservoirs for the period from February 11 to March 10, 2025 have been approved.

A mode of operation with an average discharge rate of 5000±100 cubic meters/s is proposed for the Kuibyshev reservoir. This decision is a continuation of current practice and was made taking into account forecasts for the spring.

Vadim Nikanorov, Deputy Head of Rosvodresursy, stressed the need to take into account meteorologists' forecasts of significantly low water levels in the spring. "According to preliminary estimates by meteorologists, the water level in the upper reaches of the Volga and its tributaries will be significantly lower than normal in spring. We need to be ready for this right now and set operating modes for waterworks based on this information," he said.

In the period from January 11 to February 05, the level of the Kuibyshev reservoir remained stable, close to the level of 50.40 m BS with minor fluctuations.

According to the forecast calculations, in February the reservoir level will also remain at levels close to 50.40 m BS. There are no plans to significantly deplete the reservoir's water resources by the beginning of the flood. 

The Ministry has supported the modes of operation of waterworks proposed by Rosvodresursy.

Let us recall that the reservoir level plays an important role in ensuring environmental well-being. Reservoirs also perform a water protection function: the biota of the reservoir, decomposing and binding pollutants, prevents the ecological degradation of river ecosystems. It is planned to optimize the operation of reservoirs within the framework of the national project "Ecological well-being". For example, in the Volgograd region, according to the federal project "Water of Russia", it is planned to build a complex of hydraulic structures that will increase the level of flooding of the Volga River and optimize the operation of reservoirs.