The Ministry of Ecology of Tatarstan has supported new modes of operation of reservoirs in the Volga-Kama cascade, proposed by Rosvodresursy
A regular meeting of the Interdepartmental Working Group on regulating the modes of operation of reservoirs in the Volga-Kama Cascade was held via videoconference. The Republic of Tatarstan was represented at the meeting by Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Azat Ziganshin.
The main issue was the establishment of optimal modes of operation of waterworks for the period from February 11 to March 12, 2026. In particular, the Ministry supported the initiative of Rosvodresursy to adjust the discharge rates of the Kuibyshev reservoir: the average discharge rate since February 11 has been proposed at 5300-5400 cubic meters per second instead of the previous 5800 cubic meters per second. For the Nizhnekamsk reservoir, the water level range in the upper reaches of the dam is 62.7–63.75 meters according to the Baltic Sea system.
Special attention was paid to the analysis of the current hydrological situation. From January 21 to February 4, 2026, the water level in the Kuibyshev reservoir gradually decreased from 51.35 m to 51.1 m in the Baltic Sea system (the average decrease is about 1.6 cm per day). As of February 6, at the Upper Uslon hydraulic post ( Kazan) it is 51.26 m.
In general, according to the Russian Hydrometeorological Service, the inflow of water into the reservoirs of the Volga-Kama cascade in January reached 140% of the climatic norm, and the forecast for the first quarter of 2026 is 136% of the norm.
The decisions taken are aimed at ensuring sustainable water supply, supporting navigation and fisheries, as well as protecting the population from adverse flood events. Official instructions on the introduction of new regimes will be published on the Rosvodresursy website. The next meeting of the working group on regulating the operating modes of the reservoirs of the Volga-Kama cascade will be held in the first decade of March 2026.