Controlled release of water from dams in Southwestern Bulgaria after heavy rainfall.

Experts from the State Enterprise for Management and Operation of Dams (DPMSD) report a significant increase in the water levels of dams in Southwestern Bulgaria due to the heavy rains in recent days. However, at the moment, there is no extreme situation with the water in them.

To prevent critical situations, specialists from DPMSD, together with local authorities, have ensured continuous monitoring of the dams. In the municipalities of Hadzhidimovo and Razlog, it has been necessary to release controlled water quantities, but they have been below the maximum discharge of the spillways.

A more serious increase in water levels has been registered in the "Meshtica" and "Ognyanova" dams in the municipality of Elin Pelin, where the levels have risen by 25 centimeters. However, the controlled release of water from the facilities has not created critical situations in the riverbeds of the Struma and Mesta rivers, which also record increased levels in their lower reaches.

At the moment, the situation with the water in the dams in Southwestern Bulgaria is stable. The long-term goal of DPMSD is to expand the irrigated areas by over 3 million decares through the construction of six new irrigation dams.