Lake Dembel, an essential resource situated about 120 kilometers south of Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, has found itself in peril. Its water levels are plummeting at an alarming rate. Lake Dembel covers an area more than four times the size of Manhattan. It is an essential source of water used by both agricultural and industrial uses in the valley. It may seem like a lot of water, but unfortunately, thousands of pumps run 24-7, pulling about 250 million gallons a day out of the lake. Since 1990, rapid over-pumping has reduced the lake’s depth by 50 percent. It has declined from four meters down to only two meters—that’s roughly 13 feet down to over six feet.
The repercussions of this situation are dire. Lake Dembel is key for irrigating. It underpins the way of life for three hundred thousand people whose daily existence depends on both fishing and farming its waters. Air and surface water temperatures have skyrocketed. This downward trend has led to a dramatic depletion of fish populations, threatening the food security and economic livelihood of local communities.
Environmental and Economic Impacts
The impacts of Lake Dembel’s shrinking water supply are felt way beyond the realm of fishing. As water is slowly sucked away, this rare and fragile ecosystem that envelops the lake is permanently damaged. Local fisherman Belachew Derib has been catching fish on Lake Dembel since the 1980s. He stood up to say his piece about the declining fish stocks.
“Previously, we could catch 20 to 30 fish a day. Nowadays, young fishermen are lucky to catch two or three,” – Belachew Derib
Meanwhile, local fishermen are experiencing a drastic reduction in the number of fish they have access to. This predicament poses grave dangers to the farming community. Farmers such as Habib Bobasso are already describing how the cost and scarcity of water have led to failed crops. Stressed plants are more vulnerable to pests and disease, compounding the damage.
“There are many worms that can damage the plants… we could lose the entire harvest,” – Habib Bobasso
Bobasso has been particularly critical of the increased expense of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. He explained that these products negatively affect soil health and bring no economic value.
Legislative Response and Future Prospects
Recently, local officials have begun to act in response to this terrible situation at Lake Dembel. They are calling on the government for new regulations to stop the over-extraction of water. Andualem Gezahegne, a local ruling party official, declared plans for the new law. This law will create the first fees on anyone who withdraws or otherwise uses water from the lake.
“Unfortunately, the peak fishing activity coincides with the fish spawning periods, from January to May,” – Andualem Gezahegne
Locals believe that proper implementation of this law will be an important step in preservation of Lake Dembel’s shrinking resources. Project manager Desalegn Regassa is one of those closely watching the lake’s status. Otherwise, he cautioned, Lake Dembel would likely cease to exist completely.
“If things continue like this, the lake could disappear,” – Desalegn Regassa
This has made water management all the more essential, with Ethiopia’s population already over 130 million and droughts frequently ravaging the country. The loss of Lake Dembel would be an economic catastrophe. Not only that, it would severely increase water scarcity across the entire region.
Community Resilience and Hope
Despite the challenges they face, local communities remain resilient and hopeful for a solution. Fishermen such as Belachew Derib have put their family’s future in the hands of their respective trades. Derib described how fishing was long his only source of income to support his three children.
“I built my house thanks to the income from fishing and support my three children through this work,” – Belachew Derib
The community’s dedication to sustainable practices, reinforced by their fight to protect Lake Dembel, proves their devotion to keep this fragile ecosystem intact for years to come. As awareness grows about the importance of regulating water usage, local leaders hope that collective efforts can lead to positive changes that protect this vital resource.