Akkaya Dam

Akkaya Dam is an important water structure located within the boundaries of Niğde Province in Türkiye’s Central Anatolia Region. The dam is built on the Tabakhane Creek and was primarily constructed for agricultural irrigation. It is situated between the city of Niğde and the district of Bor and is also very close to the campus of Ömer Halisdemir University in Niğde.

Construction of the dam began in 1964 and was completed in 1967. Akkaya is an earth-fill dam with a maximum height of 18 metres at the talveg. At normal water level, the reservoir volume is 6 million cubic metres and the irrigated area has been designated as 2,277 hectares.

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Akkaya Dam is located between the Bor Plain and the Niğde Plain, in the eastern part of the Ereğli Plain. The area is surrounded by Hasan Dağı and the Melendiz Mountains. The region around the dam is characterized by agricultural land, wetlands, and steppe ecosystems.

The Tabakhane Creek is the main source feeding the reservoir. However, the dam suffers from serious pollution problems due to industrial waste and untreated wastewater from settlements. The use of dam water for irrigating vineyards and gardens in the district of Bor poses a significant water quality issue.

Akkaya Dam has been recognized as an Area of International Importance and was designated as a candidate site for the Ramsar Convention in 2005. The dam and its surroundings are listed as Important Bird Areas (IBA) and Important Natural Areas (INA).

The reservoir and its surrounding area host rich biodiversity. A total of 157 bird species have been recorded in the region, including 12 species threatened at a global scale. Some of these species include:

• White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala) – Globally threatened.
• Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) – Observed in large flocks during the summer months.
• Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) and Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) – Among the most common and breeding species in the area.

The aquatic ecosystem around the dam also provides habitat for several endemic and threatened fish and reptile species:

• Gobio gobio gymnostethus – A rare species found only in the Konya Closed Basin.
• Ereğli Stone Loach (Oxynoemacheilus eregliensis) – A freshwater fish endemic to Türkiye.
• Yellow-bellied Terrapin (Emys orbicularis luteofusca) – One of the threatened species in the region.

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The effect of dams on regional climate, especially in arid regions, is an important subject of research. Climate change studies conducted on Akkaya Dam have shown that it has caused significant changes in the microclimatic structure of Niğde Province.

Comparing the periods 1950–1966 (pre-dam) and 1968–1984 (post-dam), the following changes have been observed:

• Increase in monthly total precipitation.
• Rise in monthly minimum temperatures.
• Decrease in monthly maximum temperature, average temperature, and average relative humidity.
• Reduction in average monthly wind speed.

These changes have led to the formation of a more humid and temperate microclimate around the dam. However, the reduction in wind speed has also resulted in some negative consequences, such as reduced air circulation, which may affect agricultural productivity.

Akkaya Dam faces serious environmental pollution problems. The most significant issue is the discharge of untreated industrial and sewage effluents into the reservoir. This situation degrades water quality and negatively impacts the local ecosystem.

The main environmental threats are:

• Sewage and industrial waste – Waste from the Niğde Organized Industrial Zone severely compromises the water quality of the dam.
• Agricultural pesticide and fertilizer pollution – Agricultural activities in the Bor Plain cause high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus to enter the dam.
• Intensive livestock grazing – Grazing areas around the dam, especially during summer months due to overgrazing, are degraded, negatively affecting the breeding success of bird species.
• Drought and water abstraction – Water drawn from the dam by the State Hydraulic Works (DSİ) for irrigation in Bor has led to a decline in reservoir levels.

In recent years, the Niğde Municipality has implemented major projects to improve the environmental condition of the dam. The most important of these is the Advanced Biological Treatment Plant, completed in 2023. Thanks to this facility:

• Wastewater is now biologically treated and clean water flow into the reservoir has begun.
• Flamingos and other bird species have returned to the area.
• The foul odor problem at the dam has been largely resolved.

In addition, various nature conservation activities and bird observation projects have been organized to highlight the ecological importance of the area and promote tourism. The Niğde Governorship and local administrations are conducting environmental awareness campaigns around the dam.

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Akkaya Dam is of great importance to Niğde in terms of water resources, agricultural production, and ecosystems. However, for many years it suffered from severe environmental pollution due to industrial and urban waste. Thanks to recent treatment and conservation efforts, the dam has once again become a center for natural life.

In the future, continuing ecological restoration, sustainable management of the dam, and increasing public environmental awareness are vital. Furthermore, more efficient water management strategies in agricultural irrigation must be adopted to reduce pressure on the dam’s ecosystem.

In this context, protecting Akkaya Dam and ensuring its ecological sustainability will be a long-term benefit for both the local population and nature.