The Problem of Transformation and Utilization of the Water Resources of the Volga River and the Caspian Sea

Assessment of anthropogenic pressure on water resources and efficiency of their use: review of methodological approaches

“…Самыми известными обобщениями по этой тематике в нашей стране являются работы С.Л. Вендрова [8], А.Б. Авакяна с соавторами [1], К.К.…”

ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS OF THE VOLGA‐KAMA CASCADE OF POWER STATIONS1

“…A sizeable portion of the land so far lost to the Volga-Kama cascade possessed both economic and ecologic value. Thus, the 20,000 km flooded as of 1964 was comprised of 11% cropland, 31% hay meadows, 7% grazing pastures, 37% forest and brushland and 13% other lands (Vendrov et al, 1964). Much of the cropland covered is found in the steppe and forested steppe zones, noted for their high agricultural productivity, whereas land flooded in the taiga zone has included large portions of the floodplainsthe best agricultural land available in these regions (Avakyan and Sharapov, 1968).…”

“…Until the middle 1960's, irrigation contributed minimally to the river's flow loss. Thus in 1962, 150,000 hectares were irrigated and 217,000 watered from the Volga and the consumptive loss (withdrawals minus return) was probably less than one km (Vendrov et al, 1964;Magakyan, 1968).…”