Akkaya Dam

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

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, its storage capacity is 6 million cubic metres and the designated irrigation area is 2,277 hectares.

Akkaya Dam - Niğde Municipality

Geographical and Hydrological Characteristics

Akkaya Dam is situated between the Bor Plain and the Niğde Plain, within the eastern part of the Ereğli Plain. The area is surrounded by the Melendiz Mountains and Hasan Mountain. The surroundings of the dam are typically characterized by agricultural land, wetlands and steppe ecosystems.

The Tabakhane Creek is the primary inflow source feeding the reservoir. However, the dam suffers from severe pollution problems due to industrial waste and untreated wastewater from nearby settlements. The use of the dam’s water for irrigation of vineyard and orchards in the district of Bor presents a significant problem for water quality.

Ecological Importance and Biodiversity

Akkaya Dam has been recognized as an area of international importance and was designated 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 environs host rich biodiversity. A total of 157 bird species have been recorded in the region, including 12 species threatened at a global level. 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) – Commonly breeding and frequently observed species in the area.

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

• Common Gudgeon (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 at risk of extinction.

Flamingos in the Reservoir and Surroundings - Niğde Municipality

Effects on Local Climate

How dams influence regional climate, particularly in dry regions, is an important research issue. Climate change studies conducted after the construction of Akkaya Dam indicate 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:

• An increase in monthly total precipitation.
• An increase in monthly minimum temperatures.
• A decrease in monthly maximum temperatures, average temperatures and average relative humidity.
• A reduction in average monthly wind speed.

These changes have led to the formation of a more humid and temperate microclimate around the dam, but in some cases have also produced negative outcomes such as a wind reduction in like that may affect agricultural productivity.

Environmental Problems and Threats

Akkaya Dam faces serious environment pollution problems. The primary issue is the discharge of untreated industrial and sewage wastewater into the reservoir. This situation not only degrades water quality but also negatively impacts the local ecosystem.

The main environmental threats include:

• Sewage and industrial waste – Waste from the Niğde Organized Industrial Zone significantly degrades the water quality of the dam.
• Agrochemical and fertilizer pollution – Agricultural activities in the Bor Plain contribute high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus to the dam.
• Intensive livestock grazing – Pasture areas around the dam, especially during summer months, suffer from overgrazing, which negatively affects the breeding success of bird species.
• Drought and water extraction – Water drawn from the dam by DSİ for irrigation in Bor has led to a decline in reservoir levels.

Conservation and Restoration Efforts

In recent years, Niğde Municipality has implemented significant 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:

• Biological treatment of wastewater has been achieved and clean water flow into the reservoir has begun.
• Flamingos and other bird species have returned to the area.
• The problem of foul odors 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 region and promote tourism. Niğde Provincial Directorate and local administrations are conducting environmental awareness campaigns around the dam.

Akkaya Dam - Niğde Municipality

Akkaya Dam is of great importance to Niğde in terms of water resources, agricultural production and ecosystems. However, for many years it has suffered from serious environmental pollution due to industrial and settlement 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 importance. Additionally, more efficient water management strategies in agricultural irrigation must be adopted to reduce pressure on the dam’s ecosystem.

In this context, preserving Akkaya Dam and ensuring its ecological sustainability will be a long-term gain for both the local community and nature.