Shulbi Dam

Shulbi reservoir — located in the territories of Ulan and Shemonaiha districts of East Kazakhstan region and Zhanasemei and Borodulika districts of Abai region. It was built in 1989 to regulate the seasonal regime of the floodplain areas between the Bukhturma and Shulbi hydroelectric power stations on the Irtysh River. It is the last, third reservoir in the cascade of upper Irtysh reservoirs. In the Shulbi reservoir the waters of the Ulbi and Ubi rivers are collected, to which water from the Bukhturma reservoir is added, and it is used in spring to irrigate the Irtysh floodplain. In 1989 the first phase was put into operation.

Hydrological regime and characteristics

The reservoir is 72 km long, its water area is 255 km², volume is 2 390 million m³, useful volume is 1 470 million m³, average depth is 9 m, the deepest point is at the riverbed of the Irtysh River – 30 m. The reservoir bed lies in a wide 3.5‑km valley of the Irtysh. In addition, on the same side it has flooded the floodplains of the Kyzylsu and Ubi rivers that flow into the Irtysh and several small tributary streams. The total area of pastures, meadows, forests and groves that were originally 22.8 thousand ha has been flooded. The water regime is fully regulated, maintained at a level of 240 m throughout the year, but in April–May, when water is released into the Irtysh floodplain, it drops by 8 m within 13–20 days. The second phase of the project is intended for multi‑annual regulation of the inter‑reservoir waters up to the Bukhturma reservoir and enables comprehensive use of the reservoir.

In the flooded area of the reservoir the Karashat fort complex was found.