Ministry of Agriculture Announces Action Plan for Sapanca Basin

November 2, 2026 · Tarım ve Orman Bakanlığı

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has announced a comprehensive action plan, envisioning an investment of 25.5 billion Turkish Lira over 5 years, aimed at protecting Sapanca Lake, which is under pressure from the climate crisis and excessive water consumption.

25.5 Billion Lira Action Plan for Sapanca

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry presented the action plan prepared for the protection of Sapanca Lake and the sustainable management of its water resources to the public in Sakarya. Speaking at the introductory meeting held at the Adapazarı Culture Center, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı announced that the prepared plan includes 6 main actions and 12 measures.

Sharing the investment planning of the Ministry, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı made the following statements on the matter:

"We have made investment plans for these measures, and an investment of approximately 25.5 billion Turkish Lira within 5 years will be made solely to implement the provisions within this action."

Indicators of Increasing Water Stress in Turkey

At the meeting, Minister Yumaklı, who comprehensively evaluated global and national water data, stated that only 2.5% of the world's water is freshwater, and only 1% of this can be directly used. Pointing out that 2.2 billion people worldwide face problems accessing clean water, according to Ministry data, the amount of usable water per capita in Turkey has decreased from 1313 cubic meters to 1297 cubic meters, increasing the pressure of water stress.

Drawing attention to the effects of changing climate conditions on the water cycle, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı noted the following in his assessment:

"There are many effects brought about by changing climate conditions. We are experiencing all of them closely; we have begun to experience so much from irregularities in rainfall patterns, droughts, floods, and inundations in our lives that water is at the center of all of them. Our main issue is no longer whether water will decrease, but where, how much, and with what cleanliness and purity we can find water; that has become the real issue. We do not see water as a resource to be managed. Water is a strategic axis that directs all sectors for us. It is a strategic axis that will affect everything from domestic use to industry, manufacturing, and agricultural use, in short, our lives."

Reminding of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's approach to water security, Yumaklı shared Erdoğan's words:

"Access to clean water sources is a matter of survival."

Minister Yumaklı stated that the 10-year National Water Plan is currently in effect and that tiered blue, green, and turquoise documents have been created for the relevant institutions.

Pressurized Irrigation Support in Agricultural Production

Emphasizing the decisive position of the agricultural sector in water efficiency efforts, Minister Yumaklı announced that the largest portion of national water resources consumed goes to fields and agricultural production.

Pointing to the key role of agricultural production planning in water saving, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı spoke about producer support as follows:

"We use 77% of water in agricultural production. Therefore, we had to seek ways to use it efficiently, and the most important aspect for this was production planning. I want to express my pride as a child of this nation that our agricultural chambers, and all our farmers and producers, have embraced production planning so much."

Yumaklı also noted that the 70% grant support provided to accelerate the transition of producers to modern pressurized irrigation systems and state incentives continue uninterruptedly.

Flood Risk Analysis Studies in Streams

It was reported that flood management plans in 25 river basins across Turkey have been completed and put into practice under the coordination of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Emphasizing that the region is highly susceptible to flood hazards due to its climatic and morphological structure, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı conveyed the measures being taken with the following words:

"This region is very open in terms of floods and has an extremely high risk. Therefore, we conducted risk analyses on all streams feeding Sapanca Lake and identified what needs to be done. We have also started implementing them, but one cannot build and destroy at the same time. Therefore, we must all succeed together in using these blessings bestowed upon us by God in balance between protection and use."

Yumaklı also provided information that 485 construction machinery and 772 personnel affiliated with the Ministry were immediately deployed to flood and inundation events that occurred in 15 provinces since the beginning of October.

Protection of Lake Ecosystem and Climate Projections

Yumaklı stated that lakes such as Eğirdir, Beyşehir, Akşehir, Eber, Bafa, Burdur, İznik, Seyfe, and Sapanca are on the agenda of the National Water Council, and that the condition of Sapanca Lake remains serious.

Pointing to the socio-economic importance of the basin, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı issued the following critical warning about the region's future:

"Sapanca Lake is extremely important for both drinking and utility water, and it also has protected area status. We must speak openly and clearly. If Sapanca Lake deteriorates further from its current state, Kocaeli and Sakarya will go thirsty. The industrial zone will no longer be able to perform its duty and will not be able to provide the necessary contribution to the Turkish economy."

Sharing the climate projections for the region and the technical details of the prepared action plan, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı explained the targeted water gain with the following words:

"In the coming period, the temperature increase in this region, in the basin, is projected to be 4 degrees Celsius. This is a terrible thing. Total annual precipitation is projected to decrease by 5%; these are not good forecasts. That is, these data are of great importance for us to understand the value of what we have. When the effects of climate change combine with usage, a water reduction of approximately 72 million cubic meters occurred in Sapanca Lake in 2025. 22% of this amount resulted from evaporation. The action plan, based on the lake's climatic data, ecological, hydrological characteristics, and water usage, was prepared for this very reason. What is in this plan? Lake management in the context of water, food, and ecosystem connectivity, ensuring water security and efficiency, and establishing a data-driven, AI-supported decision-making mechanism. There are 6 main actions and 12 measures based on these strategies. We have made investment plans for these measures, and an investment of approximately 25.5 billion Turkish Lira within 5 years will be made solely to implement the provisions within this action. We plan to add approximately 114 million cubic meters of water annually to our basin. Therefore, our water security plan continues in the same way."

New Dams to Bring Water to the Basin

The Ministry's statement also detailed the infrastructure and storage investments put into place to alleviate the extraction pressure on Sapanca Lake. It was stated that the treatment plant and transmission line of the İhsaniye Dam in Kocaeli have been completed, and drinking water has started to be supplied to the city, thus reducing direct water withdrawal from Sapanca Lake. Yumaklı announced that the Ballıkaya Dam, under construction within Sakarya's borders, is planned to start holding water in 2027, and the Avcıdere Dam Irrigation and Drinking Water Project will also be included in the official investment program. Yumaklı reported that by targeting a reduction in leakage from urban drinking water transmission lines to 25%, an additional 16 million cubic meters of water savings would be achieved annually solely through this revision.

AI-Supported Water Management

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry announced that digital monitoring tools will be actively used in the protection of Sapanca Lake and the prevention of water losses, stating that the water volume and quality in the basin will be monitored by artificial intelligence algorithms. It was stated that evaporation losses from the lake will be instantly transmitted to the Smart Water Management System through meteorological and observation stations to be established and monitored by the established Science Board.

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı, emphasizing the importance of accelerating the implementation process, concluded his speech with the following remarks:

"Here, we are evaluating the ecosystem, the future, and production power; we are not just evaluating the lake. We are protecting fertility, culture, history, and the ecosystem. The era of talking is over. The era of implementation has begun. Therefore, we have talked and planned enough. Let's implement from now on. These beauties were formed over millions of years; let's not sacrifice them in a few years. We have the knowledge, experience, and desire for this. Let's accelerate what has slowed down a bit, and let's pass Sapanca Lake on to future generations together, in a way that they will pray for us."

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