Risk Management

Kazakhstan

27 November 2025

In Almaty Region, the project “Reducing vulnerabilities of populations in Central Asia region from glacier lake outburst floods in a changing climate” (GLOFCA), implemented by UNESCO with support from the Adaptation Fund, has completed reconstruction works in the Talgar River basin, one of the project’s pilot sites.

The Talgar River originates from the Ile Alatau glaciers and flows through several settlements, including the city of Talgar. The Talgar dam, built in the mid-2000s and operational since 2005, was affected by debris-flow events in 2023–2024. An assessment by Kazselezaсhita found that the plunge pool had filled with sediment and several structural elements were damaged, increasing the risk of uncontrolled floodwater passage and highlighting the need for timely rehabilitation.

“The dam has been operating for 20 years. Each year, conditions arise that lead to mudflows and flood surges, which wear down and partially damage the structure. During the hazardous period, the left slope was affected, posing a risk to nearby residential areas. Under the GLOFCA project, reinforcement work was carried out to stabilize the banks,” said Erik Barangaziyev, Director of Krystroy LLP, the company that implemented the reconstruction works.

The works included clearing and relocating more than 3,000 m³ of stones and boulders, strengthening slopes with a one-metre-thick stone layer and restoring concrete elements. These measures restored the dam’s discharge capacity, improved its resilience to future flood events and prevented further degradation.

In addition to engineering interventions, four warning signs and one information board with a debris-flow hazard map have been installed in the Talgar basin to enhance awareness among residents and visitors about natural hazards and recommended safety measures.