Warming Waters and Falling Levels Threaten Sea of Galilee

Rising global temperatures and fluctuating water levels in the Sea of Galilee are posing significant threats to Israel's water supply and ecosystem, according to environmental experts. Tamar Sandberg, head of the National Climate Policy Research Institute at Ben-Gurion University, highlighted recent events such as the emptying of the Sea of Galilee's shores during the holiday season, the postponement of a swimming race due to a brain-eating amoeba outbreak, and the shutdown of desalination plants, which provide 70% of Israel's drinking water. She stressed that these are not isolated incidents but rather indicators of a new reality shaped by climate change, necessitating immediate preparation and policy adjustments.

Dr. Yaron Bari-Shlevin, director of the Kinneret Research Institute and Sea Sciences, warned that manipulating the Sea of Galilee's water level, both by lowering and then rapidly raising it, destabilizes the ecosystem. Currently, the lake is 30 centimeters below the red line, and further drops risk water quality and ecological stability. He explained that extreme fluctuations alter the shoreline's composition and can lead to the dominance of invasive species or toxic algae blooms, potentially rendering the water unusable for consumption for extended periods, as has happened in other lakes globally.

Dr. Avner Gross, head of the Climate Change Research Lab at Ben-Gurion University, noted a dramatic increase in the number of days the Sea of Galilee's temperature exceeds 30 degrees Celsius, jumping from a few days annually before the 1990s to 42 days in 2015 and 70 days in 2024. This warming trend, exacerbated by phenomena like El Niño, creates a fertile ground for bacteria, amoebas, and certain animals, while also promoting algae blooms, especially when combined with nutrient pollution. This ultimately leads to a significant decrease in marine species diversity and biomass.

Professor Oded Nir, a desalination and water treatment expert at Ben-Gurion University, believes such events will become more frequent due to climate change and emphasized the critical need to maintain natural water reservoirs at full capacity. Scientists are actively researching solutions, with successful experiments already conducted on purifying Mediterranean waters from cyanobacteria, offering a glimmer of hope in addressing the escalating challenges.