The Katun river

The Katun’ is one of the most naturally and culturally valuable features not just in Altai, but in all of Western Siberia.  Long an object of worship for Altai tribesmen, the river has been praised in the peoples’ traditional songs and legends.  The word “Katun’,” in Turkic languages, means “woman,” “mother,” “lady”; and so it is considered a sin to throw a rock into the river. 

Like the Altai people, the Old-Believing Russian settlers, seeking to find the country of happiness and justice – the Whitewaters (or Shambala), also shaped many of their stories and traditions around the Katun’,  making the proud river and its beauty the subject of many a folk legend. [http://www.altai-republic.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=31&page=1]

The Katun’ River also functions as an important natural and agro-economic resource of Western Siberia.  Beginning at the glaciers of the grand Mount Belukha, it then merges with the Bia, forming the Ob’ – one of the major aquatic arteries of Siberia.  The history of mastering the hydro-resources of Altai and the construction of the hydroelectric station on The Katun’ is one of record length .

For decades, the nation’s scientific, artistic, and ecological communities have tried to protect this strikingly beautiful river, so naturally and culturally priceless, from technological destruction.  The efforts of the Katun’ Opposition achieved significant results in the collection of letters from experts in the government and community, attesting to the economic insolvency and ecological danger of the project.

All these years, from the 1930’s to the present, the project’s proponents point to the need to solve the region’s energy problem as the chief argument in favor of the hydroelectric station’s construction.  And it is true that Southwest Siberia has a net energy deficit.  But will building a giant hydroelectric system solve this long-existing problem?  Obviously not—it will most likely only cause new ones.  In all of the PR statements and publicity articles, the project’s supporters are consciously silent about the following:

1. The high cost of the electric power produced by the Katun’ hydroelectric station, as a result of:

— the presence of private investors—some of them foreign—who, of course, expect quick cost recovery from the dam;

— the necessity of restoring subsurface channels, electric power and communication lines, and  also any objects disturbed by the construction – which leads (in true compliance with the interests of the population!) to very serious sums of money.

2. The extreme state of wear of the electric network. Without its reconstruction, transmission of the energy produced by the station will not be possible.  And the cost of reconstructing electric transmission lines is very high, not to mention the additional construction costs.

3. The disastrous effect of construction on the tourism-recreational industry in Altai. The unique natural characteristics of Altai strongly indicate that this should be a major economic direction for the region.  Well-organized recreational industry (with consideration for recreational capacity) is bringing huge returns worldwide.

4. Loss of valuable land.  Recreational and agricultural lands, private holdings of residents of the region, and land in the State forest fund are already ceasing to be property of Altai Republic, and going into the hands of private investors or major industrial energy monopolies. 

Consequences of construction. A hydroelectric station on Katun’ River will put grave burdens on the shoulders of certain parties in the Russian Federation.  Out of the government experts’ findings from different years, some of the possible consequences studied include the following:

1. Accumulation in the proposed reservoir of heavy metals, in particularmercury. This presents special dangers for the those living downstream of the proposed dam – residents of Altai Republic, Altai Krai, and Novosibirsk Oblast’ – since the Ob’ River (of which the Katun’ is a source) makes up a large part of the water supply for the residents of cities Barnaul and Novosibirsk.

2. Change in seismic activity. The constant, sharp drops in water level in a reservoir are uncharacteristic of the geological structure of such mountainous regions as this one, and as worldwide evidence has shown, alter the seismic activity of the region, sometimes provoking seismic activity: often increasing the frequency and, at times, the strength of subterranean tremors.  It must be considered that the Altai hydroelectric station is planned in a region in which there recently occurred an earthquake of magnitude greater than 7, corresponding to an intensity of 9-10 points on the MSK-64 scale: destructive (9 points) or devastating (10 points). 

3. The appearance of a major reservoir in Chemal will inevitably lead to a change in climatic conditions in the region: alteration of wind speeds and directions, and an increase in humidity and cloud cover.  This will in turn lead to the inevitable loss of health resorts of national significance due to the loss of the unique climate of the Chemal region of the Altai Republic, an irreplaceable part of the cure of tuberculosis. 

4. Alteration of the hydrological system of rivers and lakes in the Katun’ and Ob’ basins will cause harm to the land and bioproductive resources in the floodplain of these rivers, leading to irreversible changes.  The agricultural and fishing industries of Altai Republic and Altai Krai will suffer.  The creation of the flood zone will involve the removal of forest and the destruction of habitats for rare animals and medicinal plants. 

5. The construction of a hydroelectric station on the Katun’ River will deliver a specific blow to tourism, one of the most promising (especially with the calculation and legislative assignment of recreational capacity) economic sectors of Southwestern Siberia.  It can definitely be said that the most popular portions of the river for whitewater rafting, in the middle section of the Katun’, will be completely closed; the hiking and horseback riding routes will be shortened; not to mention the general loss of natural beauty and the ecological attractions of the region for domestic as well as international tourists.  Recreational attractiveness will be forfeited not only in Altai Republic, but also in the Altai and Biisk regions of Altai Krai, which are home to the greatest concentration of prosperous tourist and camping bases, and are even planning to develop a special tourist zone.  Altai’s unique recreational potential could be lost indelibly. 

6. Loss of valuable archaeological and cultural-historical monuments of ancient eras would result from the flooding and damage during the construction and use of the hydroelectric system.

The Katun’ Valley is the cradle of the civilizations of tens of Scythian and Turkic peoples of different countries.  Numerous migratory paths were tred here, and a multitude of historical traces can be found from human settlements from the Neolithic to the Iron Age.  Katun’ Valley has global historical meaning, but it is still under-valued and under-researched.  Several unique complexes of petroglyphs (considered ancient sanctuaries), such as Kuyus Hole, would fall into the proposed flood zone of the dam, and be lost to humanity forever. 

One of the serious but little-studied consequences of the dam is possible water leakage from the reservoir.

And finally, we note that there is now a global trend reversing large hydroelectric development—construction is being frozen and large dams are even being dismantled. In 2000, the World Bank conducted special research regarding the efficiency and consequences of constructing large dams.  The conclusions of the World Commission’s dam study were clear—large hydroelectric dams are economically inefficient and ecologically dangerous. 

Despite experiences from around the world and experts’ findings, the supporters of the Katun’ River dam construction have attempted several times to resurrect the project under different names (such as Altai Hydroelectric Station).  Not one of the proposed versions of the project will solve the serious concerns raised by the specialists and experts.  Yet not a word is spoken about the completely obvious alternative solutions to the energy problem. 

The Fund for 21^st Century Altai and its collaborators have worked to promote awareness of the need to preserve the natural, cultural and historical meaningfulness, and recreational value of the Katun’ River basin, in the painstaking process of many years of work in its defense.  Over the decades, the efforts have taken many directions: from publications, organization of a social protest campaign, and close cooperation with specialists and experts, to judicial oversight of the situation and promotion of alternative development strategies for the region.  The ecological awareness television channel, “Katun’,” was created for just these purposes.  Thanks to the united fight of our companions and all those who are not indifferent to the future of Altai, the ruinous construction of a giant hydroelectric station on Katun’ River so far remains unrealized.