Scientific Advisory Board Established to Strengthen Protection of Sapanca Lake
- Sakarya Economy News
- 11 hours ago
- 2 min read
A new scientific advisory board has been established to strengthen the protection and sustainable management of Sapanca Lake, one of northwestern Türkiye's most important freshwater resources.
Within this framework, Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Yusuf Alemdar and Sakarya University Rector Prof. Dr. Hamza Al signed a cooperation protocol titled "Scientific and Technical Cooperation for the Sustainable Management of the Sapanca Lake Basin and Sakarya's Water Resources."
The signing ceremony, held at the Disaster Coordination Center (AKOM), was attended by SASKİ General Manager Seyit Sakallıoğlu, senior executives of the Sakarya Water and Sewerage Administration (SASKİ), and academics serving on the newly established scientific board.
Under the new model, the future management of Sapanca Lake will be guided by a panel of academic experts. A continuous scientific cooperation mechanism will be established between SASKİ and the Water Management and Technologies Research and Application Center (SUTAM) at Sakarya University.
Through this collaboration, the lake's water quality, ecological structure, and environmental changes across the entire basin will be continuously monitored with scientific support, marking an important step toward preserving this vital natural resource for future generations.
Water Resources to Be Monitored Through Scientific Methods
Under the protocol, all surface and groundwater resources across Sakarya Province will be scientifically monitored, researched, and managed under a sustainable water management approach.
The partnership will also analyze the impacts of climate change on regional water resources while conducting joint scientific research and laboratory studies.
Commenting on the initiative, Mayor Yusuf Alemdar said the cooperation with the university would further strengthen the city's commitment to sustainability, environmental protection, and science-based governance.
"We must protect our water resources through long-term scientific policies rather than short-term solutions," Alemdar said. "With this strong partnership with Sakarya University, we will continue implementing determined efforts to safeguard Sapanca Lake and all of Sakarya's water resources for future generations."
Prof. Dr. Hamza Al, Rector of Sakarya University, emphasized that close cooperation with local governments enhances the impact of scientific research.
