The recent rainfall in Israel has increased the level of the Sea of ​​Galilee - but what does it mean? • And what is the connection to the climate crisis? • Expert explanation

The rains that have been falling over the past two weeks are clearly "secondary game" for the overall rainfall balance for the winter season, and especially for Lake Kinneret, which has been revived with the dramatic rise in the level.

Intense flow in north and south streams // Photo: Nature and Parks Authority

The amount of rainfall that has fallen across the country raises an amazing snapshot: The amount of rainfall in the north has broken a record of 51 years. This is an average of more than 400 mm that fell in the various northern regions, from the northern coastal plain to the Galilee and the Golan Heights. The level of the freshwater lake rose by 1.04 meters and at this stage another 2.06 meters are missing to complete the Sea of ​​Galilee.

For the Sea of ​​Galilee, which until recently was on the verge of touching the "black line" - below which water is already difficult to pump - this is a real lifeline. And what will happen if the Sea of ​​Galilee continues to fill up substantially until the end of the winter system?

"The winter of the year began late, after October, November and the first half of December were heavy, but the many rains that hit us in the second half of December and especially January, have so far brought about 600-500 mm, resulting in a sharp increase in river flows, The Golan Heights and the Galilee Rivers, "says Eyal Zigel, director of surface water in the hydrological service of the water authority. "These resulted in an increase of 1.04 meters from the minimum point of the Sea of ​​Galilee, which reached 210.86, and only 2.06 meters remain for full Sea of ​​Galilee."

Kinneret // Photo: Eyal Margolin - Ginny

Zigel adds that "If there are additional rainfall systems during January and March, as there were in January and December, there will be a real chance of filling the Sea of ​​Galilee and possibly opening the dam and releasing water to prevent flooding of the area's localities. To get a chance to open the dam. "

This morning (Sunday) the Sea of ​​Galilee was at 210.86. This has been an increase of ten centimeters since yesterday, when during the Sabbath the floodwater in the south began (light surfing), due to the many flows that were in the south towards the weekend and absorbed it. The last time this reservoir surfaced due to the plurality of water in the area occurred six years ago, in December 2013.

"The Sea of ​​Galilee still provides diverse roles and a very vital improvement," says Dr. Israel Gideon Gal, Director of the Sea of ​​Galilee Research Laboratory at the Institute of Water and Lakes Research. "It still provides water and drinking and agriculture, although substantially lower than in the past, but still The only source of drinking water for all of the Kinneret communities, some of the Golan Heights and the Jordan Kingdom. "

He said that the Sea of ​​Galilee is no less than the strategic anchor of the State of Israel when it comes to drinking water. "The big difference between the desalination plants and the Sea of ​​Galilee is that in the event of a malfunction of the facility - the time gap can take months, while the Sea of ​​Galilee is the operation of a single switch - and the water is flowing. Besides, of course, it serves as a resort, culture, leisure and tourism."

With regard to the continued rise of the level during the winter system, Dr. Gal argues: "It is not impossible that it will continue to rise significantly by the end of winter. About a month ago they did not expect the level rise to the maximum level, which would require opening of dams, so in that sense it is already quite encouraging. "

On the other hand, there are some who doubt the current rise of the Sea of ​​Galilee.

"The level of the Sea of ​​Galilee is a measure of concern only in a state of affairs where it provides 60 percent of the country's drinking water. Once the water supply problem is resolved, the level is a completely different and irrelevant measure in this regard," emphasizes Prof. Moshe Gofan, one of the world's most important Sea of ​​Galilee researchers in the conversation. With "Israel today".

Three weeks ago, Font published his book "Another Sea of ​​Galilee," in which he proposes, among other things, to redefine the role of the Sea of ​​Galilee with reference to the balance of the ecosystem. "If anyone wants to worry about the Kinneret's ecological situation, I propose to open and slowly open the dam and release water with pollutants, even at the 'price' of a rapid rise or a slowdown," says Prof. Gopin.

Kinneret // Photo: Eyal Margolin - Ginny

With all due respect to the rise, it is a reflection of one of many of the consequences of the climate crisis - and deserves widespread consideration.

"After five years of drought where we watched the Sea of ​​Galilee decline, the Sea of ​​Galilee was blessed with a rainfall that filled it one weekend at half a meter, about 30 percent of its annual rainfall," says Bernadette Baur, a health and environmental scientist in nature and environment. "It's an extraordinary amount, but these 'rainfalls' are actually an extreme rain event, part of extreme natural events, that will be a growing part of our lives with the climate crisis in the coming decades. Although the water sector has received a welcome dose of water, a good deal of water, Especially in urban areas, brought floods and floods, which ended up flowing into the sea and benefiting the aquifers slightly. "

Baur emphasizes that the rainwater that has managed to seep into the groundwater "has been joined by polluted reservoirs abandoned by the state as part of the desalination policy that supposedly eliminates the need to rehabilitate hundreds of polluted wells from industry, agriculture or fuel. National runoff water management policies are a critical part of state preparedness. This will allow the stay of runoff and seepage into the groundwater without causing flooding, damage to property and human life. This policy must join a national program to rehabilitate contaminated wells that together will enable climate water resilience in an unpredictable age of climate crisis. "

The Society for the Protection of Nature: "Alongside the natural and understandable joy of raising the level, action must be taken to sever farmers' dependence on the Sea of ​​Galilee, rainfall and rainfall by connecting them to the national water system. Only so they will enjoy water stability over time, along with the rehabilitation of the northern streams. Ours - most notably the Dan, the extravagant Banias and the Jordan - who have been affected in recent drought years. "