Bawa-Shaswar and Awa-Spi Dams Overflow Following Rainfall in Kifri

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Bawa-Shaswar Dam in Kifri and Awa-Spi Dam, situated between Kifri and Sangaw, have begun overflowing following the first wave of rainfall, with local water officials reporting improved reservoir levels compared with last year.

Jabar Mahmoud, Director of Dams in Garmian, told Kurdistan24 that Bawa-Shaswar Dam had entered the rainy season with a stronger water reserve than it held at the same stage last year.

The overflowing water has been welcomed by farmers and residents in the area, according to the directorate.

Mahmoud said authorities released only a limited amount of water through Bawa-Shaswar's main outlet during the summer.

That allowed much of the stored water to remain in the reservoir rather than being discharged before the arrival of autumn rain.

As a result, the first rainfall north of Kifri was enough to raise the water above the dam's overflow level.

Awa-Spi Dam, which lies between Kifri and Sangaw, has also filled completely and begun overflowing, the official said.

The development follows a wetter winter across the Kurdistan Region, which helped replenish water reserves after periods of lower rainfall.

At Bawa-Shaswar, heavy precipitation last winter coincided with mud and silt obstructing the dam's gates, causing a substantial volume of water to remain stored.

The retained water contributed to the reservoir's higher level this year. 

Rainfall figures from the previous winter illustrate the scale of the seasonal change.

Sulaimani recorded 760.4 millimeters, compared with 307.6 millimeters in the preceding year. 

Halabja received 744 millimeters, up from 353.3 millimeters, while Duhok registered 592.5 millimeters against 103.5 millimeters previously.

Erbil also saw a marked increase, with 477.9 millimeters recorded compared with 96.3 millimeters the year before.

The figures refer to the reported rainfall period spanning late 2025 and early 2026, rather than totals from the current November weather system.

The latest dam developments come as the Kurdistan Region's General Directorate of Meteorology and Seismology forecasts another round of widespread precipitation.

In its Friday, Nov. 6, forecast, the directorate said rain would extend from parts of Duhok and Zakho in the morning to most of the Region during the afternoon.

It also warned that showers could be accompanied by thunderstorms overnight, particularly in Garmian, Sulaimani and Halabja.

Cloudy and rainy weather is expected to continue Saturday, with rises in water levels forecast in Sulaimani and areas around Erbil.

The forecast does not establish how much additional water will enter the two Kifri reservoirs or whether further rainfall will affect conditions around their outlets.

For Kifri's farmers and residents, the overflowing dams are an encouraging sign of improved surface-water availability.

The immediate impact on irrigation supplies, however, will depend on how the stored water is managed and on rainfall during the rest of the season.

Kurdistan24's correspondent Harem Jaf contributed to this report.