Many reservoirs are exhausted, production is difficult
From the end of 2024 to the present, rainfall in Bac Kan province has been lacking about 71% compared to the average for many years. The total amount of surface water flow on rivers and streams also plummeted, especially in March, the shortage was up to 23%. Prolonged drought causes the amount of water to the reservoirs is not sufficient, leading to many lakes down or below the dead water level.
Nam Cut Lake (Bac Kan City) - The project has a capacity of more than 12 million cubic meters, the largest in the province has now dropped below the dead water level. In addition to irrigation function, the lake also plays a regulatory role for Cau River. The deep decrease in the water level caused the regulating flow to the downstream to be limited, affecting the production and daily life of the downstream people.
Meanwhile, the Cau River section flowing through Bac Kan city is still barren even though it has entered the end of the dry season. Many places have exposed alluvial plains, sand dunes, narrowed riverbeds and signs of erosion. This has significantly affected production and people's lives.
In Cho Moi district, Khuoi Quang lake provides water for more than 22 hectares of agricultural land, but currently only enough to serve about 8 hectares. Similar situation occurs in many other lakes such as Keo Coi Lake, Thom Moong Lake, Khuoi U Lake (Na Ri District). In particular, Khuoi Khe Lake is one of the largest reservoirs in the province, reaching only about 50% of the designed capacity.
Mr. Nong Quang Linh - in charge of the Na Ri District Irrigation Management Station - said: "Khuoi Khe Lake currently provides water for nearly 79 hectares of rice. The water level has continuously decreased over the past few months. If there is no rain in the coming time, agricultural production in the downstream area will be greatly affected."
According to the Bac Kan Province Irrigation Works Management and Exploitation Company Limited, the unit is managing 30 reservoirs, of which 5 have dropped below the dead water level, the remaining reservoirs only reached 40 - 60% of the capacity.
Ms. Dao Thi Nguyet - Deputy Director of the company - said: "If there is no rain, many lakes will continue to dry up. We have advised people to save water, and at the same time requested the investor to direct the contractor to both construct and ensure water for production and daily life".
People struggle to find water
The lack of water seriously affects agricultural activities in many localities. In My Phuong commune (Ba Be district), for many months, the fields along the hillside have cracked, the rice plants have been stunted and withered. Mr. Hoang Van Nguyet's family has more than 4,000m2 of rice fields but cannot sow because there is no water. He said that there has never been a year when streams and canals were as dry as this year. "If the drought continues, this crop will definitely lose everything," said Mr. Nguyet.
In Na Ri district, by the end of April 2025, many areas had not been cleared, many streams had dried up. Na Tuong fields (Xuan Duong commune) have a clear phancation situation: The fields near the stream still retain their green color, the rest are mainly wild grass and dry soil.
According to Mr. Hoang Van Cuc - Head of Na Tuong village, there are dozens of hectares of rice fields in the village that depend entirely on rainwater, but since the beginning of the year, there has been almost no rainfall. "If the weather does not improve soon, not only production but also people's income and daily life will be greatly affected," said Mr. Cuc.
According to statistics from the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Bac Kan province, the whole province has about 1,693 hectares of agricultural land at risk of drought in this spring crop. In particular, the districts that were heavily affected included Na Ri (over 400ha), Cho Moi (over 390ha), Ba Be (over 270ha) and Cho Don (over 210ha).
