Israel is Blessed with Winter Rain: Water Level Rising in Lake Kinneret

Photo Credit: Mila Aviv / Flash 90

The blessing of winter rain has brought with it the welcome relief of replenished waters into Israel’s top water supply.

The Water Authority reported Saturday that over the past two days there has been an increase of 16 centimeters in the water level of Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee).

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The water level is now standing at 211.77 meters, just 2.8 meters from the top red line and 1.4 meters from the lower red line.

Red Lines, Black Line

The upper red line is at 208.8 meters below sea level; the level at which the Degania Dam is opened if the water goes any higher.

When the level of the water is at the lower red line – at 213.0 meters below sea level – ecology experts say the water below this point begins a process of damage to the ecological balance in the lake, also causing a decline in the water quality as well. It is also forbidden to pump or use water from the Kinneret once the level of the lake has dropped to the lower red line and below.

And then there is the “black line” – the historical minimum level at 214.87 meters below sea level – a level which is literally below the pipes and which makes it impossible to take water from the lake, in terms of performance, according to the Water Authority.