ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGE TO AGRICULTURE FROM INCREASED LEVEL OF LAKE BAIKAL

As a result of the construction of the Irkutsk hydroelectric complex, the characteristics of Lake Baikal changed, namely, the average level and intra-annual amplitude of fluctuations relative to the long-term average values observed in natural conditions. The authors of the article consider the impact of changes in the water level in Lake Baikal on agriculture and provide a quantitative economic assessment of the consequences of this impact. The object of the study is the agricultural land of the Kabansky district of the Republic of Buryatia. Based on the study of archival materials, a significant impact of changes in the level regime on agriculture during the planned period of economic development is revealed. Assessment of economic damage to agriculture of the Kabansky district of the Republic of Buryatia during various periods of increased water content of the lake Baikal in regulated conditions (1971, 1973, 1991, 1993) shows that during the period of the planned economy, when large agricultural enterprises dominated agricultural production, the damage was significant (especially in 1973 and 1993), which is explained by the high involvement in turnover of agricultural land. The state also provided significant assistance to collective farms that suffered from flooding due to rising water levels in Lake Baikal. During the period of increased water content of Lake Baikal 2019—2021 the greatest damage was caused to agriculture as a result of the high retaining water level in Lake Baikal and the flooding of the Selenga and Bolshaya Rechka rivers, which led to the negative impact of water on large areas of agricultural land, 2 orders of magnitude larger than other flooded/submerged areas. An assessment of damage under different level regimes based on GIS modeling data for flooded/submerged areas showed that the critical factor for the amount of damage is exceeding the lake level mark of 457.2 m of the Pacific Height System.

agriculture, flooding, land degradation and disposal, loss of production, additional costs, water level, Lake Baikal, retrospective analysis, damage assessment

Ayusheeva S. N., Bardakhanova T. B., Vanchikova E. N., Itygilova E. Yu., Tulokhonov A. K. Economic assessment of damage to agriculture from increased level of Lake Baikal. Biznes. Obrazovanie. Pravo = Business. Education. Law. 2024;2(67):21—28. DOI: 10.25683/VOLBI.2024.67.942.