"Ensuring its future as a living river": The operation to save the Yarkon estuary
A sandbar that has accumulated at the mouth of the Yarkon River is blocking the flow of water to the sea, damaging water exchange, the ecosystem, and navigation. A new research project will examine the impact of the blockage and oversee its reopening.
A sandbar that has formed at the mouth of the Yarkon River in Tel Aviv is blocking the flow of water between the river and the sea, affecting water quality, the ecosystem, and boating activity in the area.
A new research and monitoring project is intended to provide the Yarkon River Authority and the Tel Aviv Municipality with the scientific tools necessary for opening the blockage and managing the estuary over time.
The Yarkon River Authority explained that the westernmost part of the Yarkon, stretching from the Seven Mills to the sea, has undergone significant changes in recent years. This section, known as an estuary, is the meeting point between fresh river water and salty sea water, creating a unique habitat for fish, birds, and plants, as well as serving as a major boating area.
Sand accumulates — and the estuary becomes a closed lake
In the past, when the Yarkon's flow was stronger, the river's waters pushed the sand arriving from the sea far from the mouth. Later, the cooling waters of the Reading power station filled this role, flowing with force and helping to remove the sand. With the cessation of the station's activity, conditions changed, and sand began to accumulate, creating a sandbar that shifts according to waves and tidal fluctuations.
The Yarkon River Authority warned that the sandbar has a significant impact on the river, as it blocks the outlet and makes it difficult for water to drain into the sea, effectively turning the section into a closed lake. This affects water exchange, damages the sensitive ecosystem, and prevents boaters from leaving the river to the sea.
Research, monitoring, and reopening the barrier
To address these changes, a joint project was launched by the Yarkon River Authority, the Tel Aviv Municipality, the Center for Estuarine Research, the Faculty of Marine Sciences at Ruppin, the Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, and the Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
The project aims to formulate a scientific database to manage the estuary and work towards its ecological restoration. A plan for comprehensive hydro-ecological monitoring has been formulated, involving frequent sampling, continuous monitoring systems, and public participation in "citizen science" activities.
Parallel to the research, the sandbar will be opened as part of an engineering operation to renew the passage of water. Data collected before and after the operation will help assess the impact and predict extreme situations requiring further intervention.
"The goal is to maintain water exchange, protect the unique habitat, and allow for the continuation of boating activity in the area, as part of the efforts to ensure the future of the Yarkon as a living river," the project initiators noted.
