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How do dams and irrigation projects along the Jordan River affect the Dead Sea?

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White salt deposits cover rocks along the shore of the Dead Sea near Masada, Israel, with green water and dramatic cloudy sky in the background. — Dead Sea Salt deposits at the Dead Sea near Masada, Israel.

Dams and irrigation projects along the Jordan River have significantly reduced the volume of water reaching the Dead Sea, serving as the primary cause for the lake's dramatic decline in water level since the 1960s.123

Beginning in the 1960s, Israel and Jordan began diverting large portions of the river's flow to support agricultural and commercial needs, such as the King Abdullah Canal and various water-supply grids. These activities, combined with the commercial use of the lake's own water for mineral extraction, have caused the Dead Sea's surface level to drop by more than 100 feet (30 meters) since the mid-20th century. Currently, the lake level continues to fall by approximately 4 feet (1.2 meters) annually, which has also resulted in increased salinity levels.1345

Efforts to address this environmental crisis have included discussions on water conservation and proposals for canals to transport water from the Red Sea, though such projects have faced significant environmental scrutiny. In 2022, Israel and Jordan reached a declaration of intent to cooperate on increasing freshwater discharge into the lake.15