ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Smaquli Dam, the largest dam in Koya district, has overflowed after reaching its maximum storage capacity following recent heavy rainfall—a development hailed as a major boost for the region’s agriculture and tourism sectors.

The dam, built in 2017 with a capacity of eight million cubic meters of water, is the fourth in the area to fill completely during the current rainy season. Its overflow is now feeding agricultural lands downstream, where thousands of acres of fruit and vegetable crops are cultivated.

According to data from the Kurdistan Region General Directorate of Meteorology and Seismology, Koya district received 29 millimeters of rain in the past 24 hours alone. Seasonal rainfall has now reached approximately 330 millimeters—a sharp increase from last year, when totals remained below 200 millimeters.

Local officials and residents say the improved weather, which has also included significant snowfall in higher elevations, has lifted spirits among farmers, shepherds, and others reliant on seasonal rainfall. Last year, both agriculture and tourism were hit hard by drought and depleted water reserves.

"After a difficult year, this is the turnaround we were hoping for," said a local farmer. "The dams are full, the land is getting water, and the future looks much brighter."

Thanks to its mountainous landscape, Koya district is home to several medium-sized dams and water ponds that support farming and attract visitors. Smaquli Dam is considered one of the area’s strategic projects, contributing to water security, revitalizing local tourism, and strengthening the regional economy.