Marcal and Lake Merseváti are coming back to life
We can report a gratifying result! The beneficial effects of the water retention investments implemented by the Western Transdanubian Water Management Directorate (NYUDUVIZIG) a few weeks ago are already visible on the Marcal River and at the previously completely dried-up Merseváti peat mine.
The Merseváti Peat Mining Association owns its own fishing water, the water balance of which is closely related to the water level of the nearby Marcal River. The increasingly severe drought periods of recent years have significantly affected both water areas, and this summer the lake completely dried up, which unfortunately also resulted in the death of the fish population.
Our association initiated negotiations under the leadership of NYUDUVIZIG in late autumn 2025. The leaders of the Water Directorate said that the investigation of interventions aimed at improving the condition of the Marcal was underway, and the idea of implementing bottom weirs also arose during the negotiations. The leaders of the Water Directorate promised at that time that they would examine possible technical solutions and look for the possibility of intervention. To our great joy, the promise was followed by concrete measures.
This year, NYUDUVIZIG's specialists prepared the necessary plans, obtained water rights permits, conducted official and nature conservation consultations, and then implemented investments to help retain water in the Marcal from state budget funds.
In the Szergény and Mersevát areas, natural stone weirs have been built to support the river's water level, keep the water in place, and improve the groundwater management of the surrounding areas. The technical handover of the second phase of the developments will take place next week.
Despite the relatively low rainfall of the recent period, a significant improvement can be observed in the state of the Marcal River, and the water level in the previously completely dried-up Merseváti peat bog has also started to rise again. This is particularly encouraging and shows how important the role of water retention can be. Of course, further observations are needed to assess the long-term results, but the current changes give real hope that the water balance of the Marcal and Lake Merseváti can improve permanently.
Our association's goal is to be able to start restocking the lake as early as the spring of 2027, if conditions allow, after the lake's water supply has stabilized, and for anglers to once again take possession of this special water area.
We consider it particularly important to emphasize that our Association has been striving for many years to maintain a good, partnership relationship with water management organizations. We are convinced that the problems caused by water shortages and climate change can only be solved through joint thinking, professional cooperation and concrete measures.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the leaders of NYUDUVIZIG and all the contributing experts for taking our signal seriously, looking for possible solutions, and carrying out the investments from planning to permitting to implementation.
We hope that this successful cooperation can be the basis for further similar water retention developments in Vas County.
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