An expert explained how the dam in Zinyaki should operate.

      May 13, 2026 18:52 Society Associate Professor of the Department of Waterways and Hydraulic Structures of VGUWT Alexey Gogolev commented on the situation with the dam on the Sanda River near the village of Zinyaki in the Gorodets district in a conversation with IA "Vremya N" and explained how such structures should function.

      Let us remind you that the structure is federally owned but is actually unmanaged and is assessed as defective and emergency. Thus, the metal segment gate in the dam's structure has been recognized as emergency, while a wooden sluice gate installed in front of it is used as the main one.

      At the bottom of the grooves, a metal shield was installed, which was manufactured and mounted in November by the tenant of the pond - LLC "Fish Land," and wooden beams are laid on top. This structure is used to hold water in the reservoir, while the segment gate usually rests on a concrete block placed underneath.

      Alexey Gogolev explained that in hydraulic structures of this type, the main working element is indeed the segment gate. The sluice gate is used as a repair or emergency gate and is lowered into the grooves during maintenance or repair of the main mechanism. According to him, the use of the sluice gate as the main element may indicate the inoperability of the segment gate, which potentially increases the risk of an accident.

      The expert reminded that hydraulic structures are classified as high-risk facilities. At the same time, the dam on the Sanda River is currently absent from the Russian Register of Hydraulic Structures.

      "It will appear in the Register when a Safety Declaration for the Hydraulic Structure is developed for it. Then the dam will be under supervision. The potential damage in monetary terms will be calculated in case of a hydrodynamic accident with coordination with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Nizhny Novgorod region, and a monitoring program for the technical condition of the Hydraulic Structure will be developed," Gogolev explained.

      Operating personnel must undergo certification with Rostekhnadzor, have the necessary documents, and regularly monitor the condition of the structure and the water level, especially during periods of increased risks.

      It was previously reported that the modernization of the Gorodets hydraulic complex in the Nizhny Novgorod region is 75% complete. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on the main events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+