The main cause of desertification occurs as a result of the combination of intense anthropogenic pressure and the progressive development of irrigated lands in the south of Kazakhstan. As a result, there is a decrease in the bioproductivity of arable lands and pastures in arid and semi-arid areas. On the one hand, the decrease in soil fertility is affected by the use of outdated agricultural methods, including ineffective water resource management (extensive approach). On the other hand, natural factors such as climate change, increasing temperatures, decreasing precipitation, and more frequent extreme weather conditions can lead to droughts and soil degradation. In Kazakhstan, desertified and degraded lands are mainly found in the southern regions. Therefore, this article analyzes changes in the hydrological regime of the Ile river and its impact on the ecosystem of the Balkash-Alakol basin as a whole.