Discharges will continue until end of ‘wet season’
The boon of so much rainfall is seeing many dams throughout the country ‘almost full’. It was so long ago, for the south, that dams approached full capacity, that the warning this weekend by Castro Marim municipality that it will be carrying out controlled, temporary discharges of water from Odeleite and Beliche dams will be a first for many residents. It is something “that has not happened for several years”, admits the municipality.
What these discharges mean is that there will be an increase in the amount of water in streams in the area, and particularly in the Guadiana River.
As a result, owners should ensure that boats anchored in the river are well secured, as the ebb tide will be much stronger than usual. “Boats and other materials could be swept away” if they are not properly secured to the river banks”, warns the municipality.
People too should “avoid crossing areas that could be flooded, as well as the banks of the river Guadiana”.
Any animals kept in areas that are vulnerable should be moved out to a safer location.
These discharges are ‘controlled’: they should not cause significant changes in the waterline level, since the final stretch of the Guadiana is very wide. But the bottom line is “be aware” and take note of the advice.
The discharges will start in the next few days.
As for the ‘wet season’, weather.com suggests rain will continue falling, here and there, until Tuesday March 25. This seems to be borne out by IPMA (sea and atmosphere institute) whose 10-day forecast shows rain every day.
Castro Marim municipality notes that ‘water clear-outs’ (which these discharges are) are good for the environment, as they “sustainably contribute to the cleaning of rivers”. ND
