In the small community of Aarón Castellanos, an unexpected discovery and a swift local intervention have unlocked months of held-back water that could have eased the rising levels of La Picasa lagoon.
A Hidden Blockage Revealed
Community President Walter Ramanzín noticed something was amiss with the Alternativa Sur canal, designed to carry up to 5 cubic meters per second away from La Picasa by gravity. Upon inspection, he discovered that all three metal floodgates, installed to regulate flow, had been welded shut, an action dating back before the last major flood. With two gates closed completely and the third only half-open, the canal’s capacity had been severely reduced, stalling drainage for months.
“I’m not sure who welded them,” Ramanzín told our reporter, “but with only one gate partly open, we lost precious months of discharge when La Picasa needed it most. It’s astonishing that neither provincial nor national water technicians detected this obstruction.”
Community-Led Restoration
Determined to act, Ramanzín personally broke the welds on two of the gates yesterday. Today, he and technicians from the National Water Authority are set to remove the final weld and restore full canal capacity. Once completed, the channel will again carry its full 5 m³/s, delivering overdue relief to the lagoon’s waters.
Key steps:
- Inspection: Community leaders and local volunteers examined each floodgate for signs of tampering.
- Weld Removal: Using cutting torches, Ramanzín and his team carefully dismantled the metal seals.
- Official Partnership: Water Authority personnel were called in to ensure the final gate reopened under regulatory supervision.
Ramanzín summed up the day’s work: “We’re late in fixing this, but in water management, any correction beats inaction. As we say in Castellanos, ‘better late than never.’”
Implications for La Picasa
La Picasa, a shallow saline lagoon, has experienced record-high water levels in recent seasons. The welded gates had effectively disabled one of its main emergency outlets. Had the canal functioned properly, it could have:
- Moderated flood peaks during heavy rains.
- Reduced soil salinization in adjacent agricultural areas.
- Minimized property damage in surrounding towns.
Now that the floodgates will operate at full capacity, experts expect smoother water management and fewer surprises in the next rainy period.
Looking Ahead
Local authorities plan to implement routine inspections of all critical water infrastructure, including unannounced checks and maintenance schedules. A joint task force: comprising community representatives, provincial engineers, and National Water Authority staff, will oversee these efforts.
Despite months of lost drainage, the swift action by Castellanos residents highlights the power of local vigilance. “We built this canal to protect our fields and homes,” Ramanzín noted. “Today, we’ve reclaimed its purpose.”
As the final weld is removed and water once again surges through the channel, Castellanos, and La Picasa, take a collective breath. The community’s intervention serves as a reminder that even small towns can play a pivotal role in safeguarding regional water systems.