In what is without question the biggest public works project in the neighborhood the second phase of a storm drain/floodplain is taking shape.
The drain will guide overflow water that arrives from the Rambla del Algarrobo into the Salar de los Canos (the wildlife refuge in front of Consum) to the sea. This image gives an overview of the entire project.
Phase 1
In March 5 2018 Phase 1 of the project (grey area in the above photo) a tunnel was started under the AL-7107 Garrucha to Villaricos main road to the Salar de los Canos on one side and on the other side of the road to the parking lot of the AquaVera water park next to Consum. From there it crossed the parking lot to go alongside the tennis courts towards the sea.
View looking towards Consum of the tunnel connection to the Salar de los Canos.
Standing on the tunnel connection to the Salar de los Canos looking towards Consum and AquaVera the black asphalt shows the path of the underground tunnel towards the sea.
The termination point of Phase 1 near the tennis courts is seen below.
Aerial view of the termination point of Phase 1 and beginning of Phase 2. Credit: Oliden – Helper in Translation
Finally, this photo shows the entire completed Phase 1 from the Salar de los Canos at the top of the image, the path of the tunnel in the AquaVera parking and finally the path of the tunnel along the tennis courts to the gated termination point of Phase 1.
Phase 2
The second phase of the project , announced on the 4th of December 2020, with a projected completion date of the end of March; while not finished at the time of this publication is in an advanced state. It will channel the water from the tunnel of Phase 1 to the sea.
As can be seen in the videos below Phase 2 consisted of digging out a trench for the water to follow and installing walls to direct the water as it exits the the gated termination point of Phase 1.
This video gives an excellent aerial view of the floodplain.
And this video gives a fly through of the floodplain.
As the surface of the ground was lowered to create the floodplain it was also necessary to lower the sidewalk along the beach as can be seen in the following photo. Notice also the large rocks placed along the sidewalk to prevent it from being washed out.
This image gives a good idea of the depth that the sidewalk was lowered.
Finally it is interesting to note that great care was taken to protect the very small wetland in the floodplain. This little postage stamp of land actually has a name: “Charca del Gato” – Cat’s Pond.
While it is admirable that this small wetland is treated with care one does have to wonder if this isn’t environmental theater? Environmental theater in the sense that the tunnel built in Phase 1 is easily wide enough to drive 4 cars side by side; it can clearly handle a vast quantity of water.
Would a vast flood of water fill the “Charca del Gato” with silt and nullify the work put in to preserve this postage stamp wetland? The floods of 2012 showed just how vast floods can be in the region. Take a look at this video of Pueblo Laguna in Bougainvillas in 2012.
Or this video of the bridge between Puerto Rey and Bougainvillas in 2012.:
Many thanks go to Oliden – Helper in Translation for the aerial views in this article. He may be contacted by clicking his name.
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Superb reportage and drone footage! On the question of silt, it will probably accumulate in the underground tunnel. A sump is often sunk in such constructions, helping to moderate the flow of water through the underpass. They do require emptying from time to time. The addition of silt to the area around the pond would be of benefit, improving the soil condition and promoting biodiversity. Serious flooding shouldn’t be too much of a problem since the Rambla rises in Vera and only has one tributary. Up to now, as far as I know, flooding in the Consum area has been wide but not deep, with the water being unable to permeate the concrete and tarmac. Historically, the area would have been a natural flood plain, of which only the pond, and the area surrounding it, remain.