- The subdelegate of the Government in Lugo reported that this action takes place over a stretch of 400 meters and has a budget of 7,501 euros
- “This intervention allows the recovery of the drainage capacity of the canal, reducing the risk of small overflows during moderate flooding,” said López.
- The works consist of the removal of elements that hindered the passage of water, such as accumulations of logs, plant remains, and in selective work on the vegetation of the riverside
The subdelegate of the Government in Lugo, Olimpia López, visited the work of advancing the drainage capacity of the Herrera River in the vicinity of Ferrería de Abaixo, in the Town Hall of A Fonsagrada, carried out by the Hydrographic Confederation of the Cantabrian, belonging to the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Democratic Challenge.
The subdelegate noted that “this intervention is essential to protect the land located on the banks of the river, because it allows the recovery of channel drainage capacity reducing the risk of small overflows during moderate flooding.” The actions consist of the removal of elements that hindered the passage of water, such as accumulations of logs, vegetable remains, and selective work on the vegetation of the riverside. The works, said Olimpia López, “contribute to the advancement of the ecological state of the rivers and are framed within the objectives of hydrological planning and flood risk management of the Government of Spain.”
This intervention is carried out over a stretch of 400 meters and has a budget of 7,501 euros, within the program of conservation and maintenance of canals executed by the Cantabrian Hydrographic Confederation, within the scope of its competences in the rural environment. In the year 2025, the Cantabrian Hydrographic Confederation allocated 5.9 million euros to conservation and maintenance of canals in 263 actions distributed by 100 municipalities.
The Confederation recalls that those colloquially referred to as “cleanings” of canals - removal of elements that prevent the passage of water, such as trunks or sediments - have a limited effect against large floods, since their effectiveness focuses on preventing overflows in the event of moderate increases in flow. Therefore, said López, “reducing the risk of flooding requires a broader set of measures, among which it is especially important to avoid the occupation of flood areas.”
In addition to the removal of elements that obstruct the canals, the Confederation develops actions aimed at improving the environmental conditions of the rivers, such as the recovery of the vegetation of the riverside, the elimination of disused tiles and the control of invasive species.