The Vigo City Council has launched a specific device to remove dragged trees and branches al Lagares River bed due to the recent storms. The project, with a budget of 18.000 Euros, will be carried out throughout the month of October to clear critical points and improve hydraulic safety.
According to the mayor, the intervention will be carried out with a combination of means, prioritizing the work mechanic's manual due to the sensitivity of the river environment and the difficulty of access in certain sections. The objective is to act with the maximum environmental care and without altering the balance of the river.
Schedule and scope of work
The work has begun this week and will continue for all of October, advancing in sections along the course of the Lagares and its banks. Work will be carried out where fallen branches and trunks pose a risk to the water flow or for transit on the river path.
The device gives priority to removing obstacles that may cause blockages with the arrival of new rains. In addition to restoring drainage capacity, the aim is to reduce the risk of overflows in episodes of intense rainfall.
Municipal sources indicate that past storms, including Kirk storm, left numerous damaged specimens in the surroundings of the path, with particular incidence in urban areas with high public use. This accumulation of plant debris has been affecting the image and functionality from the walk.
The City Council has asked for understanding for any inconvenience during the work, which could involve occasional road closures or the presence of equipment in highly frequented sectionsThe planning has been designed to minimize disruptions and maintain user safety.
Media, budget and intervention criteria
The intervention has a budget of € 18.000 and will combine hand tools with mechanical support only where essential. The use of machinery will be limited to accessible areas and with guarantees of not damaging the riparian vegetation not even the riverbed itself.
Due to the orography and the sensitivity of the ecosystem, the work will be eminently manual, with selective removal of trunks and branches. This methodology allows for more precise control and reduces the impact on the river habitat, maintaining elements that do not compromise hydraulic safety.
At the administrative level, the councillor has indicated that the responsibility for these tasks would correspond to the Xunta de Galicia, although the City Council is assuming the execution and the cost to expedite the cleaning of the channel. The priority, they emphasize, is to guarantee the good state of Lagares facing the rainy season.
By advancing in sections, the City Council hopes to clear the most problematic areas before the end of October, improving the river's evacuation capacity and the safety of the Lagares path for pedestrians and cyclists. The success of the operation will be measured by the reduction in accumulated material and the lower likelihood of incidents during rainy seasons.
The performance combines a clear scope, a limited budget and a prudent methodology for removing fallen trees without compromising the Lagares area; a preventative measure that seeks to avoid blockages, reduce the risk of flooding, and restore the daily use of Vigo's riverside promenade.
