RESTORATION OF RAMSAR SITE - RIO DESAGUADERO

This Ramsar site consists of a system of interlinked lagoons and marshes covering an area of 960,000 ha. Most of these lagoons and marshes are considered extinct due to natural phenomena and anthropic action. Among the actions undertaken for the restoration of the system, the construction of six dams along the Desaguadero riverbed was planned, with the aim of guaranteeing that during flood events the river overflows and feeds the lagoons and marshes.

To date, two of the six planned weirs have been constructed. For the construction of the curtain, approach works and the dissipation basin, gabion boxes and reindeer mattresses made of PVC-coated wire (the only effective protection against the high salinity of the water and soils present at the site) were used. The two weirs that were built have the following characteristics: spillways with an approximate width of 60m and 70m, and heights of 4m and 3m respectively.