Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Pichachos Dam Five Years Later

To date only 15 percent of the dam's water is being used, totaling 580 million cubic meters
To date only 15 percent of the dam’s water is being used, totaling 580 million cubic meters
Five years after beginning operation, the much anticipated Pichachos Dam has failed to provide its two main objectives: a constant water supply for Mazatlán and irrigation for local agriculture.
According to the Conaqua regional director, Saúl Sánchez Félix, to date only 15 percent of the dam´s water is being used, totaling 580 million cubic meters. The rest ends up in the ocean.
Tops of trees from flooded land stand out in the waters of the dam where residents have stocked lobina and tilapia.
Tops of trees from flooded land stand out in the waters of the dam where residents have stocked lobina and tilapia.
To fully take advantage of the dam and meet its original objectives, construction of the Miravalles Aqueduct is paramount. The aqueduct, with a proposed budget of 500 million pesos, would direct water 42 kilometers from the dam to Mazatlán and irrigate 22,500 hectares of cultivated agricultural land.
A group of experts and Conaqua personnel are in discussion with the State to resolve this problem once and for all, said Sánchez Félix. However, to date the only initiative that has been taken is an executive study of the project and a preliminary cost figure to be presented for the 2015 Federal budget.
Sánchez Félix advised Conaqua is working diligently with respect to the irrigation system and the Mazatlán municipal council is working to push forward the Miravalles Aqueduct project. The estimated cost of the aqueduct is 500 million pesos, and 2,158 million to complete the irrigation system.
Six cooperatives offer sports fishing, ecotourism and overnight accommodation.
Six cooperatives offer sports fishing, ecotourism and overnight accommodation.
In the meantime, residents of the small towns surrounding the dam have begun sports fishing and ecotourism businesses, forming cooperatives and seeding the dam with lobina and tilapia.
Atilano Román Aguayo, who lost his home and town when dam waters flooded several small pueblos, said the people have formed six commercial fishing cooperatives and built 28 cabanas for tourists. They are also now affiliated with North American companies to promote the area and send groups of sports fishermen to enjoy the well-stocked dam.
 (from Noroeste)

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