The operation, which is expected to cost around 50,000 euros and will last for a week, aims to protect a submarine outfall that is at risk of being uncovered due to the channel’s natural shift to the north. The intervention has authorization from APA and the Port Authority of Peniche.
The councils of Caldas da Rainha and Óbidos initiated an emergency intervention to relocate the channel that connects Lagoa de Óbidos to the sea, to safeguard a submarine outfall at risk of being uncovered.
“We obtained all the authorizations, from and from and we advanced today with the mobilization of sand to move the open [canal que liga a Lagoa de Óbidos ao mar] to its usual location and close the channel that is now closest to the emissary and Avenida do Mar,” the president of the Chamber of Caldas da Rainha, Vítor Marques, told the Lusa agency.
The “emergency intervention” refers to the fact that, due to the effect of tides and currents, the open, “have relocated to the north”approaching Avenida do Mar, in Foz do Arelho “greatly reducing the beach area”explained the mayor.
With the relocation of the channel that connects Óbidos Lagoon to the sea Also at risk was “a submarine outfall that carries treated sewage to the high seas” and which, because the water excavates the sand, “runs the risk of being uncovered and suffering a rupture”, he said.
The outfall “has had some problems with its proximity to the water in previous years, particularly in the Cais da Praia area, where an intervention was carried out last year to avoid risks”, said Vitor Marques, clarifying that even so “the water has been getting closer and closer, making this intervention urgent.”
Intervention “should be around 50 thousand euros”
With authorization from the APA, which protects the Óbidos Lagoon, the two riverside authorities moved forward this Sunday with the intervention to replace the open area further souththrough the removal of sand “with ‘dumpers’ (excavators), ‘bulldozers’ (earthmoving machines) and rotary machines contracted by the municipalities”.
The intervention that “should be around 50 thousand euros” is paid for by the two local authorities, in the district of Leiria, and according to Vítor Marques “It should take about a week, weather conditions permitting.”
The Óbidos Lagoon is the coastal lagoon system longest on the Portuguese coastwith an area of 6.9 square kilometers that form a land border with the municipality of Caldas da Rainha to the north (parishes of Foz do Arelho and Nadadouro) and with the municipality of Óbidos to the south (parishes of Vau and Santa Maria).
The opening of the lagoon to the sea tends to close naturally due to sediment depositioncompromising the renewal of water, the quality of habitats, the conservation of species and economic activities dependent on the good ecological status of the ecosystem, such as fishing, shellfishing and tourism.
For this reason, it is often necessary mechanical intervention to guarantee and maintain this communication with the seaan intervention for which the two riverside municipalities of Caldas da Rainha and Óbidos regularly request APA intervention.
