Sand replacement and coastal protection works are once again a topic in the Algarve, at a time when several beaches are preparing to receive thousands of bathers. Although some interventions have been accelerated to ensure the opening of the summer season, not all work will be completed before summer, with projects that will only be resumed when the beaches are no longer occupied by vacationers.
According to , one of the interventions considered a priority took place on Fuzeta beach, where the advance of the sea put the use of sand at risk during the summer season. The work, carried out under an emergency regime, involved an investment of around 400 thousand euros and the placement of 40 thousand cubic meters of sand, ensuring conditions for the use of the beach during the summer months.
Storms forced urgent interventions
The winter left significant marks on several stretches of the Algarve coast. In some areas, the storms caused sand losses of up to 15 meters, forcing authorities to move forward with artificial beach nourishment operations.
According to the same source, work was also carried out on the coast of Loulé to reinforce the sands between Forte Novo, Vale do Lobo and Vale Garrão. The intervention, which represented an investment of more than 14 million euros, made it possible to restore a considerable stretch of beach. In some places, the reinforcement resulted in a gain of around 50 meters of sand to the waterline.
Investment approaching 20 million
The various operations carried out over the last few months are part of a broader strategy to mitigate the effects of coastal erosion, a phenomenon that continues to affect several areas of the Algarve.
Expresso says that, between works completed, underway or already contracted, the total investment aimed at replacing sand and coastal protection is close to 20 million euros. Available data also indicates that the Algarve coastline has recorded an average retreat of around three meters per year, reinforcing the need for regular interventions.
There are jobs that will be left until after the summer
Despite the progress made on several fronts, not all works were able to meet the initially scheduled deadlines. This is the case of the intervention between Praia da Rocha and Praia dos Três Castelos, whose completion was postponed.
During a visit to Fuzeta, held on World Environment Day, the Minister of the Environment explained the reasons for the delay. “We have had technical problems, it has been difficult to transport the mixture of sand and water. We were unable to finish before the bathing season so it was interrupted and everything was removed. We resumed after the bathing season”, stated Maria da Graça Carvalho.
Next steps have already been defined
In addition to interventions on the sands, new actions are planned to improve navigability conditions and sediment management in different parts of the region. These operations are expected to advance in the coming months.
According to the same source, dredging is planned in the ports of Fuzeta, Tavira and Lagos, work considered important for maintaining the operating conditions of these infrastructures. Meanwhile, the intervened beaches enter the bathing season with reinforced conditions to receive visitors.
The Minister of the Environment also highlighted the importance of the intervention carried out in Fuzeta, stating that the decision was taken to avoid problems during the months of greatest demand. “It was really to save the summer season and I’m glad we did that,” he said. The phrase summarizes the objective of the works carried out this year: to ensure that the beaches remain accessible and usable, even in the face of the challenges posed by coastal erosion and meteorological phenomena that have affected the Algarve coastline.
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