Floods!

Hi everyone I've just read about a very interesting article about the recent floods on the front page of Alicante Plaza they are considering using the Dutch method called Polder Islands for most of the villages and areas around the Vega Baja area have a look it makes very interesting reading!!

Jules I read an article on the proposed plan by the CHS which has the backing of the environmentalists both the ASE- Amigos of the Sierra Escalona and AHSA - Amigos de los Humedales del Sur de Alicante. They propose widening the Segura rather than making a second channel. This would reduce the risk of the river overflowing and prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains upstream which end up increasing the flow that reaches the tail of the Segura. They also propose bypasses be carried out in Orihuela and Rojales where the river crosses their historical centres. This would solve the narrowing of the river as it currently passes through the urban centres.They propose diverting the runoff from the ramblas between Abanilla and Crevillente ( the river Chícamo and the Ramblas Salada and Albatera which caused most of the damage during the DANA) into the El Hondon Natural Park and its surrounds thus relieving the Seguro of these contributeries. They propose acquiring additional agricultural lands near the park after negotiations with the land owners and use these as flood plains. A 2003 plan of hydrological forest restoration is to be enacted at the headwaters of the Chícamo river or the Rambla de Albetera to reduce runoff and help to refill the aquifers through infiltracion. The CHS also propose the design of infrastructures for the diversion of extraordinary flows to green corridors and flood plains like inflatable dams, swing gates and something called duckbill dumps.

Hopefully their plans will get the goahead and prevent future flooding.

Bee

Thanks for the info Bee what I'd read was what the Netherlands use called a Polder Island,let's just hope they do something about it and quick unlike the Emergency Funding of the promised €1500!

I am sure there will be several plans before they agree on a final one. It's those Ramblas which seem to have caused the most damage as well as the river bursting its banks at Almoradi. The Ramblas seemingly don't empty into any waterway so they need to solve that problem by making sure they get diverted into the El Hondon Natural Park and the proposed flood plains. Also the lie of the land is a problem which cannot be changed. It is flat plain which seemingly rises to just 1 metre at its highest point.

Bee