If Hurricane Beryl hits the southern coasts of Tamaulipas and northern Veracruz, it will leave greater runoff than Tropical Storm Alberto, so the levels of water bodies are being monitored, such as the Chairel lagoon system, which, if it continues to rise, will have to undergo induced drainage.
The manager of the Gulf-North Basin Agency of Conagua, Jaime Gúdiño Zárate, reported that special surveillance is being maintained on the trajectory of the phenomenon, in order to have a clearer definition of its possible impact on the area in the coming days.
“We have to be very attentive, we continue to monitor Hurricane Beryl for the effect of the rains it may leave, because right now the river levels are optimal, but the runoff Beryl may leave will be greater than what we had with Alberto.”
He explained that even if the same amount of rain falls, the runoff generated will have a greater impact, because when tropical storm Alberto hit, the bodies of water were suffering from a drought that lasted eight years.
“Now their volumes are different, we have optimal levels, but when receiving another flood of water, we must take precautions, that is why it is important to define the path of the hurricane, in five days we will have a clearer picture,” he emphasized.
If the Chairel continues to rise, the dam gates will be opened
Regarding the southern lagoon system, he said that this Tuesday it registered a filling of 109.9% and a scale of 1.15 meters, but if it reaches a level of 1.40, the dam gates would have to be opened.
He hopes that there will be no need for this, because although the Chairel has maintained its rise, it is likely to stop if there is no significant rainfall during the week, which will allow the level to be reduced a little before the possible arrival of Beryl.
“Fortunately we have a kind of pause, the forecast is not for abundant rain in the following days, so that the inflows to the lagoon system will gradually decrease.”
Gudiño Zárate stressed that the water crisis is a thing of the past and the supply for urban and industrial public use has been resolved, but he acknowledged that now we should not be complacent in the face of excess humidity.
“Right now it is being released naturally through the notches that we have prepared for that, but after the level reaches 1.40, we have considered that we can open the gates of dam 5, and if necessary, those of the American canal. We will evaluate whether we open it earlier, we do not want to do it because then we muddy the water and the expense that we can vent is minimal.”
The head of the National Water Commission affirmed that, even, the dams of the lagoon system are designed so that the excess “jumps”, however, he said, there will be no overconfidence.
This Tuesday, the National Meteorological Service reiterated that the south of Tamaulipas and the north of Veracruz will be the second impact zone of Beryl on Mexican coasts.
“It is one of the forecasts, however, due to the distance we have, it is still very erratic and we must continue monitoring it, we must be very attentive to the SMN services,” insisted Jaime Gudiño.
He stressed that once it enters the Gulf of Mexico, the forecast models will be able to define with greater certainty its direction and the actions that must be taken in this regard.
“We have good levels in rivers and dams, none in critical stage, all within the channel, but if we have extraordinary rains we could have some situation, we will be communicating it in a timely manner.”
He explained that the Pánuco River has a controlled level and does not represent a threat, but the tributaries that feed into it and come from the capital of the country are also being monitored.
“The Guayalejo is also within the limits, yesterday (Monday) it rained in the area of El Mante and the Frío River, we also had an interesting increase in Llera, which is where the entire part of the Guayalejo is born, however, today at noon (Tuesday) it already began to decrease.”
He hopes to transit the next flood without problem and this will give the opportunity to continue filling the Portes Gil and Ramiro Caballero dams, located in the municipalities of Xicoténcatl and El Mante.
Source: milenio
