The 16-year conflict over the construction of a dam in northeastern Jalisco appeared to come to an end this week after all sides in the dispute concurred on the future of the controversial project.
An agreement to conclude the stalled Zapotillo Dam was forged after several months of discussions between representatives of the National Water Commission (Conagua) and residents of communities affected by the project, during which time President Andrés Manuel López Obrador made three visits to the region.
Under the new plan, spillage modifications to the dam’s curtain will be made to ensure that the communities of Temacapulín, Acasico and Palmarejo are safeguarded from any potential flooding during heavy seasonal rains. Conagua has also agreed that the water level in the dam’s reservoir will be maintained at 40 meters.
The agreement also alters the system of how water from the reservoir will be pumped to the Guadalajara metropolitan area. Instead of being channeled through the unfinished Purgatorio Dam, water will be directed to the existing El Salto/Calderon dam network in the Valle de Guadalupe region, and from there to Guadalajara. This will provide the minimum three meters per second that the Jalisco capital urgently needs, Jalisco Governor Enrique Alfaro said, adding that federal authorities have guaranteed funding for the additional work.
Please login or subscribe to view the complete article.