Two federal environmental agencies have given the green light for Jalisco state legislators to start a process that will eventually designate the Santiago and Verde watersheds as naturally protected areas.
The Verde converges with the Santiago River to the north-west of Guadalajara. As it passes the metropolitan zone from its source in Lake Chapala, the Santiago flows through the deep Huentitan Canyon, considered one of Jalisco’s natural treasures. However, the river is a magnet for foul and dangerous pollutants, dumped along its course by industry and rural communities. The new designation, Jalisco legislators believe, will ensure that the best efforts are made to restore the Santiago to full health.