The Gran Canaria Island Council and the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council are monitoring the closure of the canal after the recovery of the optimal water level and the balance of the ecosystem.
The Maspalomas Lagoon is regenerating after Storm Therese, which caused a massive influx of freshwater from the ravine and its connection to the sea. This phenomenon, which had not occurred on this scale since 2018, has led to a cleansing and renewal of the ecosystem by oxygenating the water, washing away accumulated sediments, and reducing invasive species such as tilapia, thus promoting the recovery of native fauna and the biodiversity of the area.
The Gran Canaria Island Council and the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council coordinated today to monitor the closure of the canal, taking advantage of high tide, with the aim of ensuring that the pond recovers its optimal water level and environmental conditions.
“Today we have witnessed a phenomenon that could be described as historic. We are intervening and accelerating a natural process, closing the land-sea interaction of the Maspalomas Pond to guarantee the balance between the ecosystem and public use,” stated Councilor Raúl García Brink.
In this regard, he noted that the pond is expected to maintain a stable, optimal water level. “We will continue parallel scientific monitoring using traps and control systems as part of the studies being carried out by the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), in collaboration with the Island Council and Gesplan. This monitoring will allow us to assess water quality, the evolution of fauna and flora, and confirm the recovery of native pond species that have not been observed for years.”
For his part, the Councilor for Cleaning in San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Ruyman Cardoso, highlighted the collaboration between the Regional Ministry of the Environment and the municipal corporation, and assured that “the priority is maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. To this end, we will continue monitoring the situation over the next few days and assess the possibility that it may even have to be reopened, if necessary, due to the water that continues to flow into the pond from the ravines.”
The director of the Maspalomas Dunes Special Nature Reserve, Marta Martínez, highlighted the positive impact of this event on birdlife, noting that the alternating high and low tides have created optimal feeding conditions for the birds. “During these days, a large number of waders have been observed, finding abundant food, as well as other passerine species in the ravine, such as wild canaries and Spanish sparrows. It's clear that water brings life,” she explained.
Reinforcement of cleaning and protection of the environment
He also emphasized that “cleaning efforts have been intensified to remove solid waste and plant debris washed down the ravine, with field staff from Gesplan and the City Council, especially invasive reeds accumulated on the bank. Furthermore, we have reinforced access control to exclusion zones with environmental agents and other security forces, ensuring the protection of the ecosystem during its regeneration process.”
Along these lines, the Island Council and the City Council are working to improve the protocols for action in the event of similar future episodes, with the aim of optimizing coordination and continuing to respect the natural dynamics of the pond.
