Castilla-La Mancha: Es-Alert for River Bullaque & Dam Openings Due to Storms

Authorities in the province of Ciudad Real, Spain, have issued alerts to residents along the Bullaque River, a tributary of the Guadiana, due to rising water levels at the Torre de Abraham reservoir. The alerts, delivered via the Es-Alert system, followed a decision to begin releasing water from the reservoir.

Reservoir Levels and Releases

The Torre de Abraham reservoir, the largest in Ciudad Real province, began naturally releasing water overnight – the first such event in 13 years. Several other water management structures in the province are also releasing water. The Malagón weir on the Bañuelos River is experiencing natural outflow and diverting water to the Gasset reservoir via a canal. The Gasset reservoir, on the Becea River, has also initiated a partial release, as has the Vicario reservoir on the Guadiana River.

Did You Know? The Torre de Abraham reservoir has not naturally released water in 13 years.

Juan Alfonso Ruiz Molina, the regional Minister for Public Administrations, explained that the releases are a precautionary measure given forecasts from the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) predicting continued rainfall in the coming hours.

While acknowledging the potential for increased water levels, officials from the Guadiana and Tajo river basin authorities have indicated they do not anticipate the releases will cause damage to municipalities.

Coordination and Planning

The decision to issue alerts and manage the reservoir releases was made following a meeting of the Operational Coordination Center (Cecop) at the headquarters of the 112 emergency service in Castilla-La Mancha. The meeting addressed the evolution of the Castilla-La Mancha Flood Risk Plan (PRICAM), which remains at operational level 1. Emiliano García-Page, the President of Castilla-La Mancha, and José Pablo Sabrido, the Government Delegate, both participated in the meeting.

Talavera de la Reina Faces Challenges

The city of Talavera de la Reina is currently experiencing the most “complicated” situation. Mayor José Julián Gregorio and Minister Ruiz Molina have both acknowledged the challenges. Streams running through the city are “practically overflowing,” and the groundwater level is very high, resulting in flooding in some streets. Emergency crews worked throughout Friday to pump water from garages and homes.

The mayor has urged residents to remain calm, assuring them that emergency services are responding as quickly as possible.

Expert Insight: The coordinated response involving regional and national authorities underscores the seriousness of the situation and the proactive approach being taken to mitigate potential risks associated with continued rainfall and reservoir levels.

Across Castilla-La Mancha, the series of storms, particularly the recent storm Leonardo, has resulted in 111 incidents, none of which are considered serious. The majority of these incidents are concentrated in Talavera de la Reina, according to Minister Ruiz Molina.

Frequently Asked Questions

What prompted the Es-Alert messages?

The Es-Alert messages were sent to municipalities along the Bullaque River due to the release of water from the Torre de Abraham reservoir.

Which reservoirs are currently releasing water?

The Torre de Abraham, Malagón, Gasset, and Vicario reservoirs are all currently releasing water.

What is the current status of the Castilla-La Mancha Flood Risk Plan?

The Castilla-La Mancha Flood Risk Plan (PRICAM) is currently at operational level 1.

As rainfall continues, will authorities need to increase water releases from reservoirs, and how might that impact communities downstream?