El Laguito's environmental problem in Cartagena already has a solution

The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development announced that there is now a definitive solution to save the body of water in the El Laguito sector in Cartagena, which is currently suffering from an environmental problem.

His portfolio also specified that one of the purposes of the project is to improve oxygenation and water exchange between the tourism and residential sector El Laguito and Cartagena Bay. He also noted that the initiative was socialized on April 6 by the Institute for Marine and Coastal Research (Invemar) to a team from the Minambiente, the Public Environmental Establishment (EPA) Cartagena and the Regional Autonomous Corporation of the Canal del Dique (Cardique).

The initiative “includes an improvement in the spurs, a channel that interconnects that area of El Laguito and others, and which are delivered in phase three. This means that the project is ready to be put out to tender,” said the minister.

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According to information provided by Captain Francisco Arias, director of Invemar, the project for the modeling and design of alternatives included physical studies of the natural aspects of the area, “the geomorphology seen as changes in coastline, beach profiles, sedimentological and oceanographic aspects in two contrasting climatic seasons that would allow us to know the behavior of sea currents and the transport of sediments that influence the closure of the coastal arrow of El Laguito,” he said.

This was found as the most viable alternative to the problem among six models proposed. In order to achieve this, primary and secondary information was collected in the different climatic moments prevailing in the region, both in quantity and quality.

“In the final alternative the southwestern spur has extended to the closing depth (30 or 40 m). With technical support, a numerical modeling was run, fed with the data collected, it was evident that the best alternative was to do the channeling of El Laguito, intervening in the spur located on the southeastern side of El Hilton and making a new spur that extends to the depth of closure of the beach profile, thus seeking to contain sedimentary material on the surrounding beaches. It is interesting that the proposal is based on an ecosystem-based concept of adaptation, considering a solution that aims to be sustainable over time,” explained the director of Invemar.

Even so, these results are still in the pre-feasibility stage, but the Minambiente assured that progress can now be made in the contracting process, in accordance with administrative procedures.

Minister Correa also confirmed that in the coming weeks the Cartagena Bay Master Plan will be submitted to public consultation for comments by interested parties.

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