The Nazaré Municipal Chamber has carried out clearing work at the mouth of the Alcoa River, which was completely blocked by sand accumulation, preventing the natural outflow of water to the sea. The blockage caused water to back up upstream, increasing the risk of flooding in agricultural lands and surrounding areas, with potential consequences for local economic activities.
Faced with this situation, the Municipality decided to proceed with an exceptional intervention to remove the accumulated sand, aiming to restore water flow and minimize associated risks. Concurrently, it requested an urgent technical assessment from the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) and the identification of necessary measures to resolve a silting problem that recurs annually.
While necessary for the immediate situation, this intervention represents an additional effort by the Municipality, which has undertaken actions beyond its own responsibilities to prevent the worsening of consequences for the population and local activities.
However, a lasting solution requires a structurally sound and technically supported plan, the definition and implementation of which fall under the responsibility of the legally competent authorities. Nevertheless, the Municipality will continue to monitor the situation and coordinate with the APA on the necessary measures to prevent future occurrences of the Alcoa River mouth closure.
