The waters flow again
Recently, the reservoirs of Catalonia have experienced a significant increase in their water levels, thanks to various rain and snow storms that have taken place in recent weeks. Notable among them is the Baells reservoir, located at the head of the Llobregat river, which has begun a more intense release of water this Monday.
Baells capacity to the maximum
Earlier this Monday, Baells reached an impressive 95% of its total capacity, a figure that has not been seen since July 2021.This level of ‘technical plenary’ has led to a significant increase in the water flow that is released downwards, from 0.7 m³/s to 7.5 m³/s, according to the Catalan Water Agency, multiplying by ten the previous flow.
Factors Contributius
It is important to emphasize that the reservoir continues to receive more than 30 m³/s of water, and there is still much snow to melt in the mountains of the Cadí and other upper areas of Berguedà. In addition, weather forecasts indicate the possibility of more sprinkles in the region.
Situation of the internal basins
Despite the excellent state of the Baells, other basins in Catalonia have a more moderate situation. At present, internal basins exceed 57% of their capacity, with outstanding figures like 71% in Sant Ponç, 58% in Boadella, and 55% in Sau. At the same time, reservoirs such as the Llosa del Cavall and Susqueda are 50% and 43% respectively.
Improvements to the Tarragona basins
In Tarragona, the conditions also improve, with Riudecanyes about 45%. However, Siurana is still a black spot with levels below 20%.
Weather expectations
Although forecasts do not anticipate great rainy episodes for this week, weather instability may maintain some sprinkles in the northern counties. The good news is that spring has just begun, and there is still a considerable amount of snow to melt.
Snow in high areas
For example, in Núria, at 2,000 meters, 70 cm of snow are recorded, while in Ulldeter, at 2,400 meters, the amount is about 1.35 meters, according to the Meteorological Service of Catalonia. With March still ongoing and April and May on the horizon, it is likely that the internal basins of Catalonia will reach 60% soon.
A promising spring
With favorable weather conditions and the amount of snow available, the perspective for water management in Catalonia is optimistic. The expectations are that the reservoirs continue to fill in, thus benefiting the region’s water resources.