In contrast to Lake Pátzcuaro, where there are signs of recovery, Lake Cuitzeo – 4 times larger and with 40 thousand hectares – remains empty in 70 percent of its extension, with only some puddles, despite the heavy rainfall of the last three weeks.
In the last decade, the western part of the reservoir – taking as a reference the access road to the municipal seat of Cuitzeo – has remained almost completely dry, at most it has reached 15 centimeters of depth during rainy periods.
The eastern part of the lake, taking into account the same reference point, for about five years the water level began to drop abruptly, and for the first time it was completely dry, and the communities of Mariano Escobedo and San Agustín del Pulque – in mid-2023 – were no longer able to catch a single fish or charal.
The 63-year-old fisherman, Rodrigo Ábrego, told La Jornada –February 2024- that the reservoir dries up periodically, but recovers again, so the approximately 800 fishermen from the two communities mentioned will surely resume their trade, which they have not abandoned because they are now going to fish in the part of the reservoir that is in Zinápecuaro, and which still maintains a good level of depth, but they have to go by truck and transport the boats for several kilometers.
The governor of Michoacán, Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla, admitted that after remaining totally dry for more than a year, 30 percent of Lake Cuitzeo after the rains of the last few weeks, there are only puddles, however, there is a lack of heavy rainfall in the next three months that will surely be reflected in the water level.
He announced that actions are being taken that will allow treated water from Morelia to be brought to this lake that registers high levels of degradation.
The recovered springs of Urandén, a new tourist attraction
Part of the actions to recover Lake Pátzcuaro are 16 recovered springs, most of them on the island of Urandén, which already offer open tours as part of the tourist attraction, said the state governor.
In addition to reforestation of the coastal area, dredging and cleaning actions in the areas most affected by the drought, as well as the recovery of the main dock and San Pedrito in the municipality of Pátzcuaro, there is a plan to reactivate the tourist and productive area of the entire region that includes municipalities –in addition to Pátzcuaro, Tzintzuntzan, Erongarícuaro and Quiroga- Salvador Escalante, Tingambato, Nahuatzen, Cherán, among others.
At a press conference, Ramírez Bedolla reported that, during the next visit of the virtual elected candidate, Claudia Sheinbaum, scheduled for the near future, she will present a comprehensive project for the recovery and development of this entire lake area and its surroundings.
Source: jornada
