Estepona clears more than 50 river and stream sections to reduce flood risk

Estepona has started a new preventive maintenance campaign in its rivers and streams with the aim of improving water flow and reducing the risk of flooding over the coming months.

The work will be carried out at more than 50 points across the municipality and will focus mainly on sections located within urban areas, where the Town Hall has direct maintenance responsibilities.

The campaign will remove vegetation, reeds, waste and other materials that may accumulate in watercourses and obstruct the normal flow of water.

Preparing watercourses before heavy rain

One of the main objectives is to prevent blockages from forming.

When branches, vegetation and other materials build up in certain areas, they can reduce drainage capacity and increase the risk of overflowing during episodes of intense rainfall.

For this reason, work will focus particularly on sensitive locations such as crossings, underpasses, bridges and sections where the channel narrows.

The programme also has a second purpose: reducing dry vegetation that could contribute to the spread of fires.

More than 50 locations across Estepona

The work will be spread across numerous watercourses throughout the municipality.

These include the Judío, El Taraje, Hornacino de Levante, Hornacino de Poniente, Pantoja, Dos Hermanas, Las Abejeras, La Galera, Marimacho and Victoria streams.

Work will also be carried out along different sections of the Padrón River, including areas around Huertas del Padrón and other points where improved drainage capacity is considered necessary.

Work on Guadalobón, La Miel and other streams

The campaign also includes the Guadalobón River and the La Miel stream, particularly where it crosses the Casares road.

Other scheduled locations include the Cantarrana crossing and watercourses such as Vaquero, Enmedio, El Saladillo, Cañada Ortega, Los Polvitos, Las Cañas and Antón.

The La Cala and Monterroso rivers and several sections of Velerín Alto are also included.

The list may be expanded if new maintenance needs are identified during the campaign.

Around 30 river and stream crossings

In addition to working directly within the watercourses, the Town Hall will act at around 30 river and stream crossings.

The work will be carried out both upstream and downstream to prevent crossing points from becoming areas where debris accumulates.

These locations are particularly important because even a relatively small blockage can quickly reduce the space available for water to pass through.

A campaign continuing into spring

The work will not be limited to just a few weeks.

According to the Town Hall, the campaign will continue until spring 2027, allowing teams to work progressively through the different locations included in the programme.

The duration reflects both the number of areas involved and the environmental rules governing this type of work.

Work resumes after the summer

Clearance work along river and stream banks is suspended during part of spring and summer.

The reason is to protect the nesting periods of protected species.

These interventions therefore resume once that period has ended and are carried out with the corresponding authorisations from the regional authorities.

This timetable is designed to balance watercourse maintenance with biodiversity protection.

Which areas are the Town Hall’s responsibility?

The council points out that its responsibilities are mainly limited to sections of rivers and streams located in urban areas.

Maintenance of watercourses running through other parts of the municipality falls under the responsibility of the Andalusian regional government.

This division of responsibilities determines which authority must intervene in each section.

Signage during the works

The Town Hall has also asked residents in affected areas to cooperate while the work is underway.

During clearance and maintenance operations, access may need to be signposted or temporarily restricted at certain points.

Residents are advised to follow the temporary signs to allow machinery to operate safely and efficiently.

Prevention ahead of heavy rainfall

Cleaning watercourses cannot completely eliminate the risk of flooding, particularly during exceptional rainfall events.

However, keeping drainage points clear helps water move more freely and reduces the chance of vegetation or debris forming barriers.

This type of preventive maintenance becomes especially important during autumn and winter, when periods of intense rainfall can affect the Costa del Sol.

A recurring maintenance programme in Estepona

The campaign forms part of the regular maintenance work carried out by Estepona Town Hall in urban watercourses.

The aim is to ensure that key drainage points are in better condition during the months with the highest risk of heavy rain.

The combination of clearance, vegetation removal and inspection of crossings is intended to reduce incidents in residential areas, roads and locations close to rivers and streams.