The demolition work for removing the Inturia Dam has finalised today with the reopening of a stretch of the Plazaola Greenway related to the area of action.

This 13-metre-high dam completely fragmented the River Leitzaran. The removal of this obstacle was planned in four stages, two within the POCTEFA GURATRANS project and the remaining two included in the LIFE IREKIBAI project.

In each stage, a height equivalent to the dam was taken away and after each operation no further work was performed for a year, with the purpose of letting the river adapt gradually to the changes. This approach was modified during the final stage, reducing the waiting period so as not to worsen the problem of erosion that was affecting the Greenway, which has already been repaired and reopened to the public.

The removal of the machinery marks the conclusion of this long process aimed towards improving the ecological condition of the River Leitzaran. All that’s left is to wait until autumn – winter to revegetate the area with species native to the surroundings in which it exists (Cantabrian alders and mixed forest).