dinero_admin The Comisión Ejecutiva Hidroeléctrica del Río Lempa (CEL) is carrying out an intensive removal campaign of floating aquatic vegetation in Lake Suchitlán, specifically in the Puerto San Juan sector, Suchitoto District, Cuscatlán Norte Municipality, Cuscatlán Department.
The intervention responds to the growing accumulation of vegetation and solid waste in the reservoir, a situation that has begun to hinder navigation and jeopardize the livelihoods of riverside communities, particularly those that depend on artisanal fishing and tourism.
The proliferation of this aquatic vegetation has been favored by rainfall and surface runoff, which carries nutrients and waste from the upper reaches of the basin. This condition is aggravated by inadequate solid waste and organic matter disposal practices by some sectors of the population.
Faced with this situation, CEL activated its operational capacity, deploying specialized machinery and a shore lift along the lake’s shores. Extraction work is carried out with a combination of trained human resources and institutional mechanical equipment, enabling sustained progress in the removal of floating vegetation and accumulated waste.
Currently, more than 60 collaborators are participating in the work, including staff from the 5 de Noviembre and Cerrón Grande nurseries, social workers from the Social Responsibility Unit, specialists and resource guards from the Environmental Unit, and logistical, clinical, occupational safety, and institutional security personnel. Thirty people hired from nearby communities have joined this team, strengthening operational work and generating direct local employment as part of the institution’s social commitment.
“The work will be extended as needed to help restore optimal conditions to the reservoir, contributing to the recovery of affected areas, the reactivation of artisanal fishing, and the safe circulation of vessels”, said the head of the Environmental Unit, Engineer Juan Carlos Rosales Pinto.
The effort is being carried out in inter-institutional coordination with the Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (MARN), Ministerio de Obras Públicas (MOP) and the Cuscatlán Norte municipal government. Key support includes heavy machinery, dump trucks, mechanical shovels, barges, cranes, installation of floating barriers, boundary cables, and boats with outboard motors for operational assistance.
Lake Suchitlán, also known as the Cerrón Grande Reservoir, is the largest wetland in El Salvador. Its water surface reaches up to 126.65 km² at its maximum elevation of 243 meters above sea level. It was declared a Wetland of International Importance in November 2005 under the Ramsar Convention. This ecosystem is key not only for its role in generating electricity, but also for the environmental and socioeconomic benefits it provides to local communities. Furthermore, it plays an essential role in controlling and managing flooding of the Lempa River during extreme weather events.
With this event, CEL reaffirms its commitment to sustainable development in the areas of influence of its hydroelectric plants, promoting the responsible use of water resources, the generation of clean energy, environmental preservation, and the strengthening of productive activities such as fishing, tourism, and other essential livelihoods for salvadoran families.
