The emphasis is on the urgent need for implementation
The San José del Cabo Estuary is considered a State Ecological Reserve and was declared a Protected Natural Area in 1994.
However, this site of admirable landscapes and abundant natural resources has been compromised in recent decades. This area, which requires multiple conservation efforts to protect wildlife and its habitat, is discussed year after year, and conclusive regulation has yet to be achieved.
It is hard to remember how many times authorities have promised,solemnly, to rescue this place.
In a regular meeting, members of the San José del Cabo Estuary Advisory Council informed the citizens of some agreements and actions to mitigate some of the wetland’s problems. They said the Management Program will be ready in 60 days and will include the following:
- The hire of 10 people to be exclusively responsible for monitoring the estuary.
- A set of four solar-powered thermal (infrared) cameras will be purchased to monitor the estuary day and night using C-2 (a command-and-controlcenter for monitoring and video surveillance).
- The hired estuary guards will be provided with communications equipment (portable radios); they will also be trained by PROFEPA (Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection), particularly in their legal role, to enforce environmental laws and regulations.
- Homeless people who spend the night in the areas surrounding the estuary will be removed.
- CONAGUA (National Water Commission) which is responsible for administering, regulating, controlling, and protecting national waters, presented a proposal for dredging (extraction of sand from the lagoon) to restore the estuary’s depth.
- In a month, CONAGUA will define the actions to be carried out in the estuary.
- On Tuesday, April 29, the Los Cabos Water and Sewer System will present a proposal and project for the relocation of the treatment plant.
- A joint operation will be carried out to prevent encroachments on the banks of the streams adjacent to the estuary.
- A Public/Private Trust is being established to allocate financial resources to the rehabilitation of the estuary. It will be announced in a month.
- A document has been prepared for SEMARNAT (National Secretariat of Environmental Protection) to remove invasive plants and animals (salt pine, cats, etc.).
In the coming days, most likely on Sunday, March 30th, a Cleanup Campaign will be held in the San José Estuary. An announcement will be made soon to invite people to join in the effort.