Reviving the water body, but in a humble way. This was the slogan chosen by the mayor of Aguere, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, when he announced the undertaking of a project in February 2023 to fulfil the long-awaited aspiration of restoring the ancient wetland that gave La Laguna its name. An ambitious yet imperative initiative to prevent floods in La Vega lagunera, which will also bring significant environmental benefits, create a recreational area, and hold historical importance by reviving exceptional natural heritage.
Last December, the city council assigned the task of drafting the project to the public company Gestur Canarias, marking a pivotal moment in this process with the initiation of the tender process for a hydrogeological study of the area. Technically, this phase is crucial as the study will determine the soil characteristics, its actual capacity for absorption, and any leaks, enabling the design of a park that involves the revitalisation of an open land of nearly 30,000 square metres situated between Silverio Alonso, Tabares Bartlet, José Peraza de Ayala, and Avenida San Diego streets.
“This project holds vital significance for the city as it aims to address a pressing issue – the risk of flooding – through nature-based solutions, primarily the restoration of the former wetland and ecosystem,” emphasised Luis Yeray Gutiérrez. He underlined the city’s unwavering commitment to realise this project promptly, enabling La Laguna to reconnect with its origins, establish a recreational and leisure hub, and enhance biodiversity in this part of the city. The municipal councilor stressed the necessity of close collaboration with the joint venture Teidagua and the Government of the Canary Islands to ensure the project’s execution with utmost technical assurance.
The hydrogeological study, currently open for tender by Gestur for a sum of €72,905 and a preparation period of four months, aims to evaluate the park’s feasibility in the spectrum of a green infrastructural plan addressing sustainable urban drainage management through controlled flooding – a measure aligned with natural water retention strategies set by the European Commission’s Directorate General for the Environment.
La Laguna’s involvement in the European project Natalie, aimed at enhancing cities’ resilience to climate change through nature-based solutions, falls within this strategic framework. This community initiative, encompassing thirty cities from eight nations, has identified several projects across the EU embodying the necessary approaches, measures, and innovations to adapt urban landscapes. “The restoration project of the former Aguere lagoon will stand as a blueprint for renaturalising spaces across other European countries,” mentioned the mayor.
Reviving the former La Laguna wetland demands a meticulous technical execution, evident in the ongoing tender process for hydrological and hydrogeological studies of the area, cartography, climatic data analysis, estimation of aquifer infiltration from precipitation, inventorying water sources (springs, wells, galleries), watercourses (rivers, canals, irrigation ditches), and hydraulic infrastructure (aqueducts, spillways).
These preliminary studies will enable the updating of a conceptual hydrogeological model of La Vega lagunera, paving the way for the formulation of predictive scenarios to optimise the park’s design and assess its performance under extreme conditions. Various scenarios, including heavy rainfall, drought, and changes in drain positions or wetland topography, will be simulated to gauge the park’s efficacy and resilience.
The research team entrusted with these studies will consist of a diverse range of experts, including at least three technicians skilled in subsurface hydrology, groundwater flow modelling, interpretation of hydrogeological data, as well as administrative personnel, draftsmen, GIS specialists, and local staff for on-site investigations.
The city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna derives its name from the wetland that graced the Aguere valley during its foundation. Human activities gradually shrunk the lagoon between 1599 and the late 18th century. Urbanisation efforts kick-started in the early 19th century triggered the drying and draining of the wetland.
