Lagoa dos Salgados (1 Viewer)

Heard the final go-ahead for the development ie destruction of the site had been given. Is that right?

Robin

Hi Robin,

Nice to hear from you!

Speaking to SPEA about a week ago - I understand that all is on hold until the EIA is completed - not sure when its to start though.

Do you know something different?

Simon I've sent you an email.

Thanks

Robin

So is there any update we can all share?

I was there at Easter and the lagoon was open to the sea - I assumed this was natural as the seas were quite rough. The lagoon was empty but filling up at high tide.

I was there again a couple of weeks back and there seemed to be very few birds around. A few Avocets and blacked wing stilts but not as many as usual at this time of year. Not even a lot of coots. Is it just me or is it a bad season at Salgados?

Simon, I never got around to thanking you properly for the day we had in the Castro Verde area at Easter - was a great day out with a lot of highlights.

Hi Alan,

Thanks for your kind comment!

Regarding Lagoa dos Salgados I have no new news - I would think we will have to wait a good while before the EIA is carried out (out on tender etc etc) then really that study should cover a whole annual cycle and include all major flora and fauna so I beleive we are still on the long haul for the area to become legally protected and secured.

Regarding the erratic water levels - apart from the obvious "inconveniences" I'm sure that the whole food chain is being severely disrupted. Yes, there are fewer birds than normally though lots of Avocets (50+ inds) - I was there today and there were still some passage Sanderling and Dunlin as well as Purple Swamp Hen and Heron, a few Spoonbill, breeding Marsh Harrier, Short-toed Larks, Little Terns and Kentish Plovers - but yes a rather poor showing - together with common species like Alpine and Pallid Swifts, Bee-eaters, Hoopoes and Woodchat Shrikes the area is still worth 2 or 3 hours.

Thanks - my Salgados list was not quite a long as yours, which is probably no surprise to you ;-) I did spot the Sanderling and Dunlin, Heron, Little Terns, Kentish Plovers, Alpine and Pallid Swifts, and Hoopoes though.

Lawlessness at Salgados
Updated: 14-Jun-2013

By LEN PORT [email protected]

The Lagoa dos Salgados coastal lagoon has suffered shocking abuse this spring. Unrestrained dogs and roaming livestock continue to be a major hazard to breeding birds. They have been attacking chicks and damaging nesting habitats. These animals and their owners go unchecked because the environmental authorities, including the ‘Green’ police, do nothing about it.

In contrast to last spring, there has been almost too much water rather than too little in the lagoon. This has had the effect of pushing nesting waders into more remote spots, out of sight of visiting birdwatchers - but not out of the way of predators. Many eggs and chicks, particularly of Avocets and Black-winged Stilts, have fallen victim to marauding dogs owned by a shepherd.

In a rather different example of wanton disturbance to sensitive nesting species such as Purple Heron and Little Bittern, a large wedding party last weekend watched from the lagoon’s boardwalk as a plane flew low over the water pulling a banner congratulating the bride and groom.

The disturbances are getting worse, says Rui Eufrásia who for the past eight years has been closely monitoring the situation at Salgados for SPEA, the Portuguese society for the study of birds. “The place has been abandoned. There is no law.”

There are, however, some significant rays of hope. A source in Brussels has unofficially indicated that the European Commission may be poised to urge the Portuguese government to declare Lagoa dos Salgados a special protected area within the Natura 2000 network. This may come about as a result of an appeal last year from the Algarve conservation NGO, Almargem, and even earlier proposals by the Birdlife International partners SPEA and RSPB.

In another positive sign, the regional water supply and treatment agency, Águas do Algarve, has reiterated its intention to put in place a sustainable management system that will control the level and quality of water in the lagoon. It will be done in co-operation with the APA national environmental agency and the ARH regional hydrographic institute.

The high water level this year has been due to the heavy winter rains in contrast to the previous winter’s relative drought. This sort of thing is a natural consequence and not unusual in coastal lagoons. Caring human intervention is needed if optimum all-year-round levels are to be maintained for breeding, wintering and migrating birds.

Isabel Soares, the former mayor of Silves who is now the head of Águas do Algarve, confirmed this week that the money is in place for extensive works to install a series of ditches, islets and dykes.

The works will also include a pipeline to bring waste water from western Albufeira to the Salgados treatment plant instead of depositing it, as at present, straight into the sea off the nearby beach. Water from the treatment plant will continue to supply the lagoon.

The overall €1.2 million scheme “will mean a very positive improvement for the whole area,” said Soares. Work is scheduled to start in mid-September and to be completed by March next year.

Declaring Lagoa dos Salgados a protected area under EU law and installing a sustainable management system are vital if the lagoon is not to be “destroyed” as feared by some protesting commentators.

Serious concerns remain, however, about the possible impact of the huge tourist complex planned for the Armação de Pêra side of the lagoon. A spokesman for the development company, Finalgarve, part of the Galilei group, said this week there had been no significant progress with the project since their announcement four months ago of an ‘environmental park’ within the complex.

The future of the tourist development project may hinge on a comprehensive environmental impact study, which is expected to be soon completed and released for public discussion.

Follow Len Port’s ‘Algarve Newswatch’ at algarvenewswatch.blogspot.pt

http://www.algarveresident.com/0-53482/algarve/lawlessness-at-salgados

Thanks for the info.

I did see couple of dogs running around when I was there - at the top end near the ruined house/barn. Also a group of horses and riders who were going right across the middle of the dunes.

Just received news from SPEA of this important development - been hoping for this for years (I just hope the proposed resort development isn't going ahead as well)

3 cheers for SPEA

Lagoa dos Salgados will be opened to the sea so that (essential) pipe laying and habitat improvements may be made. The work is by the Algarve water company and is being supervised by the regional Algarve water authorities with further supervision by SPEA (Portugal's Birdlife partner). The habitat improvements include: dams and sluices, banks and islands, hedge/linear planting along western side of lagoon, footpath and viewpoints. The works are predicted to finish by 15th December, 2013 and the intervention around outside borders of the lagoon by 16th January, 2014.

Here is the basic plan http://www.spea.pt/fotos/editor2/01_plano_geral_agosto_2013layo.pdf

From what I heard earlier today, work has just started.

(and the Portuguese communication from SPEA - translated above)

[A lagoa dos salgados será aberta ao mar para realização de trabalhos de construção de uma conduta e de requalificação do habitat. Trata-se de uma empreitada a cargo das Águas Algarve, com a supervisão da Administração da Região Hidrográfica do Algarve e o acompanhamento da SPEA. A requalificação do habitat inclui: construção de açude e comportas, fundões e ilhotes, sebe ao longo do limite oeste, trilho pedonal e miradouros. Os trabalhos dentro da lagoa estão previstos terminar em 15 de dezembro de 2013 e os arranjos exteriores à lagoa deverão decorrer até 16 de janeiro de 2014.]

Mick Sway said:

How will the area be affected in the short term ?:smoke:

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I've no idea really - but I suppose the area may still be worth visiting - there might be a lot more mud than normal during the works which could mean more waders - but I'm guessing.

Simon Wates said:

I've no idea really - but I suppose the area may still be worth visiting - there might be a lot more mud than normal during the works which could mean more waders - but I'm guessing.

Click to expand...

We have been there when its been drained.
You could walk across the lagoon it was that dry.
Sadly no water birds at all.
Lets hope that there are a few puddles and mud flats.

Mick Sway said:

We have been there when its been drained.
You could walk across the lagoon it was that dry.
Sadly no water birds at all.
Lets hope that there are a few puddles and mud flats.

Click to expand...

When I've seen it drained it was actually much easier to see Bluethroats and one puddle by the vegetative edge had a Pectoral Sandpiper and nearby was a Spotted Crake.

So not all bad.

But yes great news if the area has some protection.

Robin

Wonderful news to brighten a dull day in the UK!

Looking good for Lagoa dos Salgados!

Many thanks for the update Simon!

Been down to the site this week. The lagoon is mostly drained and very dry. There seems to have been a dam created to provide a channel down the eastern side by the golf course while the work on the rest of the site is on-going. A mechanical digger and a truck seem to be digging out channels and creating islands in the middle of the lagoon. Most of the bird life seems to be concentrated in the new channel by the golf course - a lot of storks, herons, gulls and cormorants and very few waders. Looks a bit of a mess at the moment but hopefully it will be an improvement when it is finished.

Edit:

Went back down today for another look. About 150 glossy ibis in residence in the channel by the golf course and on one of the small islands towards the sea. Also saw a marsh harrier and a few more smaller waders than the other dy. Also one solitary flamingo and one black winged stilt.

Thanks for this Alan - I haven't been down for a while and was curious as to the progress - good news that they are keeping busy and not stalling.

Visited yesterday and saw that a large area has been Bulldozed flat.
There appears to be a mud dam retaining part of the Lagoon.
Still large Nos of Glossy Ibis present, BW stilts in good nos and Three Flamingos.
The dam appears to be very popular with Grey Herons, I counted 16. 2 purple Gallinules seen.
Just got back to UK this afternoon and will be sorting and posting photos of the area later this weekend.

Photos of work at Salgados

All taken from the Boardwalk.

Stranger said:

Visited yesterday and saw that a large area has been Bulldozed flat.
There appears to be a mud dam retaining part of the Lagoon.
Still large Nos of Glossy Ibis present, BW stilts in good nos and Three Flamingos.
The dam appears to be very popular with Grey Herons, I counted 16. 2 purple Gallinules seen.
Just got back to UK this afternoon and will be sorting and posting photos of the area later this weekend.

Click to expand...

When we visited on 14th October, we saw a single spoonbill, a couple of flamingo and one caspian tern. The large numbers of spoonbill and ibis had done a runner, though we tend to have that affect on birds wherever we go.
Of course many more birds were present, if you'd got a scope for instance I'm sure that the large numbers of gulls would have been worth checking out.
Though for the autumn visitor,I couldn't help but feel that we'd missed out on the terrific views of waders,gulls and terns one normally gets from the shoreline viewpoint.
Couldn't say that we spotted any swallows or sand martins either, they are usually hawking insects over the lagoon in good numbers at this time of year.
Lets hope that the extensive earth works enhance this fabulous wetland.
I can't say I noticed any progress with the abandoned development overlooking the golf course.
Why on earth they want to build on the west bank, is a mystery to me.:-C

Some images attached of the earthworks and dammed lagoon.
Image one taken from the boardwalk,near the viewing platform.
Images 2 and 3 taken from the what was the lagoon west side, sandy viewing area looking across to the gold course.

More good news!

After local elections the newly elected Silves county council president vows to protect Lagoa dos Salgados - see excerpt from the latest Portugal News in English:

After sixteen years in Silves’ driving seat the PSD social democrats were ousted in this year’s local elections, on 29 September, by CDU, a coalition made up of the PCP communist party and the greens ‘Os Verdes’.It was seen by many as a surprise result, but not to the new Mayor of Silves Rosa Palma, who was sworn in last week Monday (21 October). “Throughout the electoral campaign we noticed more and more that it was in fact possible for us to win Silves, which
proved right”, Rosa Palma tells The Portugal News. Known for “keeping their
word” and being “entirely immune to corruption and promiscuous connections”, Palma claims CDU candidates highlight the party’s “uncompromising defence of public interest and spirit of mission.” Their victory in Silves, she says, is “mainly due to the quality and credibility of the team, as well as CDU’s credibility as a political force and broad coalition (made up by an independent majority), which stands out for the humble and serious way it makes contact with the population.”
Given that the CDU coalition also incorporates green party ‘Os Verdes’, many were quick to question whether this would bear any influence on the advancing of a controversial development project at the Salgados Lagoon in Pêra, or Pêra Marsh (Lagoa dos Salgados), which falls under Silves’ domain. It was announced last year that the local authorities had given their backing to a massive tourist resort including three hotels and a golf course, to take
shape at the natural beauty spot, which is popular among birdwatchers
and nature lovers from all over the world. “Evidently it will [influence the ongoings]”, Rosa Palma replies,pledging that the party’s position on the matter has not changed in light of the electoral win; “Rather the contrary, it has only further legitimised our aspirations to safeguard one of the last ecological ‘oases’ in the Algarve.”As the Mayor of Silves, Rosa Palma vows she will “seek to protect the unique ecological habitat which, from a tourist point of view, should be valued
and used in a way that does not involve mass construction.”She continues: “We know there are urban commitments for that area, but we will keep an eye on the situation because the community has realised that building for building’s sake doesnot necessarily bring wealth and employment, particularly when we are referring to worn-out formulas that imply the destruction of areas that are ecologically sensitive and which, for being so rare in the Algarve, justify being safeguarded and protected.” News of the project caused an immediate backlash, with the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds (spea), part of global organisation Birdlife International, calling it a “megaattack on the environment.”
A petition was launched in June last year to protect the Salgados lagoon from any development and has so far amassed more than 22,000 signatures. On Wednesday this week a spokesperson for CCDR-Algarve, which was responsible for carrying out an Environmental Impact Study (EIA) on the project, told The Portugal News that the finished file has been dispatched to Lisbon and is currently waiting to be signed off by the State Secretary for the Environment. Once it has the State Secretary’s stamp of approval construction can begin. The EIA’s initial conclusions were vehemently contested by those opposing the project during a phase of public consultation, which ended earlier this year on 26 July. Meanwhile, Rosa Palma says her immediate priority is “getting to know, in a thorough and detailed manner, the economic and financial situation of Silves, so we can restructure municipal accounts and elaborate, from here on in, serious, credible and transparent budgets.” Once that objective has been achieved the Silves Mayor believesit will help “wipe out the bad image” that has been built up of Silves “over the past 16
years, of a county with potholed roads, with rubbish to be picked up, with a lack of cleanliness and public hygiene, and degraded or abandoned places of collective use.” She is also aiming to boost the local economy “which at the moment is paralysed”, to guarantee more job opportunities and help the underprivileged, “limiting as much as possible the harmful effects of the serious and profound economic and financial crisis affecting our country and the county.” The restoration of degraded areas such as the Caixa d’Água neighbourhood, the Silves castle hillside, the renovation of Armação de Pêra Casino and interventions in the historic centres of Silves’ parishes will happen, Mayor Rosa Palma says “as and when the council’s financial difficulties are resolved.”