Ministry intervention saves Nature Reserve from flooding
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The abnormally high flood level that was threatening the ecosystem of the Ghadira Nature Reserve and the surrounding fields due to a blockage in the culvert, have started to recede, thanks to the efforts of workmen from the Ministry of Resources and Rural Affairs.
BirdLife Malta alerted Minister Pullicino last month about the flood waters which had by then reached abnormally high levels due to heavy rains and the blockage in the culvert which normally allows the reserve wardens to control the water levels in the nature reserve.
“Not only had this flooded the islands in the Reserve which are vital to Malta’s only breeding population of Little Ringed Plovers among other species, but the floods had also inundated the surrounding farmer’s fields, making the fields difficult to plant crops.” said Dr. Andre Raine, BirdLife Malta Conservation Manager Over the last week, the workmen from the Ministry managed to clear three truckloads of sand which were found to be blocking the drainage culverts at the Reserve.
This was probably caused by the fact that the originally straight drainage culvert had to be diverted around a kiosk that was built on the beach, thus resulting in a bend which trapped the sand. An illegal development by the same kiosk, which had blocked access to a manhole used by Reserve staff to get to the culvert, is now being dealt with by the Lands Department.
“Once the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs became involved in this issue, they acted swiftly to solve the problem. The Ministry workmen spent five days clearing the blockage, and had to do so by hand,’ explained Dr Andre Raine, BirdLife Malta’s Conservation Manager.
“Now that the water levels are dropping to their usual levels, the Reserve ecosystem and surrounding fields can return to normal. This happened just in time as the breeding season for certain species is nearing. The Reserve staff have already noted breeding pairs of Little Ringed Plovers returning to the islands, and the pairs are now courting.”
Ghadira and Simar Nature Reserves are open to the public on weekends, from 10:00 until 16:00.
Photo of Ghadira Nature Reserve taken from Foresta2000 site. Photograph by Marija Schranz.
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