Mexico tries to bring drought-stricken lake back to life

Published 2024년 7월 19일

Tridge summary

Mexican authorities are taking steps to revitalize Lake Patzcuaro, which has been severely affected by drought, heat waves, and water theft. The plan includes releasing 50,000 native silverside fish into the lake and cleaning up freshwater springs. The lake, located in the tourist and fishing hotspot of Michoacan, has seen its surface area halved in the past 30 years due to these issues and illegal water extraction by avocado farmers. The state government is also investigating the release of wastewater into the Santiago River, which led to mass fish deaths in Jalisco state.

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Original content

Mexican authorities are releasing thousands of juvenile fish and cleaning up freshwater springs as part of efforts to rejuvenate one of the country's lakes stricken by drought and heat waves.State workers this week freed 10,000 silverside fish native to Lake Patzcuaro, whose waters attract fishermen and tourists in the western state of Michoacan.The aim is to release a total of 50,000 fish by the end of the year."Let's hope they reproduce," said fisherman Miguel Alba, 46."People who live here by the lake live from farming and fishing. But as there aren't any fish anymore, people are having to leave," he added.Drought, heat waves and water theft have depleted Lake Patzcuaro's water levels.Rainfall in Mexico in 2023 was 21 percent below average, making it the driest year since record-keeping began in 1941, according to the National Meteorological Service.The situation has only worsened this year, with heat records broken in the capital and several other cities.Another problem stems ...

Source: Phys