Though Hurricane Melissa wreaked havoc across eastern Cuba, it also led to an unprecedented event: the Baraguá Reservoir in Santiago de Cuba has hit its highest recorded water level.
Katia Yamilka Alarcón Méndez, the general director of the Hydrological Utilization Company, shared on Facebook that the reservoir reached a historic height of 100.50 meters, containing 390.806 million cubic meters of water.
She highlighted that the reservoir is currently releasing water at a rate of 6,629 cubic meters per second, while the spillway is designed to handle a discharge of 8,100 cubic meters per second.
According to the official, this marks the highest water accumulation ever recorded at the Baraguá Reservoir, which was constructed to manage the waters of the Cauto basin and safeguard the low-lying areas of eastern Cuba.
Due to the torrential rains brought by Hurricane Melissa, the reservoir's water flow surged rapidly, reaching its maximum capacity.
Impact on Other Reservoirs
In another update, Alarcón Méndez reported that the Parada Reservoir, also located in Santiago de Cuba, is currently holding 31.028 million cubic meters of water, equating to 90.7 percent of its total capacity, following a rainfall of 311 millimeters within 24 hours.
The engineer reminded the public that this reservoir, built in 1985, had only seen similar levels twice before, the first time being on October 13, 2007.
Preparedness and Monitoring
The hydraulic authorities are maintaining vigilant oversight of the eastern region's reservoirs due to the potential risk of overflow and soil saturation after Hurricane Melissa, which has caused extensive damage to infrastructure, crops, and homes across several provinces in eastern Cuba.
In anticipation of Melissa's impact, the Provincial Defense Council of Santiago de Cuba had enacted an emergency plan to address the threat of reservoir overflows and the intense rainfall predicted as the hurricane, then a powerful Category 4 system, approached the nation.
Understanding the Impact of Recent Storms on Cuban Reservoirs
What is the significance of the Baraguá Reservoir reaching its highest water level?
The Baraguá Reservoir reaching its highest water level is significant because it demonstrates the extreme impact of Hurricane Melissa and highlights the reservoir’s critical role in managing the region's water resources and protecting low-lying areas.
How do authorities manage the risk of reservoir overflows in Cuba?
Authorities manage the risk of reservoir overflows in Cuba by constant monitoring, implementing emergency plans, and maintaining infrastructure to handle excessive water flow, especially during severe weather events like hurricanes.