Environmental expert: rivers blocked by old dams may cause repeat flooding
After July's heavy rains caused flooding and washed-out roads in the Talsi area, a World Wildlife Fund representative warns that similar incidents could recur elsewhere in Latvia where old dams still block rivers. She discussed the issue on Latvian Radio's program "Monopols".
Heavy rains in July in the Talsi region demonstrated the destructive power of water — fields were flooded, and strong currents washed out roads near the Dursupe dam. Magda Jentgena, a board member of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), discussed the event on Latvian Radio's program "Monopols".
According to Jentgena, many people view such events as one-off occurrences unlikely to happen again. However, she warns this may not be the case — similar flooding scenarios could repeat both in the same location and elsewhere across Latvia.
Old dams as a risk factor
One of the main reasons rivers can no longer regulate water flow naturally is the presence of old dams that remain on many Latvian rivers. These structures block the natural flow of water, causing rivers to lose their natural functions, the environmental expert emphasized.
Jentgena pointed out that long-term human activity has altered the natural state of rivers, creating additional risks during periods of intense rainfall such as those seen in the Talsi area this past July. As long as outdated hydrotechnical structures remain in riverbeds, the threat of flooding will continue.
