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Mar Menor weathers the recent storms and remains 'stable'
It will be another week or so before scientists know the true impact of the rains on the Mar Menor
The recent torrential rains in the Region of Murcia have put the Mar Menor's ecological balance to the test but fortunately, the lagoon “remains in a stable condition” despite the increased inflow of freshwater and nutrients.This is according to the latest data from the weekly monitoring carried out by the Murcian government, which has been keeping a close eye on this “fragile ecosystem” during the heavy spring downpours.
But the lagoon isn’t out of the woods yet as the experts believe it will be another week or so before we know the true impact of the runoff, which has mostly come through the Albujón ravine.
According to the monitors, since March 1, some 1.33 cubic hectometres of potentially nutrient-laden water has washed into the Mar Menor, accounting for 40% of the total annual accumulation. To put this into perspective, the lagoon contains approximately 650 hm3, so this inflow represents a mere 0.2% of the total.
⚠️ Precaución en la zona de la Rambla del Albujón: alcanza niveles altos de capacidad y hay riesgo de desbordamiento.
— Pacto por el Mar Menor (@PAcToMarMENOR) March 2, 2025
Las imágenes son muy preocupantes por la cantidad de sedimentos que están llegando al Mar Menor. pic.twitter.com/aTuRLBwsLd
For now, the data suggests that the ecosystem is holding steady, with average chlorophyll levels remaining at 1.13 milligrams per cubic metre of water, "within the threshold considered good/moderate."
Salinity "has decreased slightly," while turbidity has increased, but this parameter "will be re-established once the storm is over when the arrival of sediment from the catchment area decreases."
One of the most promising signs is the high oxygen level, which remains at 7.9 milligrams per litre, a full point higher than the same time last year, even though it didn't rain. The regional government attributes this stability to the ecosystem having "sufficient resilience" to absorb the rains.
Between March 1 and 11, some 560 personnel have been working tirelessly to remove 206 tons of algae, reeds and other elements accumulated by the storm.
Image: Pacto por el Mar Menor
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