Story details
25th June 2024
The Ministeri de Transició Ecològica i el Repte Demogràfic, operating in line with coastal guidelines, has started work to bring sand to Garraf beach. This is to alleviate the loss caused by storm Nelson in March.
The beach at Les Casetes del Garraf will receive sand from Port del Garraf, where around 20,000 m³ will be dredged from the mouth and access channel of the port. The dredging operations are carried out by means of a ganguil dredger with a running suction system, and the extracted material is brought to the beach by means of a pipe. The works will last for about 8 or 10 days and will be done approximately between eight in the morning and six in the afternoon. The part of the beach where work is being done will remain closed to the public, although the part of Llevant (where the bar is located) will remain open, as no action will be taken in this area. When the work on Garraf beach is finished, it will continue to Sant Sebastià beach, which in this case will come from the port of Aiguadolç, where 20,000 m3 of dredging will also be carried out.
The Ministry is carrying out this action on the two beaches where it has identified that there is the greatest deficit of sand. Dredging will also be carried out – to a maximum of 20,000 m³ – in the mouth and access channel of the port of Vallcarca, to bring sand to the beach at Far de Sant Cristòfol in Vilanova i la Geltrú and to playa llarga in Cubelles.
All these actions have the necessary administrative authorization, including a report as to the compatibility of the action with the marine strategy of the Demarcació Marina Levantino-Balear. This report studies the effects that the work could have on the seabed, with the aim of protecting the environment and marine species. The report shows that the work fulfills a series of conditions to preserve the environment. The report concludes that the proposed dredging and sediment input areas are not within any protected areas.
Current situation of the beaches
The regression of the beaches and the receding of the coastline in Sitges and, in general, throughout the coast, is a fact that has been accentuated in recent years due, mainly, to climate change. Due to this, in 2022 the City Council of Sitges and the General Directorate of Mountain and Coastal Policies of the Generalitat approved a new plan for seasonal uses and services in order to adapt to the current reality of the beaches. The Plan is valid until 2026.
This 2024 season has been marked by the impact of Storm Nelson at the end of March, right at the start of the beach season. Nevertheless, the beaches of Sitges have gradually recovered. In the case of Balmins beach, for example, there has been an improvement in conditions during the month of May which has allowed the installation of services on this beach at the beginning of June.
Adapted from the original here