Galapagar Cleans the Guadarrama River to Prevent Flooding

The Town Hall of Galapagar, together with the Community of Madrid, has started the cleaning of nearly a kilometre of the Guadarrama River as it flows through Colonia España to prevent flooding during the rainy season.

The Town Hall of Galapagar has launched a cleaning, clearing, and conditioning operation along the banks of the Guadarrama River in the Colonia España area. The work, coordinated with the Community of Madrid, aims to anticipate the arrival of the rains and prevent water from reaching the streets and homes near the riverbed.

The intervention covers nearly a kilometre, from the Herreño Bridge to the Romacalderas Bridge, in the vicinity of the Real Cañada Segoviana. It will take place throughout September and includes clearing vegetation, pruning, removing plant debris, and cleaning accumulated materials from the riverbed using specific machinery.

This action responds to a community demand and the experiences of recent years, when heavy rains and sediment accumulation hindered water flow, causing it to reach streets and the vicinity of homes. The Peculiar Roads department of the council has promoted the work, which has the authorisations of the Tagus Hydrographic Confederation and the coordination of the Fire Services.

The mayor of Galapagar, Carla Greciano, has highlighted the collaboration with the Community of Madrid to make this cleaning possible, which the Town Hall has been requesting as a preventive measure: “In recent years, we have seen the consequences that heavy rains can have when the riverbed accumulates sediments, vegetation, and debris that hinder water flow. That is why we have worked to ensure that this cleaning is done now, before the rainy season. It is an action that has not been carried out for too many years and responds to a real need of our residents,” she stated.

The operation takes place on the Galapagar side, while the other bank belongs to Collado Villalba, which has necessitated coordination between administrations. The initial work has already begun, and local residents have expressed their satisfaction to the Town Hall regarding an intervention they consider necessary.