The latest storms have hit Barcelona’s seafront hard, causing severe damage and significant loss of sand. One of the most virulent storms, ‘Ciarán’ and ‘Domingos’, caused damage in November that even reached the promenade, destroying part of one of the walls on the Nova Mar Bella beach. To correct the damage, the City Council undertook emergency work that has already been completed, which lasted six months and involved an investment of 1.7 million euros.
Municipal sources have reported that the actions have consisted of removing the affected sections of the wall and rebuilding it with a breakwater to protect it from the waves. The service facilities have also been restored, the promenade has been paved and a new railing has been installed.
They have not been the only actions since to protect the entire work and recover beach services, the City Council has made a contribution of sand in this section, a total of 26,000 cubic meters from Masnou by means of a boat to carry out these operations.
According to municipal data through different calculation methodologies, the City Council estimates that in recent years the city’s beaches have lost 30,000 cubic meters of sand annually. To address this reality, a “series of strategic sand movements” are carried out each year, redistributing it from points where it accumulates to other “deficit areas,” municipal sources explain.
For example, when there is sand accumulated in the mouth of the Port Olímpic, dredging is carried out in this area to replace it on the beaches where it is most needed. In this sense, this year this operation will be carried out that will allow the recovery of 17,000 cubic meters of sand to be used mainly for the beaches of Barceloneta, Somorrostro and Sant Sebastià, and a small part of the Nova Icària beach, affected by the works. of Port Olímpic.
