The organization of the Transsegre and the Paeria de Balaguer have decided to suspend the descent of boats down the river due to the drought. Every year the Ebro Hydrographic Confederation (CHE) is asked to release more water than usual, due to the shallowness of some areas near the Sant Llorenç de Montgai swamp.
Due to the closure of irrigation in the Urgell canal and the fact that, despite the rains, the drought situation has not improved, they have had to make the decision to suspend the activity due to “responsibility”. However, on Sunday June 16 there will be a ‘Petita Transsegre’ with boats that will go down the urban section of the Segre between the Sant Miquel bridge and the Pont Nou.
Due to the experience of the last editions, this year an organization has been planned that is very much based on the safety of the participants, with measures such as identification bracelets with a chip, departure and arrival controls and restrictive measures for alcohol consumption in the natural space of the river.
The main reason for the measures is the will to redirect the festival, which is traditionally held on the first weekend of July. Understanding it as an activity in the natural environment and avoiding uncivil behaviors that had been observed in the last decisions and that could put the safety of the participants at risk.
The drought already caused the possibility of the boats going down a few weeks ago to be reconsidered and has finally caused this decision to be made, also given the lack of alternative solutions such as leaving from another point of the route or looking for another space that meet the needs of access to the river.
