The mayor of Chiclana, José María Román, along with the delegate for Beaches, Ana González, presented the results of a topographic study conducted by the company Topgea on the La Barrosa and Sancti Petri beaches. The report, covering late June and early July, indicates a general improvement in sand quantity.
Overall, La Barrosa beach has seen an increase of 41,000 cubic meters of sand compared to the previous year. Added to this are 20,000 cubic meters contributed by Costas and another 20,000 recently added in Torre Bermeja following the dredging of the access channel to the Sancti Petri port. This brings La Barrosa to have 61,000 more cubic meters of sand than a year ago.
The Sancti Petri beach shows a positive balance of 3,600 additional cubic meters of sand compared to last year. This increase is concentrated in the area closest to the breakwater, while a loss is observed near the almadrabero village. The mayor noted that the sand granulometry in Sancti Petri is larger in the area near the village because currents carry away finer sand.
The study also details an increase of 11,400 cubic meters of sand in the dune area over the past year, fulfilling the objective of restoring the dune system. Westerly storms have favored sand accumulation in the dunes, leading to one walkway being placed over an existing one. The dry beach area has also seen a slight increase, while the intertidal zone has barely changed. In the submerged zone, the first 500 meters of permanent water, 222,000 more cubic meters of sand have accumulated, which is evident in the ochre colors of the water due to shallow depth.
The general diagnosis is optimistic, as the sand quantity has increased in all areas, including the dune and submerged zones. The mayor recalled that this data reflects the current situation and may change due to coastal dynamics. He noted that initial concerns in March about sand loss and the appearance of rocks on La Barrosa were alleviated in June due to sand accumulation. Román thanked the departments of Beaches, Environment, and Urban Maintenance for their daily work, emphasizing the importance of having the best beach in Spain with annual studies for its evolution.
