Estepona Town Hall Continues Riverbed Clearing for Flood Safety

Estepona Town Hall is clearing urban riverbeds and streams to prevent flooding and fires, with extensive operations ongoing until early 2027, ensuring community safety

Estepona residents and property owners will benefit from ongoing work to clear riverbeds and stream crossings within urban areas. Estepona Town Hall is carrying out this vital maintenance to minimise the risk of flooding and fires, particularly as the rainy season approaches.

Estepona Town Hall reports that its riverbed clearing campaign is progressing across various urban rivers and streams. The initiative aims to prevent both flooding and fires.

The work involves removing obstacles from river and stream beds that could hinder normal water drainage. This intervention also prevents blockages that might cause flooding during heavy rainfall, and reduces the risk of wildfires that could endanger residents and the municipality's natural heritage.

Extensive Clearing Operations

These tasks, which will continue until the first quarter of 2027, are focused on key locations. These include Arroyo Judío and the upper crossings of Camino la Alberdina, near the BP station and downstream from the A-7 (Padrón beach area). Other sites include Arroyo el Taraje (upstream and downstream from Avenida de Las Palmeras), Hornacino de Levante (roads above and below Avenida Litoral), Hornacino de Poniente (downstream and upstream from Avenida del Carmen), Arroyo Pantoja and its tributary, Arroyo Dos Hermanas (upstream and downstream from the A-7), Arroyo Las Abejeras, Arroyo La Galera (downstream from the A-7), Arroyo Marimacho (upstream at the crossing with Camino Los Molinos), Arroyo Victoria (upstream at the crossing with Camino Los Molinos), Río Padrón (Fuente Cursito area, Huertas del Padrón, and Charca la Extranjera area). Río Guadalobón is also being addressed (upstream from the A-7 at the four concrete crossings, the crossing with Carretera de Casares, and the crossing with Camino Los Polvitos). Further work is underway at Arroyo la Miel where it crosses Carretera de Casares, and at the Cantarrana crossing (both sides of the upper crossing). Additionally, operations will take place in Arroyo Vaquero, Arroyo Enmedio, Arroyo El Saladillo, Arroyo Dos Hermanas, Cañada Ortega (south of the A-7), Río La Cala, Río Monterroso, several sections of Río Velerín Alto, Arroyo los Polvitos, Arroyo Las Cañas, and Arroyo Antón.

The campaign will also address other areas where cleaning needs arise as the work progresses. Furthermore, approximately thirty river and stream crossings will be tackled both upstream and downstream within the municipal area.

Jurisdiction and Safety

It is important to note that Estepona Town Hall is only authorised to operate in riverbeds located within urban zones. The maintenance of riverbeds in other areas of the municipality falls under the responsibility of the Junta de Andalucía.

Estepona Town Hall asks residents in affected areas to observe signage while the work is being carried out.

These clearing and pruning tasks resumed after the summer season. This timing respects the Junta de Andalucía's guidance against working on river and stream banks from spring through summer (March to July-August) to protect nesting periods for protected species. All ongoing work has the necessary authorisations from the Consejería de Sostenibilidad y Medio Ambiente.