Rodiles, another of Spain's perfect river-mouth breaks, is being threatened by a dredging project quite similar to the one that caused the wave in Mundaka Bay to disappear for three years. Often described as Mundaka's little sister, Rodiles is a sand-bottom break in the mouth of the Villaviciosa River in Asturias, Spain. The Federation of Surf and Body-board of Asturias (F.S.B.P.A.) is calling for a public hearing before a decision is made. F.S.B.P.A. started a collective petition opposing the project and are hoping to gain more support for the cause. F.S.B.P.A. is also hoping the local government will demand an extensive environmental study on the effects the dredging will have on the wave and on the estuary's riparian habitat.
José Manuel Rodríguez, marine rescue chief, who claims that the project will facilitate maneuvering for boats that come in and out of the El Puntal port, proposed the dredging project. The proposal is seen by many people as unnecessary, not to mention excessive in scale, as boats already have an extensive area to maneuver within the river mouth (usually at least 40 meters wide), and depth is only a problem during extreme tides, which happen only four times a year. People are concerned that the ecological damage of dredging the estuary and destroying a world-renowned wave does not justify the benefits generated by the dredging project.
The Villaviciosa estuary is one of the most special natural places of the Asturian coast. It's popular not only for its flora but its fragile and intricate fauna, which develops geomorphic and ecological processes only specific to the area. The estuary's special characteristics allow for many ecological benefits, such as the development of large areas of marsh halofila (the most tolerant plants to marine salinity), and habitats for endangered species. The banks of mud that remain exposed during low tides constitute the habitat for a multitude of migratory birds, including the zarapito real, an endangered and protected bird species.
The estuary is currently protected under the decree 61/1995, of April 27 (BOPA 128/ June 5), which protects the area as a Natural Reserve. This decree, titled "Principal Plan of the use and management of the Partial Reserve of the Estuary of Villaviciosa", protects the estuary from any harmful human activity. The decree states that any human activity in the estuary shall not disrupt the natural habitat, especially those of the endangered species; it also states that any activity that might harm the ecosystem in the area must be avoided.
Besides the huge ecological disaster that threatens the estuary, Rodiles, the left river-mouth break (which is nourished by the sandbar that they want to dredge) will be most certainly be destroyed. Rodiles is the area's best wave, not only for the hundreds of surfers that live locally but also for the many visitors that visit each year from all over the world, including famous surfers. Apparently, the line-up has been a long-time favorite destination for world-famous surfers John Peck, creator of Quicksilver, and the legendary Jeff Hackman.
The amount of surfers who enjoy Rodiles is very high and at the same time un-measurable. Thousands of surfers have enjoyed this wave for the past three decades. The loss of this wave will have detrimental effects on the Asturian surf community, not only for the surfers themselves, but for the established surf schools, surf camps, surf shops, campgrounds, and a whole economic infrastructure that has been built around this wave.
The facts are clear; the dredging project is not a solution but a huge economic and environmental disaster waiting to happen, all for the benefit of only a few boaters who are inconvenienced by tides. Mundaka's wave disappeared for three years and the natural environment in the area still suffers from the detrimental effects caused by the dredging. The loss of Mundaka's surf spot also severely hurt the local economy, and evoked angry responses from a multiplicity of different business owners, none of whom had previously realized the income that the wave brought to the town. Do we want Rodiles to be next?
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