Environmental expert: old dams block rivers' natural flow, worsening flood risk
After heavy July rains caused flooding near Talsi, where fields were submerged and roads washed out, a World Wildlife Fund representative warns similar events could recur elsewhere in Latvia due to old dams still blocking rivers' natural flow.
In July, heavy rainfall in the Talsi region near the Dursupe river caused flooding that submerged fields and washed out nearby roads. The incident was linked to a dam on the river that could not withstand the sudden surge of water.
Magda Jentgena, a board member of the World Wildlife Fund, told Latvian Radio's programme "Monopols" that this should not be seen as an isolated occurrence. According to her, similar flooding scenarios could happen again, both in the same location and elsewhere in Latvia, where rivers still contain old dams and other hydraulic structures obstructing the natural flow of water.
Human interference in river systems
The expert emphasized that decades of human activity have significantly altered the natural state of Latvia's rivers, preventing them from performing their natural functions. Dams and other artificial constructions hinder the free movement of water, which under normal circumstances would help channel heavy rainfall without causing destructive effects on surrounding areas.
This situation becomes especially risky during intense rainfall, when rivers are unable to naturally absorb and redirect additional water volumes, putting pressure on aging structures that may fail under the strain.
