The INDRHI and the Central Sugar Cane Consortium (CAC) have intervened 6 kilometers of sediment extraction in the Dren Trujillo, from the Mena Dam in Tamayo, Bahoruco, to the Laguna Cabral in Barahona. This action seeks to revitalize the Laguna Cabral, severely affected by prolonged droughts in the southern part of the country.
Start and scope of the works
Works began in November 2025 and ended on January 10, 2026. The Regional Engineer Manuel Pineda, regional director of the INDRHI in Barahona, highlighted the collaboration of the CAC, which provided heavy equipment and personnel. “We are satisfied with this support to face the low pluviometric level that affects the Laguna Cabral“, Pineda stated.
Direct benefits for local communities
The cleaning of the Dren Trujillo favors fishermen from Cabral, Peñón and Cristóbal, as well as agricultural producers in Bahoruco, Barahona and Independencia. The Laguna Cabral, also known as Laguna Rincón, has lost volume due to sedimentation and lack of rainfall, a recurring cycle according to experts from the INDRHI.
Background and institutional commitments
In September 2025, the INDRHI attributed the drought in the Laguna Cabral to cyclic phenomena such as scarce precipitation and sediment accumulation. A month later, in October, the Senate’s Environmental Commission visited the area along with INDRHI, Ministry of the Environment and CAC, agreeing on these interventions. Historically, the Laguna Cabral supports seasonal variations; hydrological data indicate reductions of up to 30% in dry periods, affecting ecosystems and local economies.
Gilberto Díaz Batista, Superintendent of Water Resources of the CAC, confirmed the closure of the works. This public-private alliance marks an advance in the management of water resources in the southwestern Dominican Republic, where the Laguna Cabral sustains fishing and irrigation for thousands of families.
- Extraction: 6 kilometers of sediment.
- Duration: November 2025 to January 2026.
- Beneficiaries: Fishermen and farmers from three provinces.
The intervention in the Dren Trujillo reinforces efforts to preserve the Laguna Cabral, vital for the region. These actions respond to persistent climate challenges, with potential for replication in other vulnerable basins.
