INDRHI: drought in Rincón Lagoon is a cyclical phenomenon

Barahona.- Juan Carlos Novas, director of operations at the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI), explained that the drought affecting Rincón Lagoon in Cabral, Barahona, is a cyclical phenomenon caused by multiple factors, including low rainfall and sediment accumulation from atmospheric activity over recent years.

Novas noted that the lagoon has experienced similar events in the past, including in 2014 when incomplete infrastructure at the Mena Dam contributed to reduced water levels. The current drought has once again lowered the lagoon’s “wet” area, raising concerns among local fishermen and communities who depend on it.

The INDRHI official emphasized that the drought is not due to external interference, but rather to natural and climatic factors. He also pointed out that rainfall in 2024 was below normal, and 2025 has so far been similarly dry despite the ongoing hurricane season.