Santa Catarina launches river desiltation projects to curb flood risk

The State Protection and Civil Defense Secretariat of Santa Catarina has begun desiltation works on the Taió River in the Alto Vale do Itajaí, clearing 3.36 km of riverbed with an investment of R$ 3 million. Simultaneously, a contract has been signed to desilt a 3.4 km stretch of the Itajaí do Oeste River in Rio do Oeste, budgeted at R$ 5.142 million. Officials say the operations aim to improve water flow, eliminate hydraulic bottlenecks and lower the risk of flooding during the intense rains expected this year, especially under El Niño conditions.

The initiative is part of a broader state program that, since 2024, targets river cleaning in the flood‑prone Vale do Itajaí region. More than 350 km of rivers are slated for cleaning through direct state actions and agreements with 48 municipalities, covering towns such as Rio do Sul, Lontras, Mirim Doce and Presidente Getúlio. The projects follow directives from Governor Jorginho Mello and Secretary Fabiano de Souza, who emphasized the essential role of these works in protecting communities living alongside the rivers.