Rising waters in Lake Texcoco have submerged the abandoned Mexico City airport project. Heavy summer rains continue to pour across central Mexico, marking a pivotal moment in discussions over land use and environmental restoration.
In the last two months, the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) noted that water levels have risen to four meters. This has submerged the partially constructed infrastructure meant for the ambitious $15-billion airport plan. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador halted construction in 2018 following a public vote.
Since then, steps have been taken to repurpose the area into an ecological park and protected zone. The Lake Texcoco Ecohydrology Demonstration Site now boasts recognition by UNESCO. Covering 14,030 hectares, it supports a wide variety of plants and animals, proving invaluable to the Valley of Mexico. Ecological surveys reveal the return of migratory birds and healthier populations of aquatic plants and shorebirds.
The rains have further hastened the transformation, expected to continue until September. This might raise water levels by another two meters. Local communities, activists, and organizations are committed to safeguarding the natural landscape from urban development.
Nearly 700 hectares are forecasted to be submerged soon. Lake Texcoco is reclaiming its historical function as a reservoir, fortifying Mexico’s water management in light of rising environmental demands.
Read more about this development here.
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