BARAHONA, Dominican Republic – The Dominican government has successfully completed critical operational testing of the Monte Grande Dam’s emergency floodgate system, marking a significant advancement in national disaster preparedness. Under the supervision of Olmedo Caba Romano, Executive Director of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI), engineers conducted comprehensive functionality tests on all four main spillway gates to verify their water discharge capacity during potential weather emergencies.
The testing protocol included a simulated total electrical blackout to assess the automated gates’ emergency response capabilities without primary power. INDRHI technicians, working alongside the dam’s construction consortium, confirmed the system performed flawlessly during the drill. Director Caba Romano emphasized that the successful exercise demonstrates the dam’s operational readiness and fulfills President Luis Abinader’s commitment to completing this vital infrastructure project for the Enriquillo region.
Local officials highlighted the dam’s transformative impact on community safety and economic development. Barahona Provincial Governor Oneida Féliz Medina noted the structure’s dual purpose in supporting agricultural irrigation while providing critical flood control, evidenced during the recent Tropical Storm Melissa. Engineering expert Osiris De León provided technical confirmation that the four-gate system can discharge approximately 8,800 cubic meters of water per second, providing unprecedented flood protection for previously vulnerable communities including Tamayo, Vicente Noble, and Jaquimeyes along the Yaque del Sur River basin.