The torrential rains from storm Therese diverted the flow of Barranco de Los Cernícalos, leaving agricultural farms without water and threatening the ecosystem. Residents and farmers are calling for urgent intervention from the authorities.
Barranco de Los Cernícalos, one of the most emblematic natural spaces in Gran Canaria, has been in a critical situation since the passage of storm Therese in March 2026. The torrential rains altered the water's course, diverting part of the flow towards secondary branches and leaving the main irrigation channel, which has historically sustained the farms and surrounding vegetation, without sufficient supply.
Numerous agricultural operations have lost the water necessary for their crops, endangering harvests, family farms, and the livelihoods of residents who directly depend on these resources. However, the problem is not limited to agriculture. The vegetation is beginning to show clear signs of dryness, and the ecosystem is progressively deteriorating. The uncontrolled new course of the water may also increase erosion, ground instability, and the risk of landslides.
Furthermore, the progressive drying of the vegetation significantly raises the risk of fire, especially during the hottest months, in one of the most well-known, visited, and appreciated natural areas of Gran Canaria.
The affected parties have communicated this situation to various organizations and entities related to land, water, and environmental management. Among them are the City Council of Telde, the City Council of Valsequillo, the Insular Water Council of Gran Canaria, and the Environmental Service of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria. Despite this, they continue to await effective intervention while the deterioration progresses each day.
Residents and farmers are demanding an immediate inspection by technicians and engineers, an official assessment of agricultural and environmental damage, the recovery and proper channeling of the flow, the cleaning and repair of the main irrigation channel, the removal of accumulated sediments, stones, and obstacles, the adoption of urgent measures to reduce the risk of erosion, landslides, and fires, and the development of a preventive plan to avoid further collapses.
Barranco de Los Cernícalos is not only an emblematic site for hikers and visitors. It is a natural, agricultural, and cultural heritage that belongs to all Gran Canarians. The lack of a rapid intervention could transform initially reparable damage into an environmental and economic catastrophe with irreversible consequences.
For this reason, those affected are making an urgent appeal to the media to visit the area, document what is happening, gather testimonies from those affected, and request public explanations from the competent authorities.
Barranco de Los Cernícalos needs help now. Because when a ravine loses its water, it also loses its life.
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