Lake Garda Reaches 1960 Levels Amid Flood Emergency Management
The lake level, recorded by the Foffa family, who manage the meteorological observatory and seismic station in Salò, remains unchanged at 173 centimeters. This is the same measurement taken on Sunday morning, compared to 166 centimeters on Saturday and 162 centimeters on Friday. The data are displayed daily under the porticoes of the town hall.
Since 1960, the year of the great flood, Lake Garda had never reached these levels. Considering that each additional centimeter corresponds to 3.7 million cubic meters of water, we realize the enormous mass of liquid being retained.
Water Resource Management and Emergency Interventions
To the north, all basins (from Lake Santa Massenza to Lake Ledro) continued to discharge water via the Sarca, Ponale, and other streams. Not enough, starting from 6 p.m. Friday until 10 a.m. Saturday, the nearly ten-kilometer-long tunnel connecting to the Adige River was opened: the Autonomous Province of Trento ordered a discharge of 50 cubic meters per second, later increased to 100.
Lake Garda has taken on the responsibilities of a broad area: from Trentino to Basso Mantovano, all the way to the Po River. Meanwhile, yesterday was a day of waiting.
Affected Services and Structures
The Salò post office, temporarily located inside a container on the Canottieri square due to ongoing renovations at its main site for several weeks, reopened after a hurried closure at noon Saturday “due to emergency”.
However, cars cannot enter the parking lot, which has been transformed into a pond, frequented by swans and ducks. The hydrants at the hospital continue to pump out 2,000 liters of water per minute from the boiler room. The goal is to prevent the system from shutting down.
Sacks of sand are placed everywhere. At the start of the lakeside, the Don Pedro pizzeria, which was flooded, has resumed normal activity. Many basements require constant attention.
Water Spread and Land Conditions
On the beach at Baia del Vento, directly opposite the Cavazza family’s Island in the territory of San Felice, the sea on Saturday and the waves transported tons of wood. Logs are floating on the surface. After Sunday’s sunshine, it rained again yesterday.
Local officials, civil protection personnel, Carabinieri, State Police, and volunteers remain alert. They are conducting patrols and checks, waiting for the situation to improve.
Protection Measures and Flood-Prone Areas
In Sirmione, the large Monte Baldo parking lot and some central areas remain flooded; in Desenzano, the lakeside road continues to be threatened, leading hotels and nearby establishments to defend themselves with hundreds of sandbags.
Sergio Zanca and Maurizio Toscano
