Lakeside Rock Discharge at Garda Sparks Stability Concerns

The day before yesterday, Wednesday, around 2:30 PM, an indeterminate, but certain, quantity of rocks discharged to the north of the Casa Rossa, where the lakeside narrows and Garda immediately plunges, sank, causing a wave of notable size, at least one meter high, which hit the entire shoreline from the port of Piazza Catena to Punta Lido.

Description of the event

Technically, it is a “siphon.” The material, as it is amassed, presses and weighs down the material beneath. On the inclined seabed, there is a layer of slippery silt.

At a certain point, without warning, the pressure overcomes, and the mountain of rocks suddenly submerges. Nothing unusual, states assessor Matteotti, describing it as an event that could have been easily anticipated.

The discharge continues, using the same methods, with the certainty that the seabed cleared of mud will offer greater resistance. Once filling is complete, divers will need to verify the stability of the artificially created rocky footing to ensure it does not, in a few months or years, sink the entire new lakeside, including benches, trees, and walkways (and possibly passersby).

History and doubts about stability

Mario Matteotti, native of Riva and guardian of local memories, is among those who approach the lakeside operation with a touch of skepticism.

The “sfòndrie” — places where the lake abruptly sinks near the shore — are common from Casa Rossa to the Rocco.

The outer part of the Fraglia pier was swallowed overnight, and it had to be rebuilt with new rock fill.

Near the Adige outlet, Garda, in even more remote times, the land gave way and a truck sank: there were two fatalities. Also at Casa Rossa, during the initial lakeside works, due to ground collapse, a motorized tricycle was swallowed by the lake; in that case too, the driver lost his life.

All these signs cast doubt on the effectiveness of the fillings. The lake is treacherous, even on the shore.