Dajabón.- In Haiti, significant progress has been made on an irrigation canal project fed by the Massacre River, with the construction of two gabion walls directing the river’s flow toward a dam. This initiative is part of a larger effort to support agriculture in several Haitian locations.
The project has received significant donations including money, cement, rods and other materials. Recently, its scope has expanded to involve extracting a considerable amount of water from the Massacre River. Haitian workers on site are actively involved in the construction of the dam, using a hydraulic excavator, a tandem road roller and dump trucks. Efforts are also underway to expand the gabion walls.
Despite these developments, concerns are growing in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican government has attempted to stop the project, citing possible adverse effects on the biodiversity of Saladillo Lagoon. There is also concern about the impact on agricultural and livestock production in the provinces of Dajabón and Montecristi.
The continuation of this project, amid these environmental and economic concerns, highlights the complexities of resource management and transboundary environmental impact on shared river systems.