The Municipality of Tigre filed a formal claim with the Chief of Cabinet of Ministers of the Nation to request the reinstatement of the floating containment barriers at the National Rowing Track located on the Reconquista River.
These elements, removed by the Secretariat of Tourism, Environment, and Sports, serve an essential function: protecting the sports area from floating waste and assisting in reducing pollution in a highly degraded watercourse.
Their absence not only jeopardizes the use of the track as a training and competition center but also poses a health threat. The lack of containment allows solid waste to move unchecked, leading to potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes and rodents, increasing health risks for the population.
The municipality pointed out that the issue is not exclusive to Tigre. The Reconquista River runs through 18 districts in the Buenos Aires Conurbation, turning this into a regional environmental concern. Furthermore, the request seeks not only an urgent response but also a comprehensive approach to the conservation of a key environment for sports, tourism, and the ecological balance of the Delta.
## Rowing, a tradition of the Reconquista River threatened by pollution
Tigre is not only a district of great ecological value but also the historic birthplace of Argentine rowing. This tradition began in the late 19th century when the first official regatta was held on the Luján River on December 10, 1873, with the notable presence of then-President Domingo Faustino Sarmiento.
Six days later, the Buenos Aires Rowing Club was founded, initiating a series of sports institutions along the Delta’s shores, many of them propelled by European immigrant communities who found in rowing a way of integration and community life.
The National Rowing Track, built for the 1951 Pan American Games, established the district as a high-performance hub for rowing and canoeing. In 1973, Tigre was officially declared the “Capital of Mini-tourism and Birthplace of Argentine Rowing,” a recognition now threatened by the lack of action towards an environmental situation that compromises not only sports but the entire ecosystem.
## What is the purpose of retention barriers?
The devices removed by the Secretariat of Tourism, Environment, and Sports of the Nation served a crucial function: acting as a barrier to prevent floating waste from entering the National Rowing Track, thereby helping mitigate pollution in an already highly degraded watercourse.
Their absence led to increased dispersion of solid waste, negatively impacting not only the sports area but also posing a health risk. The accumulation of garbage can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, rodents, and other vectors that directly affect the population.
It is important to emphasize that the Reconquista River does not solely belong to the Tigre district; it crosses 18 municipalities in the Buenos Aires Conurbation. Therefore, the deterioration of its water quality compromises the environmental and health well-being of thousands of people living in the lower basin and its surroundings.
