This petition is a plea to the environment agency and local councils to urgently investigate the disappearance during summer months of all but a few kilometres of this small river which has flowed with ample crystal clear water since time began until July 2022 which is when the ecoside began. On behalf of wild waters please sign, please share, please be a voice for this river.

The Alpreade flows from the Gardunha above Castelo Novo in Central Portugal. Local people with long experience of living in the area say that, until last year (2022) the river continued to flow throughout the year, with a reasonable flow rate even in the summer months. It is with some sadness and alarm that we must convey to you our serious concerns about the water levels in the river presently.

Last year for the first time in living memory the river in specific areas, it was dry for several months, this year it is happening again. There is a minimal but still visible flow at Castelo Novo which disappears completely a little further downstream leaving fish dying and causing tremendous harm to this fragile ecosystem. This rare area of ​​natural beauty and ecological diversity is becoming little more than sand and boulders with an occasional small pool.

The Alpreade and the riparian areas that surround it are known to be the home of many rare and endangered species including otters, kingfishers, dragonflies and small fish which are highly endangered and only found in a limited number of rivers in Portugal. The river is a rare and precious resource not only essential to the ecology of this area but also the Tagus river basin.

The community is concerned and we are sure that you as specialists and professionals also share this concern. This small but ecologically important river, which flows all year is rare, and deserving of protection from people who are powerful enough to protect it. Your careful attention to this matter will have benefits for ecology, local people and indeed for tourism to Fundao, which has been a priority for the Camara Municipal and the President Sr. Paulo Alexandre Bernardo Fernandes. As you will be aware, the environment is a current governance focus for the Camara Municipal (see https://www.cm-fundao.pt/index.php/ambiente

We trust that you share our concerns and that you will be willing to dedicate your resources to investigate the dramatic reduction of water volumes over the river's short journey from the Gardunha mountain to Castelo Novo and beyond. We understand that it is not possible for non-specialists like ourselves to determine whether there is excessive extraction by industry and agriculture, with or without license from the authorities and speculation of this nature is not helpful or based on data. Your agency empowered, required and scientifically qualified to make this judgment and to take appropriate corrective action.

As Your Excellencies will certainly know, Alpreade is born in Gardunha above Castelo Novo. Residents with long experience living in the region say that, until last year (2022), the stream continued to flow throughout the year, with a reasonable flow even in the summer months. It is with great sadness and apprehension that we convey our serious concerns about the current water levels in the stream.

Last year, for the first time in memory, the stream dried up in specific areas for several months and this year it is happening again. There is a minimal but still visible flow in Castelo Novo that completely disappears a little further downstream, leaving fish to die and causing tremendous damage to this fragile ecosystem. This rare area of ​​natural beauty and ecological diversity is becoming little more than sand and rocks with the occasional small pool.

The Alpreade stream and the riverside areas surrounding it are known to be home to many rare and endangered species, including otters, kingfishers, dragonflies and small endangered fish that are only found in a limited number of rivers. in Portugal. The stream is a rare and precious resource, not only essential for the ecology of this area but also for the Tagus river basin.

The local community is very concerned and certainly the specialists and professionals of this entity will also share this concern. This small but ecologically important stream, which flows all year round, is rare and deserves the protection of people powerful enough to protect it. Your attention to this matter will benefit ecology, the local population and also Fundão's tourism, which has been a priority for the City Council and President Paulo Alexandre Bernardo Fernandes. As you will know, the environment is a current focus of governance of the City Council (see https://www.cm-fundao.pt/index.php/ambiente

We trust that they share our concerns and that they will be willing to dedicate their resources to investigating the dramatic reduction in water volumes along the short journey of the stream from Serra da Gardunha to Castelo Novo and beyond. We know that it is not possible for lay people like us to determine whether there is overharvesting by industry and agriculture, with or without permission from the authorities, and speculation of this nature is neither helpful nor based on data. This entity is duly competent, qualified and scientifically qualified to carry out this analysis and take the appropriate corrective measures.