{"id":5132,"date":"2026-04-04T19:25:37","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T19:25:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/traceyeaton.com\/?p=5132"},"modified":"2026-04-24T20:12:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T20:12:12","slug":"dredge-baby-dredge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/traceyeaton.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/04\/dredge-baby-dredge\/","title":{"rendered":"Dredge, baby, dredge"},"content":{"rendered":"

The dredging of a beloved river in western Panama has provoked outrage among many residents.
\n“How they destroy nature, what a shame,” read a comment in response to an Instagram post<\/a> about the dredging by @pan_patria_justicia. “Wake up, Panamanian people. They’re killing our rivers,” another comment read. (Haga clic aqu\u00ed<\/a> para acceder a la versi\u00f3n en espa\u00f1ol de este art\u00edculo).
\nWorkers are dredging the Chiriqu\u00ed Viejo River to extract thousands of tons rocks and gravel. During past dredging projects, local officials have cited the need to reduce the risk of flooding. This time around, they say they need rocks and gravel for road repairs and paving in Tierras Altas District.
\nPresident Jos\u00e9 Ra\u00fal Mulino Quintero and his cabinet of ministers authorized spending up to $100 million for infrastructure improvements and flood control in November 2024. They said heavy rains that month led to 11 deaths nationwide and damaged homes, roads, bridges and crops.
\nOfficials declared a national state of emergency, allowing them to waive the usual environmental impact studies. They authorized spending an additional $60 million in January 2025.
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