Lake Garda increases water supply for Mantua’s permanent meadows

The permanent meadows of the Mantuan area are receiving more water from Lake Garda: from noon on 2 September, the outflow from the lake rose from 27 to 36 cubic metres per second to counter the risk of drying out caused by limited rainfall. These are protected habitats of Community interest, maintained without ploughing through mowing and fertilisation and used to produce hay for dairy cows in the municipalities of the Mincio Park.

The increase in releases was made possible by coordinated management of the water resource. This enabled Lake Garda to get through the dry season while safeguarding drinking-water supplies, agriculture, tourism, industry and the environment. The lake stands 58 centimetres above the hydrometric zero level and is 45% full. The decision now makes it possible to support agriculture and the meadows of the Mantuan area, a historic and environmental heritage linked to the Sarca–Garda–Mincio system.