Marisco El Pango

We took a drive up the Marabasco beyond Cihuatlan last weekend to checkout the river, the diversion dam and the large El Naranjo II dam at the head of the valley. Lots of people at the 'ol swimming hole - diversion dam, beautiful valley beyond, still quite a bit of water in the river and El Naranjo is disappointing. I mean the work they have done is huge but it looks like there is still 80 to 90% left to go. More on that later or on my main Blog.

I'd heard that the Botanero El Pango is a fun place to end the day with some beers and free food. I have to say it's in a great location, enough breeze to be comfortable, the wait staff only moderately welcoming and the food way down the chart of acceptable. The ceviche was pretty good but the tacos dorados were deep fried tortillas with nothing inside. I saw sopitos coming on another table but not worth waiting for. I got the impression this is a place that gets "very drunk out" after dark and a decent menu was the last thing on their minds. Sorry to those who gave it a thumbs up .... but I can't.

Progress on El Naranjo II

Manzanillo, Colima. - The director general of Colima National Water Commission (Conagua), Aaron Modesto Mendoza, reported that to date, the construction of the Dam El Naranjo has moved long 25% after hurricane " Jova "(October 2011) destroyed much of what was up. The work is on the border of Colima and Jalisco.

The head of Conagua noted that after the passage of Jova they have practically started from scratch to build the dam El Naranjo, which will irrigate more than 7,000 hectares and will provide water to neighboring municipalities. Its construction began in 2010 when it had projected an investment of $1.058 million pesos.

Elaborating on the issue of dams, announced in 2012 plans to complete construction of the "Hervidero" in Colima and Veladero de Camotlán in Manzanillo.

Presa El Pedregal - barely open access

I wanted to visit for the first time. In most of the fotos I've seen it didn't look that large but it surprised me. After a few wrong turns and help from the neighbors I found the right road. The turnoff is to your right just after the agricultural stop on highway 80.

So thinking this might be at least public access or even camping or picnicking ... I find a gate (not open but unlocked) and further on a palapa with a few guys sitting around. He asks me why I passed the gate, this was his property. I said I just came up to see the dam and take a few fotos. He didn't ask for money and I didn't feel like asking what his future intentions are, palapa restaurant, camping ???

Anyway ... you can get in but don't expect to feel welcome

Turn left here

The gate and palapa in the background

The dam from below

Presa El Pedregal is a stone dam just NE of Melaque Jalisco off highway 80. It's main purpose to control flood conditions in the agricultural area in the flood plain below.

False Alarm about Presa El Pedregal overflow

I've wanted to see the new dam up highway 80 called Presa El Pedregal (Stone Dam) but have not had the time or really known it's location.  With all the rain the unpaved roads have been bad and I didn't want to try.  I found this short article and fotos on an area website.

False Alarm Overflow Dam El Pedregal

Given the large amount of water that recent rains have left the coast of Jalisco, residents of San Patricio, Melaque were alarmed by the possibility that the Presa El Pedregal might overflow, thereby causing some panic.

In this situation , the Municipal Civil Protection Commander AC David Fregoso, told the media that the water levels of the Dam El Pedregal did not represent any danger to the population, since it's about 80 % capacity, which is about 1 million 300 thousand liters, Added to this, he said the dam is displacing water in a controlled and moderate manner.

La Presa El Pedregal, which recently opened in this rainstorm has gathered a considerable amount of water preventing areas in Melaque from flooding as they have previously .

Photos: David Fregoso

Costa Pródiga Article