The Los Cabos municipal government is dredging and clearing arroyos across the municipality, removing hundreds of tons of accumulated waste and sediment to reduce flood risk before the rainy season hits in July.
The Dirección General de Servicios Públicos (General Directorate of Public Services) is running a permanent clearing program that targets strategic zones where debris buildup poses the greatest danger during heavy rains. Work crews are pulling out sediment, brush, branches, and trash that block natural water flow through the dry riverbeds.
Over 400 Tons Removed From Salto Seco Alone
The numbers from recent operations are substantial. In Cabo San Lucas, crews removed more than 400 tons of waste and discarded items from multiple stretches of the Arroyo Salto Seco. On Avenida Constituyentes, workers collected 48 tons of branches and garbage from the storm drainage canal.
In San José del Cabo, dredging crews pulled 675 cubic meters of accumulated material from the Arroyo San José Viejo. Teams also cleared sections along the La Y Griega to Santa Anita corridor, plus the arroyos in the Colonia Nueva Esperanza and Arroyo Don Guillermo areas.
Why Arroyo Flooding Matters in Los Cabos
Arroyos are dry riverbeds that channel rainwater during storms. When blocked by trash or sediment, they overflow quickly, flooding roads, damaging homes, and cutting off neighborhoods. The tropical storm and hurricane season runs from July through October, and even moderate rainfall can turn a clogged arroyo into a fast-moving hazard.
Clearing these waterways also serves an environmental purpose. During heavy rains, debris in arroyos washes directly into the Sea of Cortez, carrying urban waste and untreated sewage onto beaches that are central to the Los Cabos tourism economy. Officials say keeping arroyos clear helps protect the region’s Blue Flag beach certifications.
Residents Asked to Stop Dumping in Arroyos
The municipality urged residents not to dump trash, construction rubble, or other waste into arroyos and storm canals. Illegal dumping is the primary driver of blockages that cause flooding. City officials said the cleanup operations will continue on a permanent basis throughout the rainy season.
The work is part of a broader preventive strategy led by the XV Ayuntamiento de Los Cabos under Mayor Christian Agúndez Gómez. La Paz is conducting similar arroyo clearing operations ahead of the same season.
This story was first reported by the Los Cabos municipal government at loscabos.gob.mx.