Amigos de la Presa
a program of Audubon de Mexico
Wednesdays on the Water – Go Kayaking!
Join our group of dedicated kayaking guides for a morning padde to enjoy the beautiful scenery and varied birdlife of the Presa Allende, our local reservoir, and the Rio Laja, the river system that feeds it.
Cost is 300 pesos for a 2-2.5 hour paddle, which includes a kayak, paddle and life vest. Audubon members: 250 pesos.
To book your space or to make arrangements for a private outing, contact us at amigosdelapresaeventos@gmail.com
a Precious asset
The Presa Allende is a reservoir that was formed in 1967 upon the completion of the Ignacio Allende Dam located a few kilometers southwest of Centro San Miguel.
The Presa is fed by the Rio Laja and is one of the largest bodies of water in the State of Guanajuato, which stores water for downstream agricultural fields. Although it has the potential to become one of our region’s most precious assets, from almost its beginning it has been neglected – a repository of untreated sewage, fertilizer runoff and human castaways in the form of all manner of trash.
Since 2021, the Presa has been compromised by an invasion of Water hyacinth (Lirio Acuatico) that has created great hardship for our local fishing community, birds and other wildlife and recreational enthusiasts.
Despite these challenges, the water remains safe for boating activities.
Clean-up efforts
We recognize the natural beauty and recreational value of the Presa and its value as a habitat for birds and other wildlife, and have begun to tackle the job of clean-up. We work with other organizations who are concerned about water and wildlife to share information and to seek and advocate for solutions to our water quality and quantity challenges.
Clean-up efforts
For many years we have monitored the Presa and our efforts to keep it clean are ongoing. We are host shoreline cleanups, removing unwanted plastic bottles and trash that have found their way into the watershed.
a sustainable future
Amigos members believe that by encouraging use of the Presa for eco-friendly recreation we are raising awareness of this valuable resource and encouraging more people to get involved in its protection
mission statement
Amigos de la Presa Allende promotes the continued improvement of the quality of the water of the Presa by encouraging beneficial practices and recreational uses of the Presa Allende.
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