en.Wedoany.com Reported - The government of Santa Catarina, Brazil, issued an environmental license on July 7, 2026, for the comprehensive management project of the Tijucas River estuary, formally approving the construction of breakwaters (molhes da Barra) and estuary dredging. The project, with an estimated investment of 55.3 million Brazilian reais, aims to improve river flood discharge capacity, enhance navigation conditions, and reduce the impact of flood disasters.
Located in southern Brazil, Santa Catarina is one of the country's more economically developed states, known for its tourism and port logistics. The Tijucas River originates in the Serra do Mar mountain range along the state's eastern coast, flowing through the city of Tijucas before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. The estuary has long been plagued by sediment accumulation, with deposits building up over the past two decades, leading to shallower channels, reduced navigability, and increased coastal flooding during the rainy season.
According to the state government, the main works include the construction of two breakwaters totaling 823 meters in length, along with estuary dredging and desilting operations. The breakwaters will be built on both sides of the river to intercept coastal sediment transport and stabilize the estuary channel, while dredging will remove long-accumulated bottom sediment to restore the river's cross-section. Upon completion, the project will improve navigation conditions for vessels, creating a better infrastructure environment for local tourism and yachting activities.
The project's implementation will also benefit surrounding private investments. Among them, the Rioparque planned community, developed by Novo Ambiente Urbanismo, has already planned to build a yacht marina in the area. Rioparque is one of the larger coastal integrated development projects in Tijucas in recent years. The construction of the yacht marina had previously faced operational obstacles due to restricted navigation conditions at the estuary, and the advancement of this dredging project will provide the infrastructure support needed for its realization. The environmental license was signed by Santa Catarina Governor Jorginho Mello in the city of Tijucas.
The issuance of this environmental license marks the official entry of the Tijucas River estuary comprehensive management project into the implementation phase. The project will improve local flood control capacity, promote the development of water-based tourism economy, and provide infrastructure support for surrounding private investment projects, holding positive significance for the economic and social development of Tijucas and the coastal region of Santa Catarina.
