After a reasonable amount of time, and when the dam in Potamies maybe fills up with water, the beauty of the landscape surrounded by the imposing Lasithi Mountains will be indescribable.

We don’t know when, or if ever, the dam will fill with water, but, here is what we envision happening with a different approach to the given facts, providing the pro and con warriors lay down their arms in view of a different reality.

To begin with, let’s rename the dam and call it a man-made lake! The Man-Made Lake of Aposelemi!

Migrating birds seek out these beautiful areas to live or to take a rest from their wanderings around the world.

Perhaps after a few years a wetland habitat might develop which could be entered in some European Nature Program.

Perhaps the protection and the reformation of the area can be funded to include tree planting, walking routes and rowing associations etc.

Perhaps the man-made lake of Aposelemi can be a prototype of environmental management.

Perhaps there will be visitors who want to see and enjoy the wonders of nature.  

Now, back to reality.

Mr. Mihalis Avyerinos, the foreman from Aktor, the company doing the work, advised that “the laying of the subterranean pipes has been going on since March 17.”

The water from the dam through steel pipes will be routed to refineries in the Agriana area, although the work there has not yet started. These refineries will have the capability to handle 110.600 cubic meters of water a day. They will send clean water to the cities of Iraklion and Aghios Nikolaos through subterranean pipes. A third ecological conduit, providing unrefined water, will end up at the Aposelemi Delta.

  These works have been estimated at 125 million euro and 75 percent will be covered by EU.

In regard to the placement of subterranean steel pipes in the Gouves Township, Mr. Avgerinos promised to “make every effort to avoid creating discomfort to the local population.”  The work will last about one month, he said.

The digging and placement of pipes on the road to Anopoli will require traffic to stop for about five hours.

The big, parallel road by Kako Oros, where digging will be quite extensive, is scheduled to start this winter.

Also, traffic must stop for 24 hours on the road after Gouves which connects the beach road with the national road, but that is also scheduled for after the summer.

When asked about the pipes lying on the side of the road for quite some time now, partially hindering traffic, Mr. Avgerinos said: “they already have the permits necessary to dig and lay them down.”

The works seem to be moving fast, and some measures regarding safety and proper signage in the area were being taken.

Of course, we must bring forth the comment made by Gouves Council President Manolis Anagnostakis, who pointed out that “while an application for a permit to start digging was filed with the township, they began the works without receiving the township’s approval which is still forthcoming.”

These works will finish around the area of the University Hospital, but there is no specific termination date yet, as they are still trying to get the land by compulsory purchases which are legal for public works use.