Dams across northern Morocco have undergone inspections and discharge tests ahead of the rainy season after heavy inflows filled three reservoirs in Tetouan province to capacity during the last hydrological season.
The Loukkos River Basin Agency began the checks on Sept 28 in coordination with local authorities, testing equipment used to release excess water and prevent flooding in downstream areas.
The inspections follow a particularly wet season in which Cherif Al Idrissi, Chefchaouen and Nakhla dams all reached 100 per cent capacity.
Between September 2025 and May 2026, Cherif Al Idrissi Dam received about 380 million cubic meters of water, while Nakhla recorded 86 million and Chefchaouen 49 million.
The inflows forced authorities to release large volumes of water through the dams’ spillways.
At Cherif Al Idrissi, about 237 million cubic meters were discharged through the spillway, compared with 80 million at Nakhla and 30 million at Chefchaouen.
Loukkos basin officials complete controlled discharge tests at Oued El Makhazine Dam ahead of the rainy season.
Bottom outlets were also opened gradually to manage reservoir levels, releasing another 100 million cubic metres from Cherif Al Idrissi and 16 million from Chefchaouen.
The latest checks have covered spillways, bottom outlets and other equipment at dams in the north.
At Oued El Makhazine Dam near Ksar El Kebir, technical teams inspected high-pressure pumps and main gates before carrying out controlled releases into the river downstream.
The agency said the inspections were intended to ensure that discharge equipment could operate safely during heavy inflows and help protect people and property in areas below the dams.
