CAM increases flow of La Nutria for the Baraya aqueduct

The Regional Autonomous Corporation of the Upper Magdalena (CAM) increased the conceded flow of La Nutria creek to 25.57 liters per second (lps) for the aqueduct of the municipality of Baraya, in Huila. The measure is contained in Resolution number 2459 of 2026, dated August 27, published in the Official Gazette on Monday, October 5, 2026 (Edition 53,649, page 35). The new flow is intended for human consumption and domestic use for a projected population of 11,622 inhabitants.

The decision was adopted by the Sub-directorate of Regulation and Environmental Quality of the CAM, in exercise of the functions conferred by Law 99 of 1993 and by Resolution number 4041 of 2017, modified by resolutions 104 of 2019, 466 of 2020, 2747 of 2022, and 864 of 2024. File PCA-00536-25 reached the corporation via memorandum with CAM Filing number 718 of March 26, 2026, sent by the Northern Territorial Directorate, and the favorable technical concept is dated August 17, 2026. The resolution modifies Resolution number 3305 of October 6, 2025, which in turn had modified Resolution number 1194 of May 9, 2019, which regulated the use and exploitation of the waters of La Nutria creek.

The flow that will supply Baraya

Article one of Resolution number 2459 of 2026 expands the surface water concession permit for La Nutria creek, which flows through the municipality of Baraya, by an amount of 25.57 lps for human consumption and domestic use. The calculation was made with a 25-year population growth projection of 11,622 inhabitants, obtained by the geometric method based on the 1,771 current subscribers of the municipal aqueduct, with four inhabitants per dwelling.

The holder of the concession is the Public Services Company of the Municipality of Baraya Huila “Empubaraya” E. S. P., with NIT 813013343-7, whose general manager is Jessica Alexandra Medina Torres. The intake point is located at plane coordinates 896443E 840821N and the property corresponds to code CAM 106100100001.

Obligations, deadlines, and flow control

Submit, within 60 days after the ruling becomes final, the plans and the structural and hydraulic design of a flow control work.
Install a flow measurement system that allows the environmental authority to verify the captured volumes.
Respect the environmental (ecological) flow of the source, safeguarding sustainability downstream of the intake.
Previously process the riverbed occupation permit for the projected structures.
Use the waters within a maximum period of two years, under penalty of initiating the expiration of the concession.
Execute the approved PUEAA, with a duration of five years and quinquennial updates.
Pay the water use fee and report to the Administrative and Financial Sub-directorate of the CAM.
Maintain a protection strip of up to 30 meters on each side of the riverbed and 100 meters around the spring.

Other adjusted concessions in Huila

In the same edition of the Official Gazette, the CAM published other decisions regarding the water resources of the department:

Resolution number 2408 of 2026: denies the modification of the regulations to grant a concession of the La Guagua creek to Miguel Alexis Ortiz Vargas, as it is urban land in an area of environmental interest.
Resolution number 2409 of 2026: approves the transfer of the concession of the Neiva river to Flora Sánchez Losada, with 7.76 liters per second for agricultural use on the property “Parcela número Ocho (8)”, in Campoalegre.
Resolution number 2445 of 2026: grants 3.31 lps of the Nilo creek to Carmen Perdomo Tovar for agricultural, fish farming, and domestic use in Palermo.
Resolution number 2454 of 2026: grants 14.0 liters per second of the Tune river to Evangelina Calderón Penna, Carlos Alberto Silva Calderón, and Paola Andrea Fierro Calderón on the property “Villa Lorena”, La Urriaga village.
Resolution number 2463 of 2026: grants 2.26 lps of the Neiva river to Laura María Medina Flórez for livestock use (fish farming) in Campoalegre.

La Nutria Creek

According to the background of the resolution itself, the La Nutria creek is a public-use stream that originates at 2,400 meters above sea level, on the lands of the Pensilvania estate, with a total extension of 6,445 hectares. Its approximate course is 38.35 kilometers until it contributes its waters to the right bank of the Guarocó river, at an altitude of 553 meters above sea level.

The expansion of the flow ensures the drinking water supply of Baraya with a 25-year projection, in a department where the CAM concentrates a large part of its administrative acts on the management of water use. The measurement, control, and saving obligations imposed on Empubaraya seek to ensure that the new flow does not compromise the ecological flow of the creek nor the agricultural uses downstream.

Source: Official Gazette, Edition 53,649 of Monday, October 5, 2026, section I (Regional Autonomous Corporations), pág. 35 (official reference: Resolution number 2459 of 2026).