Global Real Estate Brokerage Expands in Mexico's Sought-After Lakeside Destination The Agency Valle de Bravo will be led by Managing Partner Ricardo Umansky and Managing Director Alex Cuttler seasoned real estate professionals with decades of experience who also lead The Agency Mexico City "We are thrilled to introduce The Agency Valle de Bravo, a destination that has remained one of Mexico's hidden gems," said Mauricio Umansky "From its peaceful lakeside lifestyle to its adventure-filled mountain trails Valle de Bravo offers a balance of calm and energy that's hard to find It's the perfect setting for The Agency's continued growth across Latin America and we're excited to bring our brokerage's unique approach to the region." "We are thrilled to introduce The Agency Valle de Bravo a destination that has remained one of Mexico's hidden gems," said Mauricio Umansky The Agency's strategic positioning as an industry leader shines through its commitment to expanding into prominent markets with significant growth potential and like-minded partners The Agency has rapidly increased its presence across the globe throughout the past year making it one of the fastest-growing luxury boutique brokerages in the world The Agency launched 30 new offices in 2024 and has already expanded into seven new markets in Q1 of this year "As The Agency continues its global growth, Valle de Bravo represents a natural next step for our brand," said James Ramsay and proximity to Mexico City make it an ideal location for both investment and retreat We're proud to partner with local leadership like Ricardo Umansky and Alex Cuttler who deeply understand the area and share our commitment to excellence." "Valle de Bravo is one of those rare places that has it all—mountains, lake life, charm, and a deep sense of culture. It's long been a best-kept secret among Mexicans, and we're excited to establish a presence here and connect Valle to a broader international audience," said Ricardo Umansky Managing Partner of The Agency Valle de Bravo "We've seen it evolve into a thriving second-home market and I'm thrilled to bring The Agency brand here and ready to welcome clients to this incredible part of Mexico." The Agency Valle de Bravo is located at Vega del Campo 9, Avandaro Valle de Bravo, Estado de México, CP 51200 Mexico. For more information, contact The Agency Valle de Bravo at +52 712 419 2175 or visit www.theagencyre.com tech-driven boutique luxury global brokerage representing clients worldwide in a broad spectrum of classes Breaking away from the traditional brokerage model The Agency takes a collaborative approach to the business fostering a culture of partnership in which all clients and listings are represented in a collaborative environment Agents and clients benefit from the shared resources and networks of the entire global team public relations and cutting-edge technology divisions The Agency has closed more than $88 billion real estate transactions since 2011 comprising over 130 offices in 13 countries Fernanda Lopez, The Agency, 1 424-230-3700, [email protected], https://www.theagencyre.com  Do not sell or share my personal information: Located in the dense forest of San Simón el Alto, just 2.5 hours from Mexico City, San Simón House by Vasconcelos Arquitectura reinterprets the traditional timber cabin as a modern family retreat Situated on a 10,000 square-meter plot surrounded by towering trees the project is designed to offer an escape from urban life while encouraging a deep connection with nature and family The design of the house prioritizes adaptation to the existing environment rather than imposing upon it and twelve additional species were planted to enhance the local ecosystem Positioned to be invisible from both the street and neighboring properties the house provides complete privacy and an immersive experience in nature Vasconcelos Arquitectura’s San Simón house is a modern family retreat in the forest | image © Camila Cossío The San Simón house consists of two main volumes, which the architects at Vasconcelos Arquitectura design to separate public and private spaces These volumes are connected by a hallway and transparent staircases that maximize views of the surrounding landscape Its central placement within the site allows for panoramic forest views reinforcing the idea that nature is the dominant element of the space Each room is designed to open directly to the forest with large windows framing the views like works of art The use of natural materials — wood and stone — establishes a raw yet refined aesthetic chosen for their ability to age gracefully over time with proportions ranging from 1 to 18 feet ensures flexibility and adaptability to the family’s evolving needs A covered terrace at the front of the house functions as an outdoor living and dining area Elevated on a concrete platform supported by columns the house minimizes environmental impact by allowing water Its southwest orientation maximizes natural light while leveraging the surrounding trees to provide shade in the afternoon the home consists of two main volumes connected by transparent staircases | image © Fabian Martinez The interior of Vasconcelos Arquitectura’s San Simón house is curated by design studio Espacio Tangible to be both functional and child-friendly Ninety percent of the furniture was made in Mexico in collaboration with local artisans Rugs were handwoven in Oaxaca using the pre-Hispanic ‘telar de cintura’ weaving technique while custom carpentry was crafted in a workshop in nearby Toluca The design reflects the family’s lifestyle with elements tailored to their preferences such as personalized color schemes in the daughters’ room and custom furniture in the sons’ space to promote reading and imaginative play Handcrafted pieces and artwork by emerging Mexican artists Each element contributes to a narrative that reflects the personal story of the inhabitants all existing trees on the site have been preserved | image © Fabian Martinez 90% of the furniture was crafted in Mexico in collaboration with artisans and carpenters | image © Fabian Martinez the structure is elevated on columns to minimize impact and maintain natural water flow | image © Camila Cossío and steel | image © Camila Cossío integrating nature into the interior experience | image © Fabian Martinez handcrafted artwork by emerging Mexican artists enhances the home’s cultural identity | image © Fabian Martinez architect: Vasconcelos Arquitectura | @vasconcelos.io interior designer: Espacio Tangible | @espacio_tangible landscape architect: Taller de Paisaje Entorno | @tallerdepaisajentorno photography: © Fabian Martinez @fabianml + Camila Cossío @_camilacossio AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style Facebook X a marginalized community hard-hit by the water crisis in Mexico City Researchers help drought-stricken Mexico City focus on a greener future Clark graduate students have played a significant role in the Mexico water and climate-change project from conducting research and interviews for an online atlas and extended-reality (XR) platform to living in and learning from communities Meeting communities In the city’s eastern borough of Iztapalapa water trucks rumble up and down the twisting socioeconomically marginalized alcaldía of 2 million people has been hit hard by dwindling water supplies They rely on government-supplied water distributed by trucks families reuse what’s left from washing laundry and dishes Many spend one-fifth of their income on water buying bottles or paying private companies for deliveries “I’ve been watching those tanker trucks for a long time, over many decades. They’re getting bigger and there’s way more of them on the streets,” says Tim Downs, a professor in the Department of Sustainability and Social Justice “That’s an indication that more and more people don’t have water coming into their homes.” An environmental scientist and engineer with expertise in aquifers and watershed stewardship Downs is principal investigator of a four-year interdisciplinary community-engaged research project focused on the Mexico-Lerma-Cutzamala Hydrological Region which provides water to some 28 million people in 200 metropolitan communities in and around Mexico City “We’re studying this region because it’s an example of what’s wrong with ‘business-as-usual’ development The Mexico City basin has been overexploited for 50 years,” he says “This region is emblematic of the pressing environmental and social justice challenges that the world is facing under climate change.” Funded by a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s Partnerships for International Research and Education Program, the project involves a team of researchers from Clark’s Department of Sustainability and Social Justice, Graduate School of Geography, and Becker School of Design & Technology Eleven faculty and over a dozen graduate students are applying their expertise in geographic information science (GIS) and interactive media design to help Mexico City and the Central Mexico region emerge from its long The project combines the tools of GIS — remote sensing/satellite data and digital maps — with system dynamics modeling and experiential educational experiences to help policymakers and the public understand the threats posed by climate change — both now and in the future — and how to mitigate them the researchers have been collecting data and “co-creating knowledge-for-action” with community stakeholders and peers at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) A crew of Clark student filmmakers traveled to Mexico City last summer to capture the stories and voices of those most impacted by climate change and water scarcity Capturing the ‘inherent truth’ as Downs prepared to head to Mexico once again and other media were reporting that Mexico City might hit “Day Zero,” when taps would run dry Mexico City is already in a Day Zero scenario,” he says “It’s a matter of how extensive water scarcity becomes and how quickly.” By drilling deeper for water, Mexico City has destabilized the ground and is sinking into the compressible lake beds of the volcanic basin on which it sits Even with a vast aqueduct snaking through the region to supplement the water supply, the local groundwater is drying up The city is pumping more and more from watersheds in the far west with plans to triple such transfers by 2050 Valle de Bravo and other reservoirs tapped by the aqueduct are depleting rapidly Water scarcity impacts agriculture and food are unevenly distributed across landscapes and populations resulting in inequities and growing climate injustice especially in marginalized areas like Iztapalapa Affluent neighborhoods “have much more secure access to water they are also going to be suffering water scarcity,” Downs says “Will Mexico City’s extreme water scarcity increase Unless we all work together to do something truly transformative.” The region is poised to become a model for sustainability and universities collaborate to visualize alternative climate and development scenarios to reshape their collective future and alter their fate he announced agreements with two communities that have joined the project seeking to become models of sustainability: Miravalle in southeastern Iztapalapa Surrounded by vacation homes in the state of Mexico Valle de Bravo is a “bellwether town” in the water crisis It faces plummeting reservoir levels because of water transfers to Mexico City high leakage (over 40 percent) due to aging pipes and climate change impacts to the water cycle The pilot communities are involved in the collection and actively involved because they are the ones with most at stake Each pilot community is launching a center for “climate change education Clark and its partners have donated air- and water-quality sensors to enhance experiential research-based learning for pre-K through higher education as well as 3D printers so that community partners can create more weather stations and print mosquito traps to trap vectors that carry the dengue pathogen; dengue fever environmental science and policy major María Salazar is creating a model to estimate just how much rainwater could be harvested by communities in the region Three M.S. students in environmental science and policy — Luke Trefry and Catalina Cuervo Maldonado — and a doctoral student in geography who studies small-scale farming and climate change will head to Mexico next spring to conduct research with the communities “Our goal is to use the project as a launch pad for co-creating long-term partnerships that offer unique learning opportunities for college students from freshman year through graduate studies,” Downs says “As a ‘liberal-arts-college-meets-research-university,’ Clark brings a singular synergy to this educational experience — it is a distinctive signature of our work Downs plans to connect young people in Miravalle and Valle de Bravo with those from Los Angeles and Worcester — specifically youth from the Latino Education Institute (LEI) based at Worcester State University — to share stories about life under climate change With guidance from Sustainability and Social Justice professors Nigel Brissett and Eman Lasheen environmental science and policy major Josaphat Barcenas-Argueta is partnering with LEI to help develop a curriculum for the students “because they are the ones with most at stake Explore our programs from the perspective of our students Website accessibilityNondiscrimination policy Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world Valle de Bravo is a striking visual representation of the water shortage — one so close to the nation’s capital that it’s impossible to ignore population growth and poor resource management has created a crisis Valle de Bravo, a man-made lagoon nestled in the forests roughly 85 miles west of Mexico City, has long been a destination for water-sports enthusiasts, cyclists and para-gliders. Several of Mexico’s top business executives own vast ranches there, replete with their own private lakes, golf courses and helipads. The main lake also serves as a vital water source for the 20 million city dwellers downstream. Text description provided by the architects. Las Rocas is a complex of four houses in the northern part of Valle de Bravo, known as La Peña. This elevated terrain has outcrops and endemic vegetation. The 6,400-m2 site was treated as an extension of the adjacent natural reserve, and the project seeks to respect and regenerate this environment. A detailed and accurate site analysis was essential to determine where to position each house for minimal impact on the preexisting runoffs, rocks, and vegetation. © Onnis LuqueA narrow cobbled road leads to the complex's central service area, which contains a car park, storerooms, and key installations such as cisterns, machine rooms, and treatment plants. Users are required to leave their vehicles here and walk to the houses via paths, steps, and small plazas, immediately freeing them from the urban surroundings. © Onnis LuqueThe living and dining rooms have a corner window created by a 5 x 10-meter cantilever, opening up the space and directly joining the interior to the exterior. This design avoids duplicating areas—a common issue in rural retreats in Valle de Bravo—to ensure these rooms are fully used and become core elements of the program. © Onnis LuqueAna Paula de Alba's custom interior designs for each house respond to the families' specific needs, giving every space a unique character. Each home has its essence, the result of the synergy between user, architecture, and context. You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email Las Rocas is a set of four houses designed by Ignacio Urquiza Arquitectos Located on land bordering a protected nature reserve in the northern part of Peña de Valle de Bravo the site consists of a very rocky and lushly vegetated cliff area whose origin dates back to pre-Hispanic times The houses are approached from an environmental point of view and from an awareness of the nature reserve located next to them regeneration and integration that seeks minimal impact on the existing land by building a silent space that always lets the context occupy the foreground The architecture studio Ignacio Urquiza Arquitectos starts from the analysis of a dynamic system of spaces that would allow for the generation of different configurations between them with which to obtain interesting compositions that are formally appropriate to each location resulting in four homes from the same modules and repeated volumes whose geometric play allows them to respond to exact situations that allow them to connect architecture and landscape Through a dynamic program and a complex but harmonious material language based on stucco they manage to reach a final path that links architecture with its context from formal tools that provide the volume with simplicity and lightness discrete spaces that are nourished by the light and surrounding vegetation that blur the boundaries between the built and the place Project description by Ignacio Urquiza Arquitectos Las Rocas is a complex of four houses in the northern part of Valle de Bravo known as La Peña an elevated terrain of outcrops and endemic vegetation The 6,400 sqm site was treated as an extension of the adjacent natural reserve and the project seeks to respect and regenerate this environment A detailed and accurate site analysis was essential to determine where to position each of the houses for minimal impact on the preexisting runoffs A narrow cobbled road leads to the complex’s central service area that contains a car park as well as key installations such as cisterns Users are required to leave their vehicles here and walk to the houses via paths immediately freeing them from the urban surroundings The project evolved from the study of the program: the idea was to create a dynamic system generating different configurations to optimize compositions for each location the four houses use the same modules and components but with unique layouts depending on their respective characteristics The volumes are freely arranged in six directions (front right) in response to their specific situations This simple and dynamic system blends the architecture into its natural context These volumes do not touch each other; their separation creates voids natural light and ventilation to integrate them adequately within the site and the terrain itself a walkway or set of steps: nature defines the design the modules were designed separately in the studio and then mapped out on site to define their ideal location imagining the placement of doors and windows before connecting them to the corridor a linear axis that acts as a horizontal and vertical circulation and levels all depending on the location of each volume within the program These circulation routes adapt the architecture to the site and not vice-versa The contrast between the closed volumes and the openness of the corridors is designed to stimulate different sensations when inhabiting these spaces: the enclosure of the sleeping area contrasts with the open circulation routes that relate directly to the local vegetation and rocky landscape the corridor captures southern light and local heat to regulate the houses’ temperature thanks to the shadows thrown by the outcrops and the north-facing orientation of the residences The living and dining rooms have a corner window created by a 5 x 10 meter cantilever opening up the space and directly joining the interior to the exterior This design avoids duplicating areas—a common issue in rural retreats in Valle de Bravo—to ensure these rooms are fully used and become core elements of the program The kitchen is located in the same space as the dining room and living room and in some cases it can be joined to these spaces with a sliding partition The terraces were the last piece of the jigsaw: they were plotted on the site to adapt their dimensions to the possibilities of the context and for the landscape to form part of the project blurring the boundary between construction and the surroundings The light-gray stucco finish for Las Rocas matches the predominant hue of the surrounding rocks Only two other materials complement the project: textured stone flooring and glass which is always flush with the exterior façades reflecting the surroundings and merging the house within its context This color scheme allows a discreet and simple architecture: the composition of the solid volumes creates a sense of lightness; vegetation and nature are kept as the main element creating a quiet built space to bring the context to the fore Ana Paula de Alba’s custom interior designs for each house responds to the families’ specific needs Ignacio Urquiza Arquitectos Interior Design Team.-    Sacha Bourgarel Onnis Luque. Archive HOUSING Day Zero has come and gone and although the Cutzamala system is still delivering water to Mexico City — albeit at a reduced rate — its reservoirs are at historic lows Lingering drought and extreme heat prompted pundits to proclaim June 26 as potential Day Zero —  when Mexico City’s reservoirs would be so reduced that the complex interbasin transfer could stop functioning Though the projection was overwrought — the Cutzamala supplies only 28% of Mexico City’s water — the shrinking water supply in the system’s seven reservoirs is a legitimate concern It was hoped that rain from Tropical Storm Alberto — which slammed into Mexico’s east coast on June 19 and greatly replenished some of northern Mexico’s drastically depleted reservoirs — would replenish the Cutzamala’s reservoirs somewhat accumulated rainfall in greater Mexico City from Alberto was negligible The Mexican National Meteorological Service (SMN) forecast heavy rains across the nation this week but as the newspaper El Financiero reported on Wednesday Mexico City’s three main reservoirs remain at critically low levels Those three reservoirs — in México state’s Valle de Bravo and Villa Victoria and in El Bosque — are currently at an average 26.18% capacity a slight increase over their 26.09% average level before Alberto these numbers represent historic lows for Mexico City’s nearly 50-year-old reservoir system To give an idea of how drought and heat have impacted the system the reservoir levels’ average capacity was 39.5% in January Recognizing the dire situation, the National Water Commission (Conagua) reduced the flow in the Cutzamala from 8 cubic meters/second to 6 cubic meters/second last Friday Twelve of Mexico City’s 16 boroughs and 14 municipalities in neighboring México state are serviced by the Cutzamala system Conagua said the reduction is necessary to guarantee water over the medium-term because if water in the reservoirs dips below a certain point the pumps that send the water up 1,100 meters (3,600 feet) to Mexico City will no longer function While rain in greater Mexico City has mildly mitigated the Valley of Mexico’s drought conditions the reservoirs remain in need of replenishment Conagua forecast heavy rains across the country this week, and a tropical disturbance tracking across the Caribbean has a 30% chance of becoming a tropical storm, but it remains to be seen if that weather system — heading toward Chetumal, Quintana Roo — will provide any rain to the Mexico City area Although Mexico City’s rainy season is expected to last into September several studies suggest a genuine Day Zero for the Cutzamala is a real possibility A joint investigation conducted by the United Nations and the Autonomous Metropolitan University in Mexico City (UAM) projected that a genuine Day Zero is possible in 2028 The Instituto Belisario Domínguez (IBD) — a state-funded research institute — wrote a report indicating that Day Zero talk should go beyond setting a date and instead prompt a discussion about creating a sustainable reservoir system for Mexico City The IBD proposed promoting a culture of respect for water (especially via water capture) investing in infrastructure and establishing penalties for wasting water ADVERTISE WITH MND COMMUNITY GUIDELINES Subscription FAQ's Privacy Policy Mexico News Daily - Property of Tavana LLC Quiet beaches, stunning wine regions, and secluded mountain towns top the list. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. The banks of the Miguel Aleman dam lie exposed due to low water levels in Valle de Bravo, Mexico, Thursday, March 14, 2024. According to Mexico’s National Water Commission, Valle de Bravo’s reservoir has fallen to 29% of its capacity – a historical low -- compared to one year ago when it was at 52%, while the country endures a drought and has imposed restrictions on water taken from the system. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) A flock of birds flies along the exposed banks of the Miguel Aleman dam in Valle de Bravo, Mexico, Thursday, March 14, 2024. According to Mexico’s National Water Commission, Valle de Bravo’s reservoir has fallen to 29% of its capacity – a historical low -- compared to one year ago when it was at 52%, while the country endures a drought and has imposed restrictions on water taken from the system. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) An angler fishes in the Miguel Aleman dam in Valle de Bravo, Mexico, Thursday, March 14, 2024. According to Mexico’s National Water Commission, Valle de Bravo’s reservoir has fallen to 29% of its capacity – a historical low -- compared to one year ago when it was at 52%, while the country endures a drought and has imposed restrictions on water taken from the system. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) Boats sits on the exposed banks of the Miguel Aleman dam in Valle de Bravo, Mexico, Thursday, March 14, 2024. According to Mexico’s National Water Commission, Valle de Bravo’s reservoir has fallen to 29% of its capacity – a historical low -- compared to one year ago when it was at 52%, while the country endures a drought and has imposed restrictions on water taken from the system. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) A boat sits on the exposed banks of the Miguel Aleman dam in Valle de Bravo, Mexico, Thursday, March 14, 2024. According to Mexico’s National Water Commission, Valle de Bravo’s reservoir has fallen to 29% of its capacity – a historical low -- compared to one year ago when it was at 52%, while the country endures a drought and has imposed restrictions on water taken from the system. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) A dog stands on cracked, exposed banks of the Miguel Aleman dam in Valle de Bravo, Mexico, Thursday, March 14, 2024. According to Mexico’s National Water Commission, Valle de Bravo’s reservoir has fallen to 29% of its capacity – a historical low -- compared to one year ago when it was at 52%, while the country endures a drought and has imposed restrictions on water taken from the system. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) Birds perch on a moored boat on the Miguel Aleman dam in Valle de Bravo, Mexico, Thursday, March 14, 2024. According to Mexico’s National Water Commission, Valle de Bravo’s reservoir has fallen to 29% of its capacity – a historical low -- compared to one year ago when it was at 52%, while the country endures a drought and has imposed restrictions on water taken from the system. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) In a country where the government appears not to listen and gang violence is common, residents and activists can only watch as their beloved lake disappears. The National Water Commission, known by its Spanish initials as Conagua, has done little to remedy the problem. Moises Jaramillo is one of the tour boat operators who has made his living taking less-monied tourists around the lake for years (the wealthy use their own sailboats). Jaramillo says of the Conagua officials, “they don’t do anything. Their response is to come and intimidate us.” That was a reference to a move last week by the Water Commission, which slapped closure stickers on the docks from where the boats launch. To be fair, it is becoming increasingly difficult to lure any tourists to the lake; visitors now have to walk out a few dozen yards (meters) over mud flats on improvised paths of stones, tires and boards to reach the shrunken shore, putting up with the increasing green-brown color and smell of the water as they go. Valle de Bravo resident Claudia Suárez was one of dozens of protesters who blocked traffic on one of Mexico City’s main boulevards in February, demanding Conagua take action to address the real problem in a chain of three lakes — known as the Cutzamala System — that supply Mexico City with about one-quarter of its water. “If there is money available, they could start repairing the leaks, above all in Mexico City,” said Suárez. “Forty percent of the water that comes from the Cutzamala System is lost to leaks. That’s criminal.” The problem is not only affecting poorer boat operators. As the title of an old Mexican soap opera says, “The Rich Cry, Too.” “Valle de Bravo lives off this reservoir and basically, tourism,” said Suárez. “Tourism has gone down between 50 and 60%,” she said, adding “this is snowballing and affecting all levels; I think that property prices have fallen, too.” Mexico´s version of the Hamptons, Valle de Bravo lies two hours from Mexico City. It is a haven for Mexico´s richest families, who congregate on weekends in wood and glass “cabins” with views of the lake or towering pine forests. They dine out at five-star restaurants and hold long, lavish lunches on lawns crowded with Hummers, BMWs and increasingly popular ATVs. This week Valle de Bravo’s reservoir was at 29.3% of its capacity, compared to 52% during the same week last year. Conagua and Mexico City officials have brushed off concerns, saying the capital has agreed to temporarily reduce water deliveries to the over 20 million residents of the greater Mexico City area. The problem, they say, will be solved in June, when central Mexico’s strongly seasonal rains begin again. But Jaramillo says that’s not true: the falling water levels have become a permanent problem that threatens the lake’s very existence. “Last year when it rained, the level of the lake still fell,” Jaramillo noted. Everybody agree that beyond the very real drought late last year, there’s an underlying problem. Increasingly since the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a huge increase in the development of luxury compounds with private lakes for water-skiing and swimming. That has prevented huge amounts of water from ever reaching the reservoir. “There are a lot of people taking the water, the rivers almost run dry, and a lot of these (private) dams are 100% full,” said Suárez. Jaramillo estimates there may be as many as 400 such private lakes or ponds of varying size near the lake, and that now, even with the water crisis, 15 more are under construction. A local architect, who asked not be named for personal reasons — he built many of the upscale houses around the lake — denied that the relatively small private lakes and ponds are the problem, noting the volume of water they hold is a drop in the bucket. But he agreed that water extraction for Mexico City was a huge problem. Either way, the authorities say they need local residents to file formal complaints about such private dams and reservoirs. Driving by gated homes and condominiums, or outside fancy restaurants in the area, it’s not unusual to see men who could be bodyguards for wealthy businessmen — or cartel enforcers. It’s usually wiser not to ask which. “Conagua wants an individual person to point out every ranch, but that is impossible,” Jaramillo says. “No individual person is going to report them, because you don’t know what kind of person owns those condominiums.” Volume 10 - 2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.984365 The Valle de Bravo dam is an important source of drinking water supply for the Mexico City Conurbation (>26 million inhabitants) and is also a hotspot for nautical sports anthropogenic pressures in the upper reaches of the basin have led to increased eutrophication and numerous harmful cyanobacterial blooms (HCBs) To determine the effect of abiotic variables on the characteristics of the phytoplanktonic community as well as their influence on the diversity of toxigenic cyanobacteria and related cyanotoxins we evaluated monthly variations in environmental factors phytoplankton biovolume and composition and total microcystins in Valle de Bravo dam during the year of 2019 75 phytoplanktonic species were identified mostly belonging to the divisions Cyanobacteria Cyanobacteria presented the highest biomass throughout the year with water temperature and rainfall being the best correlated factors The highest concentrations of total microcystins were recorded from July to September (maximum of 71 μg L−1) associated with the dominance of species such as M and environmental factors such as rainfall the total cyanobacterial biovolume was above the World Health Organization alert level two indicating potentially high risks to human health The predominance of cyanobacteria and high biovolumes classified water quality as poor to very poor during most of the year To avoid the development of HCBs in this dam the contribution of nutrients by the tributary rivers and sewage must be controlled since the poor-quality conditions of the water threaten the aquatic biota the sports and recreation activities and affect the potable water supply There is a critical need to understand the environmental factors most related with blooms of toxigenic cyanobacteria and other noxious phytoplankters especially for those freshwater ecosystems that provide a major source of drinking water production In addition to drinking water for human consumption Valle de Bravo is an important area for recreation measuring DO and ORP each 4 weeks from January 2002 to August 2005 in 17 sampling stations; they determined the loadings of 120.8 × 103 and 591.8 × 103 kg y−1 of P and N condition that were deemed responsible of the accelerated change in the trophic status of this artificial lake Eutrophic condition in limnetic waterbodies is related with a high primary production as observed in Valle de Bravo dam throughout the year; this condition differs notably from the seasonal blooms normally recorded in temperate lakes The presence of permanent blooms does not necessarily indicate that toxigenic cyanobacteria are dominating in this dam and it is possible that cyanotoxins synthesis and release can vary along the year influenced by the environmental conditions and the phytoplankton dynamics but none of these studies looked at the cyanotoxin concentrations and only one study reports phytoplankton biovolume This is the first study to report on the relationship between specific richness and ecological diversity of phytoplankton that relates to the frequency and dominance of toxigenic cyanobacteria in this area throughout the year The determination of water quality based on the different phytoplankton groups and biovolume is also a new contribution The aim of this study was to determine how changes in the phytoplankton community may drive the cyanobacteria dominance affect the variations in total microcystin concentrations explore the effects in water quality based on the phytoplankton species and their relative biovolume This information is crucial to determine the influence of environmental factors and water quality that shape the composition of the phytoplankton community and determine the variations of toxin-producing cyanobacteria and geographic distribution of the six sampling sites (1–6) across the reservoir Six sampling locations were selected to represent the main conditions prevalent in this waterbody, as well as the influence of the tributaries and the population established in the locality (Figure 1) Site #1 is closest to the curtain of the reservoir where the maximum depth is located while site #2 is approximately at the central point of the reservoir Site #3 is in the shallower part of the dam and receive waters from the Rio Amanalco including agricultural discharges from the upper part of the stream Site #4 is influenced by waters of the rivers Carrizal and González Site #5 is the closest to the urban area of Valle de Bravo and receives discharges from the urban area and from the tourism facilities site #6 is influenced by inputs from the rivers Santa Monica and El Molino Sample collection was carried out monthly in 2019, at the six sites in the reservoir (Figure 1) Duplicate water samples for metals and total microcystin analysis were collected, processed, and stored as detailed in Supplementary Table S1; these analysis were carried out by the Université de Montreal (UdeM) Water samples for the determination of dissolved microcystins were vacuum filtered in situ using GHP 0.45 µm filters; biomass retained in filter were processed for the determination of intracellular microcystins; the sum of that determined in the filtrated water and in biomass provided the total concentration of microcystins The samples were kept at −70°C ultra-frozen in a cooler with dry ice and periodically shipped to UdeM Single water samples for other chemical determinations (see below) were collected and stored in a cooler Phytoplankton samples were obtained at each site by filtering 50 L of surface water using a phytoplankton net (25 µm mesh size). These samples were preserved with 1% acidic Lugol solution and were kept protected from light exposure (Supplementary Table S1) In situ measurements of chlorophyll concentrations (μg L−1) and phycocyanin (μg L−1) were recorded using fluorometry (AlgaeTorch®) the concentration of total and dissolved nitrogen (DN) and chloride (all in mg L−1) were determined spectrophotometrically by HACH® (HACH DR-6000) Concentrations of the following metals and metalloids (μg L−1) were measured in surface water: aluminum (Al) Water samples (125 ml) were collected in HDPE bottles and stored at room temperature prior ICP-MS analysis Total extractable metals were analyzed using standardized procedures by Bureau Veritas Laboratories (Mississauga and Montreal Canada) accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 using standardized procedures (reference EPA 60208 m) Surface water samples were supplemented with potassium permanganate (50 mM) and sodium periodate (50 mM) and adjusted to pH 9 with potassium carbonate the oxidation reaction was quenched with sodium bisulfite A 1-ml aliquot was analyzed by on-line solid-phase extraction (on-line SPE) coupled to ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (Thermo TSQ Quantiva UHPLC-MS/MS) The deuterated isotopologue D3-MMPB was used as the internal standard The method limit of detection was 0.005 μg L−1 ΣMC Matrix-matched calibration curves were constructed in MC-free lake surface water and used for quantification with suitable linearity performance (R2 > 0.99) Matrix spikes were run in each LC-MS/MS batch sequence and were required to fall within ± 30% of the true value Participation in a recreational water interlaboratory proficiency study (Abraxis/Eurofins) also attested to the accuracy performance with ΣMC within ± 30% of the consensus value The ecological condition regarding the water quality determined by the phytoplankton community and the dominance in biovolume of the main groups, was established using the Phytoplankton Community Index (PhyCOI) (Katsiapi et al., 2016) TB = Total Biovolume of phytoplankton, according to Phillips et al. (2013) WG = World Health Organization Guidelines, according to Bartram et al. (1999) NB = Nygaard Biomass (Biovolume) Index (Katsiapi et al., 2016) NS = Nygaard Species Index (Nygaard, 1949) Both Nygaard Indexes were calculated as follows: QG = Number of species in each quality group the water quality in the studied waterbody can be classified as: Very Poor (0.7–1) The Phytoplanktonic Community Index (PhyCOI) was calculated for each sample and the water quality was compared among months by conducting a Kruskal–Wallis test and post-hoc multiple comparisons Figure 2 shows the physicochemical parameters measured across the six sampling sites throughout the year and pH had the highest values during the stratification season (February to October) The average water temperature in the reservoir was 22.0 ± 0.2°C with an average low of 18.8°C in February and a high of 24.7°C in July and August The rainfall season ranged from July to October Water temperature and rainfall are environmental factors that responded directly to regional seasonality in this subtropical location and SRP in general have low values during the stratification season (coincident with the reduction in the water level) and increased during the mixing period Variations in the water level are related to the management of the reservoir by the National Water Commission (CONAGUA) the entity responsible for the management and regulation of Mexico’s water resources Redox potential decreased continuously from January to November coincidently with the stratification period Monthly variations in chemical water quality and water level in Valle de Bravo dam during 2019 Values in each station and average (solid line) except for pluvial precipitation and water level in the dam variations along the year were recorded and differences among sampling points were observed for most parameters Increases in pH values could be related to the phytoplankton growth during the peaks of primary productivity through the consumption of HCO3−1 (as C source) and TOC followed no consistent patterns along the year Secchi disk transparency was always lower than 2 m except for December when values higher than 3 m were observed; this low transparency was related with high phytoplankton biomass abundance typical of the eutrophic condition in this dam as well as some readily usable forms of these nutrients were higher during the first 4 months of the year and could be the responsible for the high primary productivity observed during the warm months Monthly variation in metals and metalloids measured in six sampling sites in Valle de Bravo dam during 2019 Values in each sampling station and average value (solid line) Total microcystins (∑MC, MMPB oxidation method) were detected in all samples, with a concentration range of 1.5–71 μg L−1 (overall average: 11 μg L−1; median: 5.2 μg L−1). A marked seasonality was observed (Figure 4) as the highest microcystin production and highest biovolume occurred in the stratification season months Boxplot graphs for the total microcystin concentrations (∑MC μg L−1) recorded in six sampling points in Valle de Bravo’s reservoir during 2019 Kruskal-Wallis test and multiple comparisons; different letters indicate significant differences (p < 0.05) The sum of MC (∑MC) was low in winter months (2–3 μg L−1) and increased significantly starting in May (5.1 ± 3.4 μg L−1) (Figure 4) The highest mean concentration (and higher variance) was observed in the summer months (20–35 μg L−1 and decreased again by October (9.8 ± 1.5 μg L−1) The highest punctual concentration was observed in August (71 μg L−1) and the minimum in February (1.5 μg L−1) The maximum observed ∑MC at 71 μg L−1 is considerably higher than existing guidelines for drinking water (0.3–1.6 μg L−1) or for recreational activities (20 μg L−1) Total biovolume (A) (mm3 L−1) and specific richness (B) of the main division identified in the phytoplankton community of the Valle de Bravo reservoir during 2019 Filamentous cyanobacteria had a lower presence in the phytoplankton community but some peaks of Dolichospermum species were observed in the middle of the year including those that flourish during the mixing season with the highest biovolumes in August and September Aphanocapsa planctonica had its maximum biovolume in September We note the high contribution to biovolume of M The highest biovolume of Woronichinia karelica was recorded in July (10.78 mm3 L−1) naegeliana displayed four peaks with the highest in February (3.67 mm3 L−1) Coccoids (Chroococcales) had higher biovolumes than filamentous cyanobacteria (Nostocales and Oscillatoriales) biovolume data indicate that the Valle de Bravo dam had a circannual permanent cyanobacterial bloom that was dominated by different species with Microcystis being the dominant genus Monthly variations (year of 2019) in the cyanobacterial specific biovolume (mm3 L−1) in Valle de Bravo’s reservoir for the 18 phytoplankton species with the highest total biovolume values in the different sampling points arranged in decreasing sequence (left to right The continuous black lines represent the average values recorded in each month Boxplot graphs for phytoplankton diversity patterns in each month along 2019 (A) Species richness (S); (B) Biovolume (mm 3 L−1); (C) Shannon exponential index (Exp(H′)); (D) Simpson inverse (1/D); (E) Pielou’s evenness (J′); (F) Phycocyanin concentration (μg L−1) Kruskal Wallis test and multiple comparisons (p < 0.05) and Dolichospermum) were responsible for these blooms with a lower richness in the stratification period were higher than in the rest of the year and were associated with factors such as water level ammonium and hardness; Woronichinia naegeliana Limnoraphis birgei and Dolichospermum planctonicum were the related cyanobacterial species although at lower biovolumes than Chroococcales the concentration of phycocyanin was the highest and was positively related to metals such as zinc and copper The remaining months (August to November) were influenced by variables such as precipitation and temperature and were associated with higher biovolume of Microcystis species (M total microcystins and dissolved oxygen increased along a big cell proliferation and this phenomenon was also positively associated with higher concentrations of potassium iron and specific biovolume regarding abiotic variables and total microcystins in Valle de Bravo’s dam diversity index and phycocyanin concentrations in black font and cyanobacterial species in italicized black font CCA triplot for total microcystins and all cyanobacterial species regarding abiotic variables in Valle de Bravo’s reservoir The first axis explains 41.9% and the second axis 29.3% of the total variation Regarding the correlation analysis (Supplementary Table S5) the variables that positively influenced the specific richness inversely correlated with the biovolume and the phycocyanin concentration (water level the factors that correlate negatively with species richness are those that do so directly with the biovolume and the phycocyanin concentration (water temperature The biovolume and the phycocyanin concentration were also positively related to potassium Species richness was inversely related to the dissolved organic carbon The Shannon diversity index Exp (H’) was significantly correlated with hardness and ammonium and inversely correlated with precipitation and dissolved oxygen The inverse of Simpson’s Diversity was correlated to water hardness Pielou’s evenness had an inverse correlation with nitrates and manganese and was positively correlated to water temperature this was negatively correlated with species richness but positively correlated with biovolume and phycocyanin concentration; this confirms that the synthesis and release of these toxins happens when the biovolume of cyanobacteria is high (confirmed with the high PC content) and associated with a reduced number of species The PhyCOI values, calculated as described previously, are shown in Figure 10 water quality in Valle de Bravo dam fluctuated from very poor to poor in 10 months of the year and was moderate in April December was the only month with good water quality (PhyCOI = 3.10 ± 0.10) this condition coinciding with the beginning of mixing season The PhyCOI values were higher during the mixing season than in the stratification season but water quality is classified has poor most of the year when the highest PhyCOI value was determined The lowest PhyCOI value was found in September (0.73 ± 0.02) Combining these results with the microcystins information most of the months during the stratification season had the worst water quality and the risk to aquatic biota wellness and human health by exposure to cyanotoxins PhyCOI values and water quality classification based on the analysis of the phytoplankton community determined monthly in six sampling points during the year 2019 in Valle de Bravo dam Average values are included with bars for standard error after ANOVA and Kruskall-Wallis post hoc tests are denoted by different letters in each column (p < 0.05) These conditions increased the total dissolved solids in the summer also contributing to the reduction in the water level in the dam Organic matter produced during the summer blooms or carried by rain and currents from the watershed sinks to the hypolimnion during the stratification this organic matter is recovered as nutrients that move from the deeper layer to the epilimnion during mixing and promote the growth of eukaryotic phytoplankton in addition to Cyanobacteria These variations were associated to differences both in species richness and biovolume among sampling sites each month The three most diverse Divisions they determined were Chlorophyceae (30 species) Cyanobacteria (12 species) and Bacillariophyceae (10 species) They mention that the highest density occurs at the beginning (April) and end of the stratification season (October) and was mainly represented by the species Microcystis botrys the difference in the number of cyanobacteria that they reported (12) with the 20 reported here is notable; it is worth noting the case of some species of Microcystis and other genera of cyanobacteria that were not recorded in that study Alillo-Sánchez et al. (2014) detected 18 species of cyanobacteria and the maximum richness was recorded in the warm season and was represented by the orders Nostocales and Oscillatoriales subsequently dominating species of the order Chroococcales wesenbergii the species that contributed most to the biovolume On the other hand, Ramírez-García and Chicalote-Castillo (2020) report that the relative abundance of species in Valle de Bravo is dominated by cyanobacteria with Microcystis biovolume greater than 3,000 mm3 L−1 in the rainy season relating the predominance of cyanobacteria with parameters such as temperature turbidity and concentration of phosphates and nitrates Although Chlorophyceae were the phytoplankters with the highest number of species, their contribution to the phytoplankton biovolume was one of the smallest, coinciding with what was observed by Gaytán-Herrera et al. (2011), and Valeriano-Riveros et al. (2014) the differences observed at different times in both species richness and dominance of species may be due to the management of water resources in this waterbody by the CONAGUA Variations in environmental conditions also had influence mainly related to the differences in the period and intensity of the rains and the corresponding runoffs of the main tributaries What was constant is the predominance in biovolume of cyanobacteria due to their growth as colonies and filaments contributed to the proliferation of cyanobacterial species mainly of the genera Limnoraphis which are smaller than Microcystis colonies Comparatively smaller species (lacking aerotopes) do not form buoyant layers allowing other phytoplankters to proliferate thus leading to higher indexes of diversity From August to November the community was dominated by different species of the genus Microcystis which predominately contributed to the high biovolumes The specific richness decreased gradually towards the stratification season and increased in the mixture season while the opposite was observed for the biovolume mainly due to the adaptations presented by cyanobacteria The latter is confirmed by the phycocyanin records and by the seasonal dynamics of diversity and equity indices In the present study, specific richness was significantly correlated with parameters such as the water level, chlorine, nitrate, ammonium and SRP, while biovolume and phycocyanin concentration were inversely related (Supplemental Table S5) The water level was lower in the warm season due to CONAGUA management but also due to the increase in the potable water demand and the evaporation rate This can lead to decrease in the concentration of nutrients that were rapidly consumed by cyanobacteria reducing the specific richness in the stratification season This reduction in the water level also increased sediment resuspension in the shallower zones generating inorganic turbidity and decreasing the amount of available light resulting in a change in the phytoplankton community composition Hardness positively influences specific richness and negatively influences biovolume The high consumption of bicarbonate as the main C source during cyanobacterial proliferation makes bicarbonate ions less bioavailable to eukaryotic phytoplankters related also with the increase in pH and in the displacement in the dissolved CO2 in water to carbonates a non-assimilable C source for phytoplankton there is a greater amount of carbon source as bicarbonates Despite the fact that the total biovolume was lower during the mixing season (Figure 6, Supplementary Table S2) it remained above the WHO alert level two for drinking (4 mm3 L−1) and recreational water (8 mm3 L−1) for the whole year, indicating a high potential risk to human health if the water would not be adequately treated before consumption (Chorus and Welker, 2021) mainly in the month of March (end of summer) in Argentina The World Health Organization established in 2020 provisional guideline values (GVs) for MCs (lifetime drinking-water GV: 1 μg/L; short term drinking-water GV: 12 μg/L; recreational water GV: 24 μg/L) The high levels of microcystins in surface water during the bloom season raise concerns with respect to potential drinking water exposure and were above the recreational water guideline during the summer months (August–September) The cyanotoxin contamination of other supply reservoirs within the Sistema Cutzamala is largely unknown a comprehensive assessment of cyanotoxins in raw and treated drinking water sources serving the State of Mexico is warranted Water temperature, pH, total dissolved solids, precipitation, dissolved oxygen, aluminum, iron, and cyanotoxins were negatively correlated with the number of taxa encountered and directly correlated with the biovolume and phycocyanin concentration (Supplementary Table S5) so these conditions could be identified as promoters of HCBs in Valle de Bravo dam Rainfall led to higher levels of total dissolved solids (incorporated by runoff) and allochthonous compounds (mainly agrochemicals including chemical fertilizers) that likely contribute to sustaining the cyanobacterial bloom through the supply of limiting macronutrients based on the species richness and the biovolume of the main phytoplanktonic groups indicates a very poor to poor water quality during most of the stratification season coinciding with the dominance of some species of cyanobacteria the highest values of cyanobacterial biovolume and the highest concentrations of total microcystins These results must be considered for the authority in charge of the management of this reservoir to search for measures aimed to revert the trophic status control the runoff of agrochemicals and urban wastes discharges in order to avoid risks for the use of this waterbody as a source of drinking water it is important to warn people about the risks for tourism and for the development of recreational and sport activities Because the phytoplankton richness and diversity can vary from year to year a constant monitoring of the water quality and the measuring of microcystins is required for a safe use of this reservoir Cyanobacteria were the largest contributor to the biovolume although the Chlorophyta division had the largest number of taxa Permanent blooms were observed throughout the year; despite biomass concentrations that were not uniform in all the dam surface high cyanobacterial biovolumes were always recorded and mostly associated with a prevalence of potentially toxigenic cyanobacteria The permanent eutrophic status of this drinking water reservoir has not been previously reported in this magnitude there was a predominance of species of the genus Microcystis although filamentous cyanobacteria of the genera Limnoraphis and Dolichospermum and colonial ones such as Woronichinia and Aphanocapsa also proliferate occasionally In the stratification and biomass proliferation season associated with variables such as temperature (ambient and water) Microcystins concentrations reach levels of concerns from May to November water quality in Valle de Bravo fluctuates from very poor to poor and was good only in 1 month during the mixing season (December); a clear abatement was observed from March-April to November the months of highest cyanobacterial proliferation The high levels of microcystins during the bloom season raise concerns as regards potential drinking water exposure and require a follow-up monitoring of treated water produced from the reservoir The microcystin levels in the bloom season are also of concern for recreational usage of this reservoir The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary Material further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding authors We thank the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología for the support granted through a binational collaboration with the Fonds de Recherche du Québec (CONACYT-FRQ 279444) We also thank financial support from Genome Canada and Génome Québec trough the ATRAPP project (Algal Blooms Prediction and Prevention through Genomics) We are thankful to the Secretaría de Marina Capitanía de Puerto Valle de Bravo for the support provided during all the collecting campaigns including the naval personnel and the use of ships Thanks to the Comisión Nacional del Agua (CONAGUA) for supporting with statistical information The authors are grateful to the team of the Laboratorio de Hidrobiología Experimental for its contribution to sample collections in Valle de Bravo We acknowledge administrative support from Alejandra Guitron (UdM) during the sampling season The authors thank Quoc Tuc Dinh and Sung Vo Duy for their participation in the microcystins analysis (UdM) and Bureau Veritas (Canada) for the metals analysis The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2022.984365/full#supplementary-material Alillo-Sánchez Microcystin-LR equivalents and their correlation with Anabaena Spp in the main reservoir of a hydraulic system of Central Mexico CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar American Public Health Association (Apha) (1999) “Phytoplankton counting techniques,” in Standard Methods for the examination of water and wastewater 20th edition (Washington D.C: Water Environment Federation) Google Scholar “Evaluation of the sustainability of the Valle de Bravo reservoir as a water-supply source,” in WIT transactions on ecology and the environment CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Introduction,” in Toxic cyanobacteria in water: A guide to their public health consequences Google Scholar Google Scholar mechanism of action and human health toxicological risk evaluation PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Sedimentary record of water column trophic conditions and sediment carbon fluxes in a tropical water reservoir (Valle de Bravo PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Cyanobacterial abundance and microcystin occurrence in mediterranean water reservoirs in Central Spain: Microcystins in the madrid area CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar in Toxic cyanobacteria in water: A guide to their public health consequences CRC Press on behalf of the World Health Organization) Google Scholar de Mendiburu, F., and Yaseen, M. 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This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted academic practice distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms *Correspondence: Fernando Martínez-Jerónimo, Zmplcm9uaUBpcG4ubXg=; Sébastien Sauvé, c2ViYXN0aWVuLnNhdXZlQHVtb250cmVhbC5jYQ== †These authors have contributed equally to this work Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or goodLearn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish Valle de Bravo is a picturesque lakeside town west of Mexico City Pilots and tourists flock to this winter paradise from December to March to take advantage of the amazingly consistent weather The town swells every weekend with the Mexico City elite there to take advantage of the wealth of outdoor sports and pumping nightlife is a 45-minute drive from town and starts working as early as 11am like clockwork the valley cools as the sun fades and patient pilots are rewarded with glorious evening glass-offs There’s a great ridge soaring site directly above the lakeside landing zone called La Torre The original free flight site used by hang gliders in the late seventies is a steep ramp which is flyable almost every afternoon and needs only 12km/h of westerly wind The convergence needs a chance to set up so launch early but wait until after 12:30 pm before you head off After you’ve taken in the views of Nevada Toluca return to the lake through the mountains and use Cerro Gordo to gain the necessary altitude for your victory glide to the cold beer waiting for you in the town landing zone Pilots must register at www.clubpenon.org before flying A year after severe drought and lack of rainfall took the Mexico City metropolitan area to the brink of a water crisis The National Water Commission (Conagua) reported that as of April 1 the Cutzamala reservoir system — which provides almost a third of the capital’s water and supplies several suburban areas within neighboring México state — was at 56% capacity more than 20% less than current water levels Although this is a relief to the millions of people that rely on the Cutzamala for its water Conagua data shows that the current situation is considerably below average While the 56.4% figure at the beginning of April is somewhat reassuring Conagua reported that 5.98 million cubic meters of water was drawn out of the reservoirs during the last week of March no precipitation had been recorded across the extent of the system which stretches northwest across México state and into the state of Michoacán Increasing temperatures related to successive heat waves had seen water demand rise in March from 8.64 cubic meters-per-second to 10.95 cubic meters per second the Water Basin Organization of the Valley of Mexico (OCAVM) said the Cutzamala system was at 57.2% of capacity down from 64% in December and nearly 67% in November As such, Conagua warns that the panorama remains delicate, especially if the threat of drought rises again. For now, however, Mexico’s Drought Monitor reported that none of Mexico City’s 16 boroughs was experiencing drought In early 2024, much of Mexico was suffering severe drought conditions and extreme heat, and Mexico City was no exception. The capital experienced an all-time high temperature of 34.3 C on May 9, 2024, then set a new record of 34.7 C on May 25 of the same year Additionally, the four-decade-old Cutzamala system is aging badly and earthquakes have caused damage to the pipes. Studies show that more than 40% of the system’s water is lost through leaks In the middle of last year’s crisis, authorities turned off the spigots for several hours to repair a leak in a control valve City officials continue to work on responses to the looming water crisis On Dec. 30, Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada announced plans to halve the capital’s on the Cutzamala reservoir system for the next two years Brugada inaugurated a water purification plant that will provide jugs of purified water at reduced price to low-income families who reside in areas — such as the boroughs of Iztapalapa and Xochimilco — that suffer chronic water shortages Ignacio Urquiza Architecture and Ana Paula de Alba have completed Las Rocas, a residential complex hidden among the dramatic natural landscape of La Peña, Valle de Bravo, Mexico sits on a 6,400 square-meter site adjacent to a natural reserve aiming to respect and regenerate the environment it inhabits marked by rocky outcrops and endemic vegetation A comprehensive site analysis ensured that the placement of each house minimally impacted preexisting runoff patterns By treating the site as an extension of the natural reserve the project fosters a symbiotic relationship with its surroundings images © Onnis Luque The team at Ignacio Urquiza Architecture designs access to Las Rocas to minimize the presence of vehicles on site A narrow cobblestone road leads to a central service area housing parking residents and visitors transition to pedestrian pathways creating an immediate immersion into the natural environment The architectural approach at Las Rocas centers on modularity Each of the four houses uses identical modules and components but adapts their layouts to suit their specific locations This dynamic system allows the volumes to respond uniquely to site conditions the volumes appear as if naturally integrated into the environment and slopes are incorporated into the architecture itself — bathrooms may feature stone and pathways are sculpted from the terrain Las Rocas by Ignacio Urquiza Architecture is a residential complex in Valle de Bravo Circulation within Las Rocas relies on a corridor system which Ignacio Urquiza Architecture designs as a horizontal and vertical axis These pathways are shaped by the positioning of each volume and adapt to the natural site contours light-filled corridors creates a rhythm of contrasting spatial experiences linking the built environment directly to the rocky Central to Las Rocas’ design are living and dining rooms with dramatic corner windows formed by 5-meter x 10-meter cantilevers These expansive openings blur the boundary between interior and exterior ensuring these areas are functional and serve as focal points can transform with sliding partitions to create flexible layouts extend the living areas into the natural landscape Carefully plotted to respect the site’s topography these outdoor spaces further dissolve the division between architecture and nature the project includes four houses designed to integrate with the natural reserve tailoring the spaces to meet the needs of the individual families These personalized touches infuse each residence with its unique character further reinforcing the synergy between user site analyses ensured minimal impact on vegetation rocks and water runoffs a modular designs allow each house to adapt uniquely to its location large cantilevered windows blend interior and exterior spaces fluidly open corridors and voids connect the houses to the landscape and provide natural ventilation light-gray stucco and glass reflect the natural surroundings for a discreet aesthetic architecture: Ignacio Urquiza Architecture | @ignaciourquiza.mx, Ana Paula de Alba | @apda.mx Anet Carmona interior design: Ana Paula De Alba interior design team: Sacha Bourgarel area: 3200 square meters completion: 2022 photography: © Onnis Luque | @onnisluque_fotografia Morning shift: From 9 AM to 1 PMAfternoon shift: From 2 PM to 6 PM info@soyacademy.com located in the getaway destination of the same name southwest of Mexico City is currently at its lowest level since 2016 according to the National Water Commission (Conagua) The reservoir — officially called the Miguel Alemán Reservoir —  is one of several lakes that form part of the Cutzamala System the complex inter-basin transfer that supplies the country’s capital with approximately a quarter of its water the situation has prompted residents and service providers in Valle de Bravo to once again call on federal authorities to halt water extraction from the reservoir “It has been weeks since the last rainfall while large volumes continue to be drawn from it,” the owner of a floating restaurant on the lake told newspaper La Jornada the water level of the dam is dropping by three to four centimeters daily and is now approximately 19 meters below its average level Meanwhile, newspaper Proceso reported that the dam is drying up because Mexico City has failed to fix broken pipes that waste much of its water especially in Mexico City,” Claudia Suárez “Forty percent of the water that comes out of the Cutzamala System is lost in leaks La Jornada reported that residents blame the uncontrolled construction of private dams and cisterns by “suspiciously rich and powerful” new neighbors for at-home use as factors that contribute to the drying up a local architect who has built many luxury homes in Valle de Bravo and who asked to remain anonymous told Proceso that the private dams are not the problem since they are small and require little water he stressed that the leaks in Mexico City’s pipes are the issue a group of protesters gathered in Mexico City to demand a solution to the Cutzamala System’s water supply problem they say that officials from Conagua and the Mexico City government have dismissed their concerns They state that the capital has agreed to temporarily reduce water supplies to the more than 20 million residents of the Mexico City metropolitan area claiming that the problem will be resolved in June when seasonal rains resume one of the tourist boat operators around the lake [the water level] continued to drop,” Jaramillo told Proceso Meanwhile, the latest national drought monitor report shows that 58% of Mexican territory suffers from some degree of drought as of March 15 The State of México and Michoacán – where the Cutzamala system is located – report drought in over 90% of their municipalities With reports from Proceso and La Jornada and a real estate magnate bets on New Orleans’ Black musical legacy 2024 at 2:18 PM EDTBookmarkSaveTaps are running dry in Mexico amid an extreme drought affecting roughly half of the population a drying lake in Valle de Bravo — a getaway town for the wealthy — has become a glaring symbol of the country’s mismanagement of scarce resources celebrated 40 years of free flight in August 2018 – hang gliders were first flown here on 13 August 1978 Valle de Bravo flying guide Marko Hrgetic tells us some more about the site The strongest but the most interesting season for XC flying is from end of February till May Winds are the strongest in March but then they drop down in April The sun’s activity is much higher than in winter with the peak in May Thermals are strong and you can find lift over 10m/s with cloudbase at 4,500m and above Really amazing flying for advanced pilots and some of the locals will fly good XC If you like it strong and challenging than visit Valle in March or April The local record is an FAI triangle of 145km (January 2018) The site has potential for 200+km triangle and we’ll try to make that soon If there are some safety issues in Mexico it will be between the gangs and not around Valle de Bravo Valle de Bravo is a getaway town for the middle and upper classes of Mexico City so it is very safe Just don’t do stuff you wouldn’t do back home Also in Roldanillo you can’t make an afternoon flight while in Valle the afternoon can be quite magical If you want to fly every day then Valle is the place Marko Hrgetic is on Instagram and at paraglidingmexico.com The dates displayed for an article provide information on when various publication milestones were reached at the journal that has published the article activities on preceding journals at which the article was previously under consideration are not shown (for instance submission Journal of Hazardous MaterialsCitation Excerpt :Toxic effects induced by cyanobacteria and their products in rotifers have been reported previously It was shown that whole cyanobacterial cells of Microcystis sp induced a decrease of survival (Barrios et al. reproduction and grazing rates (Geng and Xie catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities on B it is noteworthy that cyanobacterial extracts from whole cells may contain a plethora of various bioactive metabolites inducing different toxic interactions All content on this site: Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. both dividing and connecting the different areas of the house The design features two interconnected volumes highlighting the duality and flexibility of the spaces The terrace serves as a transition point between interior and exterior environments allowing the house to unfold around this central space This design promotes constant interaction between the inside and outside transforming the terrace into either a private area for contemplation or an open space integrated with the natural surroundings all images by Luis Garvan The team at PPAA enhances the architectural design with a distinctive gabled roof that adapts to the local climate and landscape An existing tree on the property is carefully integrated into the house establishing a dialogue with the natural context and reflecting a respect for nature Large windows in every room ensure natural light penetration and offer views of the garden enhancing the connection with the outdoors Ananda challenges architectural conventions creating a dynamic space where the lines between public and private are fluid with the terrace acting as a central point of connection and transition Ananda by PPAA is located in the wooded landscape of Valle de Bravo the project redefines vacation home architecture by blurring the boundaries between public and private spaces Ananda’s distinctive gabled roof complements the architectural design while adapting to the local climate Ananda employs a terrace as a central axis both dividing and connecting different areas Ananda promotes constant interaction between indoor and outdoor environments the design features two interconnected volumes the terrace serves as a transition point between interior and exterior environments architects: PPAA – Pablo Pérez Palacios Arquitectos Asociados | @perez_palacios_aa photography: Luis Garvan | @luisgarvan designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here. edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom The brutal 2024 fire season continues to rage across Mexico with a recent wildfire menacing the Pueblo Mágico of Valle de Bravo in México state. Meanwhile, firemen continue fighting blazes in 20 states, according to the National Forestry Commission (Conafor) Conafor reported that more than 3,800 firemen and emergency personnel were battling 142 forest fires that had already consumed more than 68,000 hectares (169,447 acres) of forest and brush And those figures do not include a conflagration that threatened a popular tourist and resort area in México state that was reported Sunday afternoon Residents of Valle de Bravo noticed heavy smoke coming from the nature reserve known as Cascada de Velo de Novia (Bridal Veil Falls) and notified Conafor The authorities reacted quickly with rangers from Probosque arriving on scene along with members of the México state Civil Protection Ministry as well as area fire brigades and Conafor agents removing tourists and residents to safe zones and managed to prevent the fire from spreading into adjacent nature reserves and woodland area residents were posting images of the fire to social media with some reporting that Velo de Novia was still aglow around midnight Probosque reported that officials are also battling four other fires at natural reserves in México state Conafor’s Sunday afternoon report revealed that of the 142 active forest fires across the nation The number of active forest fires has more than doubled since April 1 when Conafor reported that after suppressing 39 fires throughout March 69 fires were still ablaze across 12,000 hectares (29,650 acres) 2,800 firemen and emergency personnel were on the front lines as compared to the 3,864 on duty today Conafor had predicted an active and potentially explosive wildfire season this year especially as 55% of the country was in drought conditions at the end of 2023 Then cold weather in January created large amounts of dry grass and conditions on the ground were exacerbated by record high temperatures in February and March that produced more fuel for fires The Valle de Bravo area was made more vulnerable by the drought conditions that reduced the Miguel Alemán reservoir to less than 29% capacity Home » CEC Receives Submission on Water Quality and Natural Resources in the Valle de Bravo-Amanalco Sub-Basin The Submitters assert that Mexico is failing to effectively enforce its environmental laws including constitutional law the Ecological Balance Act and Environmental Protection Act to protect forests and water resources from degradation and contamination in the Valle de Bravo-Amanalco watershed in the municipality of Valle de Bravo in the State of Mexico In submission SEM-23-005 (Valle de Bravo-Amanalco Sub-Basin) the Submitters assert that Mexico is failing to protect natural resources in the Valle de Bravo-Amanalco sub-basin from the effects of changes in land use from forest to agriculture alleging considerable impacts on biodiversity and soil erosion as well as water pollution and soil contamination from untreated waste The Submitters state that water quality in the watershed has deteriorated due to siltation and contamination of the Valle de Bravo dam because of direct discharge of sewage into the water as well as discharges of wastewater into the rivers from aquaculture and agriculture with high levels of nitrate and phosphates and maintain that the Valle de Bravo dam has reached 48% capacity The Submitters highlight that almost all of Valle de Bravo is a protected area that includes part of the Oyamel Fir Forest a destination for monarch butterfly migration The Submitters emphasize the importance of these issues given that the Valle de Bravo watershed provides drinking water for the municipality of Valle de Bravo and 24% of the drinking water in thirteen municipalities of the Metropolitan Zone of Mexico City and fourteen municipalities of the State of Mexico through the Cutzamala System The Submitters state that the lack of environmental impact authorizations for changes in land use and large real estate developments including the construction of more than 250 private dams is a major factor in the issues in watershed today The Secretariat will review the submission within 30 days and determine whether it meets the requirements of USMCA/CUSMA Articles 24.27(1), (2), and (3). To learn more, please consult the registry page for the submission SEM-23-005 (Valle de Bravo- Amanalco Sub-Basin) Submission filed under USMCA/CUSMA Chapter 24 asserts failure to effectively enforce environmental law in Mexico to protect forests and springs in the Valle de Bravo Sub-Basin in the State of Mexico The CEC Submissions on Enforcement Matters process supports public participation information-sharing between governments and the public and transparency and openness in the effective enforcement of environmental law in North America If you have reason to believe that an environmental law is not being effectively enforced by Canada the CEC’s SEM process is governed by USMCA Articles 24.27 and 24.28 of the Environment Chapter of the free trade agreement between Canada Please watch this two-minute video for an introduction: Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Architecture practice Taller Héctor Barroso lands in Valle de Bravo, Mexico, to complete Los Helechos, an ensemble of four minimalist residences that intimately embrace the site’s natural surroundings inviting flora into the fabric of daily living This careful integration presents an elegant manifestation of what Barroso calls ‘silent architecture’ accentuated by the verdant gardens enveloping the discreet yet sculptural buildings the four houses composing Los Helechos stealthily adapt to the steep slope of the terrain respecting the existing topography and vegetation to minimize their impact on the site all images © César Bejar the projects emerge in harmony with the environment that covers them creating spaces that emphasize the quality of the architectural exercise Los Helechose by Taller Héctor Barroso a central courtyard through which the houses look inward intimately linking nature to the fabric of daily living adapting to the site’s steep terrain in Valle de Bravo merging public and private at Los Helechos name: Los Helechos  location: Valle de Bravo, Mexico architect: Taller Héctor Barroso
 | @tallerhectorbarroso photographer: César Béjar | @cesarbejarstudio The shores of the giant dam in Valle de Bravo a popular weekend spot for Mexico City’s rich and famous pointed to a red truck in the distance about 100m away and said that was where the shores used to begin The dam is at less than 32 percent of its capacity Valle de Bravo’s dam feeds the Cutzamala System a network of infrastructure that is the source of water for about 6 million people two hours away in Mexico City and the surrounding area It is dealing with a sharp decline in its levels as it strains to quench a growing population amid dwindling rainfall hundreds of full artificial lakes and dams including some that serve no other purpose than aesthetic enhancement are in the sprawling walled properties belonging to the upper echelon of Mexican society all around the area the city’s municipal president and local residents say Garcia’s income has dropped considerably as the dam’s levels are too low to take tourists out skiing or even the daily fishing that used to provide for his family As some neighborhoods in Mexico City have been without water for weeks these private bodies of water in Valle de Bravo have emerged as a symbol of inequitable access that angers many people in the tourism-reliant community The flash point comes as tensions around water scarcity increase across Mexico with heavy water users such as factories and high-end tourist resorts coming under scrutiny Protesters from Valle de Bravo this month blocked traffic near offices of Mexico’s National Water Commission (Conagua) in Mexico City Other factors are also contributing to the water woes rapid development and deforestation have drained local rivers Progressively lower rainfall puts Valle de Bravo’s dam under unsustainable pressure — with a deficit of 12.8 percent last year during drought conditions sparked by La Nina climate phenomenon National Autonomous University of Mexico researcher Jorge Ramirez-Zierold said has about half the flow it did 40 years ago blaming diversions on residents using excessive amounts to water their grass or gardens “I wish [private lakes] didn’t exist,” said Eduardo Maza a member of the local organization Communities Organized for Water they should be done properly and without harming others.” private lakes and dams can increase biodiversity by attracting birds and animals a permaculture expert who has designed systems for many of the area’s ranch owners “I’m not telling you that they don’t have bad points who estimates private lakes account for less than 1 percent of the dam’s capacity “But the environmental benefits are much greater.” It’s difficult to calculate the effect these private bodies of water have on the community’s resources Valle de Bravo Municipal President Michelle Nunez said She provided pages of satellite images her office has compiled of hundreds of lakes on private properties which she said have been shared with Conagua There are no permits or authorizations for these bodies of water She wants owners of private lakes to submit to inspections to prove they are capturing rainwater and not illegally diverting local sources to have those lakes at those levels when there are families that depend 100 percent on income [from the dam] that are being extremely affected,” Nunez said She cannot act without federal support from Conagua which she said has done no studies and given no response to her complaints A Conagua spokesman did not respond to multiple requests for comment for this story The Citizen Observatory of the Valle de Bravo basin last year filed a petition against Mexico’s government under the Commission for Environmental Cooperation which oversees environmental issues in the North American trilateral trade pact who has spent his life working with the area’s water sources especially when communication between rich property owners and local communities does not exist “Either they arrive by helicopter or they arrive with six or seven trucks and they pass by without stopping and don’t even notice anything,” Maza said The México state Ministry of Education suspended classes indefinitely in 13 schools in Valle de Bravo after a resident of the municipality was killed by what is believed to have been a big cat A man of around 50 years of age was found dead on Sunday in the community of Cerro Gordo The nature of the wounds found on his body have led authorities to believe that the attack was carried out by a species of large cat México state Governor Alfredo del Mazo Maza issued an alert for the communities of Cerro Gordo and El Pinal del Marquesado and urged residents not to go to the area where the attack occurred The Ministry of Education took the extreme measure of cancelling classes on Wednesday announcing that the suspension is indefinite while authorities from the state Commission of National Parks and Forests (Cepanaf) search for the animal The suspension includes seven primary and six secondary schools State and municipal authorities are carrying out surveillance operations in the municipality “The municipal environmental department has already been in contact with specialized personnel from Cepanaf … and [the federal environmental agency] Profepa with the aim of searching the area finding the cat and taking it to a zoo,” said Valle de Bravo Mayor Mauricio Osorio on his Facebook page Authorities took DNA samples of the animal found on the body to ascertain what type of feline might have carried out the attack They also set up camera traps that will help obtain specific data in order to confirm the species Profepa and the Ministry of the Environment there are also personnel from the National Protected Areas Commission the México state Attorney General’s Office and state and municipal Civil Protection in the area Marines and state police have also been deployed to the municipality to aid local police in security operations Source: Reforma (sp) the home engages in a synchronous dialogue with its rich natural landscape echoing its tones and textures with its materiality and inviting abundant natural lighting and natural views of the outdoors inside The Zarzales vacation home integrates discreetly into its site, seeking to preserve as much as possible of the encompassing pine tree woodlands and maintain a reciprocal relationship with the landscape. In a natural response to the site, the architects at PPAA designed two low-lying volumes with a concrete terrace punctuated by the existing antiquated trees social areas to bring together inhabitants and visitors while the second provides private spaces for rest Both structures are topped by gabled roofs which protect the home from constant rainfall and blend in with the textures of the woodlands Part of the roof boasts wooden perforations that provide glimpses of the encompassing foliage creating dynamic patterns of shadows across the space echoing the tones of the tree bark and further blurring the boundary between the outdoors and indoors washed concrete + natural paste blur the boundary between the outdoors and indoors Zarzales comprises two long conjoined volumes the quiet home engages in a synchronous dialogue with the woodlands a concrete terrace punctuated by the existing antiquated trees preserves the landscape PPAA designs the home in the woodlands as a serene getaway from everyday life name: Zarzales architecture: Pérez Palacios Arquitectos Asociados (PPAA) design team: Pablo Pérez Palacios designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions’ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here. A contemporary dwelling dubbed Casa Cono has been completed by Mexican architecture firm Estudio Atemporal, designed for a young couple looking to escape urban life. Located in the forests outside Valle de Bravo, the residential project merges living and daily routines within the grandeur of its woodland setting The design of the structure responds to the gently sloping terrain and respects the presence of each tree — elevating these natural elements as central figures within the architectural narrative Casa Cono consists of two rectangular volumes layered and rotated to form a geometric composition that organizes the program across two levels This L-shaped organization frames diverse views to optimize a connection with nature throughout images © LGM Studio Facades of full-height glass give Casa Cono a sense of weightlessness, which the architects at Estudio Atemporal employs to further a connection between the interiors and forest beyond residents are encouraged to contemplate the interplay between trees The ground floor is organized between public spaces partitioned by a sheltered patio leading to the entrance This area branches into a study on one side and a unified living bedroom suites and other private areas are founds along the upper level this upper floor evokes a more cozy and inviting atmosphere Casa Cono is designed for a young couple seeking to escape urban life Estudio Atemporal’s Casa Cono appears as a seemingly weightless structure gently resting over the ground Following along a footpath that unfolds across the landscape residents arrive at the highest point where the house’s rear entrance is unveiled creating a dramatic threshold into the home an area which evokes an expansive observation deck The team at Estudio Atemporal comments: ‘As a fundamental part of the project’s conceptualization the forest and the topography become the protagonists in our approach to the site We envision this house as a series of volumes articulated with each other becoming participants and spectators of the surrounding nature.‘ Understanding the purpose of each space allowed the team to begin studying the program volumetrically always maintaining a constructive and organizational logic the design responds to the terrain and respects the presence of each tree predominantly translucent facades give the house a quality of weightlessness two rectangular volumes are organized in an L-shape across two levels large windows invite residents to contemplate the trees bedroom suites are located along the upper level the ground floor includes public areas divided by a sheltered patio architecture: Estudio Atemporal | @estudio_atemporal photography: © LGM Studio | @lgmstudio The road that descends into Valle de Bravo, a town deep in the mountains of central Mexico We all leaned back in our seats as the van rolled down toward the lake on which this municipality sits rounding hairpin turns on old cobblestone roads Valle de Bravo is located two hours southwest of Mexico City positioned at the intersection of several mountain ranges It’s where millions of monarch butterflies spend each winter while their milkweed plants in the north sit under snow It was my 74-year-old mother’s dream to see where they wintered She’d been trying to figure out how to make that happen for years and finally connected with an American who’d lived in Mexico for four decades (and whose house we rented) This was lucky as there is no established circuit for foreign travelers even though busloads of tourists traverse from Mexico City to behold the creatures every weekend January through March where they cover entire trees and cluster for warmth which have numbered as high as 380 million butterflies in 1997 and as low as 14 million in 2014 there are global ones: Experts warn that with climate change more powerful and erratic storms are making the gauntlet the monarchs have to run ever more challenging The narrow path these creatures fly gets narrower every year there have been successful efforts in Michoacán to restore some of the illegally logged forests and plans are underway to plant more drought-resistant trees the wintering population rebounded somewhat but then that number dropped to 59 million in 2020 mountain biking and hiking trails cut high into the hills that overlook the lake which meant the butterflies wouldn’t be flying including five kids and two still-ambulatory grandparents with trekking poles We walked (slowly) to a local ceramic market then on to the “artisan market,” a small building lined with shops selling handmade wares “It’s a sign we’re going to see the monarchs!” Photography by Sylvain Cordier/Getty Images We piled in and drove up into the mountains The pine trees towered a hundred feet overhead “Are we in Wisconsin “How many monarchs do you think there will be?” The parking lot was covered with a layer of hail including one where women cooked cheese and mushroom quesadillas in blue corn tortillas We paid our 50 pesos (about $3) to get in and found a guide to lead us to the top But after five minutes — at an elevation of 10,000 feet with a mile left to go — we sent back for horses for them The rest of us walked. Most of the way, the trail was wide and easy. The forest near the bottom of the mountain felt like the Pacific Northwest Large hummingbirds darted among the flowers “There’s another one!” shouted one of the kids we came to a spot the horses couldn’t pass and we made the steep final ascent on foot The air filled with orange and black wings instructed us to whisper and cautioned “No flash” as he pointed to our cameras “It’s like going into a church,” my dad said Their beating wings sounded like a soft rain We stood for a long time transfixed by this swarm of small creatures a migration so intimately connected to our lives They’d traveled so far on such fragile wings Eventually the guides said it was time to go We could have stayed on that mountaintop forever We knew we were witnessing something grand and rare on that hill something we could only hope our children’s children would see Because as these butterflies know all too well sooner or later you must begin the long journey home Read this article as it appears in the magazine. Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free feed From Attendees at Mexico's Festival de Avándaro which took place in 1971 outside of Valle de Bravo as part of our programming for Hispanic Heritage Month we dive into a slice of music history by way of Mexico It begins with a moment of tragedy in Mexico City that heralded a crackdown on rock music in the country college students in the capital were protesting government spending on the Summer Olympics when Mexican armed forces started firing into the crowd The massacre in the city's Tlatelolco neighborhood was a cataclysmic turning point in a larger youth movement pushing back against el PRI Mexico's authoritative ruling party at the time and rock music was a big source of empowerment for young Mexicans All of this energy culminated in the iconic Avándaro a music festival that's been compared to Woodstock in the United States in terms of its impact on the course of rock music in Mexico we recommend you tune in to the audio player above to hear the entire story Become an NPR sponsor Take a visual tour of the week in Mexico – from the Guadalajara international book fair to a traditional procession in Cuernavaca – with this selection of pictures from around the country The term "popular art" in English often evokes images of boldly-colored paintings that depict celebrities "arte popular" is used almost exclusively for the ethnic crafts and artworks that in English would be commonly known as "folk art" (the other artistic trend is instead known by the abbreviated "arte pop") Arte popular is so, well... popular in the country, that other museums dedicated to it can be found in cities like Puebla, Mérida, and Mexico City and the museum in Valle de Bravo is likely the smallest and newest of these pieces by award-winning toymaker Josué Eleazar Castro arte plumario (which uses feathers similarly to how tiles are used in a mosaic) this small museum showcases the diversity of Mexican folk art Not to be confused with the other Museo de Arte Popular in Mexico City The museums can often be told apart by their acronyms in Spanish; Mexico City's is MAP MUAPO is open Wednesday-Sunday (except holidays) from 10 a.m The museum can be visited for free but only via a guided tour it is advised to contact the Museum via Whatsapp beforehand (+527122021449) Due to its location in a historic building without elevators the upper floor is only accessible via stairs there are no toilet facilities in the museum A spectacular Neoclassical palace is home more than 15,000 artifacts and works of art This remote museum highlights the island’s impressive creative legacy A museum showcasing the work of a self-taught painter and sculptor spanning four decades of output in seclusion The largest collection of woven silk tapestries in the world A cheeky alleyway window hosts tiny rotating exhibits with outsized charm This little-known national museum houses over 40,000 works of art from across the world This museum preserves over-the-top masterpieces that once qualified artisans for membership into a medieval guild Sprawled across the Great Hall ceiling are various constellations and images relating to the zodiac installing and even kidnapping political candidates in México state as they seek favorable conditions to operate under after the June 6 elections The newspaper Reforma spoke with local leaders of several political parties who revealed that threats have been made against their candidates in Valle de Bravo all municipalities in southern México state criminal groups blocked Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) Mayor Eliza Ojeda from seeking reelection Criminal groups demanded that Carmen Albarrán be installed as the mayoral candidate for a coalition made up of the PRD the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and the National Action Party (PAN) Those three parties formed an alliance in December to increase their chances of beating Morena party candidates in many municipalities and federal and state electoral districts across Mexico coalition candidate Luisa Martínez González has received threats from organized crime The PRD has reported the threats to México state electoral authorities but the state government has not publicly commented on organized crime’s intervention in the electoral process criminal groups also allegedly “imposed” the Morena party candidate for mayor part of México state’s Tierra Caliente region PRI-PAN-PRD candidate Rigoberto López has received threats a popular tourist town and weekend destination for Mexico City residents organized crime took an even more hands-on approach this week mayoral candidate for the PRI-PAN-PRD coalition was kidnapped on Monday while she was campaigning at the Velo de Novia waterfall in Avándaro The former sprinter and hurdler who competed at the 2008 Olympic Games was allegedly abducted by members of the Familia Michoacana cartel According to witness accounts cited by noted political columnist Raymundo Riva Palacio in a piece published by the news website Eje Central on Thursday Rodríguez was approached by two people and subsequently forced into a vehicle Riva wrote that the candidate was driven 64 kilometers to Tejupilco where a “person soaked in alcohol surrounded by an armed group” told her: “’Look I just ask you to hide and drop out of the campaign.’” Rodríguez asked whether she should leave the country and the person — who Riva said has been identified as Familia Michoacana leader Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga also known as “El Pez” (The Fish) — reiterated that she should go into hiding and withdraw her candidacy for mayor Hurtado and his brother José Alfredo lead a faction of the Familia Michoacana that has operated for more than a decade in the Tierra Caliente region of Guerrero and which controls the “criminal corridor” between Arcelia He said the criminal cell is currently in an alliance with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel generally considered Mexico’s most powerful and violent criminal organization “’El Pez’ could have killed Rodríguez without any problem but it’s clear that wasn’t his final intention They [the Familia Michoacana] wanted to intimidate her They wanted her to abandon her electoral campaign without violence and without attracting national attention they achieved it: after the same criminals who abducted her at the Velo de Novia [waterfall] returned her to Avándaro who hadn’t been seen in public since her abduction appeared in a video on Thursday in which she said that she was well She thanked her team for their “unconditional support” but didn’t speak about her political campaign or ask citizens to vote for her on June 6 Riva wrote that the motivation for the Familia Michoacana’s actions was to help the Morena party mayoral candidate The Olascoaga brothers had injected resources into electoral campaigns according to people with knowledge of the political life in the south of México state install their people in the municipal ministries of Security and Public Works or to pressure and extort council members … What is unprecedented is that they bet on a specific candidate,” he wrote At the same time as Rodríguez was kidnapped federal customs chief Horacio Duarte — in concert “deliberately or coincidentally” with the criminals — arrived unannounced at the offices of the current PRI mayor of Valle de Bravo to warn him to withdraw his support for the PRI-PAN-PRD candidate allegedly threatened to have the federal tax agency investigate the mayor if he didn’t do as he was told Citing information provided by people who personally know Rodríguez Riva also wrote that people identified as members of Morena are watching her house to see who is visiting her is to infer whether the former athlete still plans to contest the June 6 election “… The state can’t allow actions of this nature in which a criminal group meddles in an electoral process where — if their apparent candidate is successful — they will implant criminal power into public power,” the columnist wrote He urged the federal government to investigate Rodríguez’s abduction and the actions of Duarte to determine “his alleged responsibility in the criminal events” of this week “The symptoms shown by the microcosm of Valle de Bravo are clearly those of narco-politics,” Riva wrote adding that given the increasing number of examples of criminal involvement in politics the federal government cannot continue to stand on the margins and not act against “this accelerated deterioration of public life.” Source: Reforma (sp), Eje Central (sp)  They grow uncontrollably, taking over bodies of water. If one of their stems is broken, it doubles. They also contain seeds and have other forms of reproduction. Water lilies are one of the 100 most harmful invasive exotic species in the world, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) These green invaders are capable of devouring rivers and lakes. Unchecked, they would completely cover the Valle de Bravo reservoir in two months a Tec graduate and biotechnology engineer on the Valle de Bravo Operations Committee Eduardo Caballero has seen another side to this infestation and has discovered how to use it to clean water The Miguel Alemán reservoir in Valle de Bravo is part of the Cutzamala system which supplies drinking water to Mexico City the lake is showing strong symptoms of pollution “The pollution doesn’t just have environmental impacts It’s also a public health risk,” says Caballero The levels of water pollution have resulted in large concentrations of a neurotoxic cyanobacterium which is capable of causing damage to various organs and systems such as the liver they used to take me on excursions to the lake and I always remember it being polluted I went to Tec de Monterrey because I wanted to study something that would help me change things but Eduardo Caballero recalls that the fishermen and locals would say “Don’t remove all the lilies because the water’s clean underneath the greenery.” Lilies have the ability to absorb heavy metals and nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus “I searched for a way to take advantage of the lily’s voraciousness to remove what we don’t want from the water in a controlled manner” The technology patented by this Tec graduate encapsulates the water lily to stop it reproducing as it would naturally and killing the body of water “We allow it to grow in a controlled manner so we can exploit its allelopathic properties directly attacking the cyanobacteria and consuming the nutrients that are causing the lake to degenerate,” he explains The problem with uncontrolled lilies in the tourist zone (the jetty) and manual control methods The solution is already patented and consists of a system of floating “hive” islands that contain the lilies This design allows water and air to pass through in equal parts so that the water can be cleaned without the plant dispersing The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has already shown interest in Caballero’s proposal they carried out a controlled test on 200 liters with the technology which showed positive results in containing the lily’s growth and consuming unwanted nutrients “We managed to reduce the doubling time of the lily by 21% and to contain 100% of its seeds and propagules.” These hives are made of polypropylene conditioned for strength and flexibility The idea is to cover 5,000 square meters of a 1,880-hectare lake which is an investment of 60 million pesos This design doesn’t affect navigation and is capable of cleaning 300 tons of nutrient pollution per year according to calculations by the biotechnology engineer from the Tec Eduardo Caballero has been in talks to approve his project He’s currently awaiting a response from the authorities He has had meetings with the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) the National Commission for Protected Natural Areas (CONANP) the Water Commission of the State of Mexico (CAEM) the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA) he wants to migrate the solution to other bodies of water I want to help other bodies of water and I understand that the solution won’t be the same due to the different factors of those places,” he explains the Tec graduate has already developed various options in conjunction with universities to use the project’s lilies Tec Research Institute for the Future of Education Institute of Advanced Materials for Sustainable Manufacturing Institute for the Future of Education Center for the Future of Cities Water Center for Latin America and the Caribbean oriGen Project Research Data Hub Tecnológico de Monterrey Rankings Tec Science Summit Rómulo Garza Award Tec Science Divulgation Researchers at Tec de Monterrey Faculty of research professors Research Groups with a Strategic Focus TecSalud Research Competitive and Technological Intelligence (ICTI) Technology Transfer Offices Science Connexion Divulgation Articles Amateur Science Editorial Team Editorial Committee Previous editions Do you want to request a coverage or a banner? 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