Planned water reserve intended to ease shortages in the Panama Canal fuels river protest

PANAMA CITY (AP) — Dozens of boats carrying around 200 people, mostly farmers waving Panamanian flags, traveled along the country's central Indio River on Friday to protest a planned reservoir in the Panama Canal intended to solve water shortages in the waterway that have threatened international trade flow.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) says building the reservoir is the best way to provide an additional water source for over 2 million people in Panama City and to ensure the canal operates efficiently in the coming decades.

The canal, which needs around 189 million liters (50 million gallons) of freshwater for each ship crossing, faced severe water shortages in 2023 due to lack of rain, forcing authorities to cut crossings by 20% and delay traffic. The proposed reservoir, which would take four years and $1.6 billion to build, could allow 12 to 13 more ship crossings per day and support new water treatment facilities being built, authorities say.

But protesters say building the reservoir using the Indio River, in the canal's watershed, would also force 2,000 people to be relocated from their homes because their communities would be flooded. Other areas downstream could also be affected by reduced river flow.

Iris Gallardo, a teacher from the Guasimo community and a member of the “No to Reservoirs” movement, was among the group of mostly farmers waving Panamanian flags. She told the Associated Press they held the boat protest to show their rejection of the project and forced relocations.

“We are demanding that the multipurpose reservoir proposed by the ACP not be built without consulting and getting permission from the affected communities,” Gallardo said.

Instead, protestors suggest using the nearby Bayano Lake, located east of the capital. Authorities dismissed that idea due to logistical, legal challenges and cost, and said that such a project would displace 200,000 people – far more than the current plan. They said the project would also offer jobs to communities and that the resettlement plan is being developed with the community.

Former Panama Canal administrator Jorge Luis Quijano said opponents of the project don’t understand how serious the water problem is.

“The only way to have water is to store it,” he said.

Demonstrators protest a planned reservoir for the Panama Canal at the mouth of the Indio River on Panama's Caribbean coast, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Demonstrators travel by river to the mouth of the Rio Indio on Panama's Caribbean coast to protest a planned reservoir for the Panama Cana on Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Demonstrators travel by river to the mouth of the Rio Indio on Panama's Caribbean coast to protest a planned reservoir for the Panama Canal on Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Demonstrators travel by river to the mouth of the Rio Indio on Panama's Caribbean coast to protest against a planned reservoir for the Panama Canal and to protest against Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Children play soccer as demonstrators protest a planned reservoir for the Panama Canal at the mouth of the Indio River on Panama's Caribbean coast, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

MONTREAL (AP) — Mike Matheson and Juraj Slafkovsky scored goals 37 seconds apart to start the third period, propelling the Montreal Canadiens to a 6-3 win over the last-place Vancouver Canucks on Monday night.

Alexandre Carrier scored twice in a 20-second span in the second period for Montreal, which rebounded from a 4-0 home-ice loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.

Noah Dobson and Oliver Kapanen also scored in the Canadiens' fourth straight win over the Canucks.

Jakub Dobes, making his first start since Jan. 1, stopped 20 shots for Montreal. Dobes defeated Vancouver for the second time in as many outings this season.

Elias Pettersson, Evander Kane and Max Sasson scored for the Canucks.

Vancouver has lost the first four games of its season-long six-game Eastern Conference road trip. Overall, the Canucks have lost seven straight and nine of their last 10.

Nikita Tolopilo made 35 saves in his first appearance in goal for Vancouver since Dec. 8.

The Belarusian goaltender was recalled Sunday under emergency conditions from the Canucks’ AHL affiliate.

Starter Thatcher Demko was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury he suffered in his team’s 5-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. Demko returned to Vancouver to be further evaluated by the Canucks’ medical staff.

Vancouver scored the opening goal of the game for the first time in six games, marking their first lead in a game since Dec. 30.

Carrier’s first goal was his 100th career point. It also was the first career multigoal game for the 29-year-old blueliner.

Canucks: At Ottawa on Tuesday in the fifth game of a six-game trip.

Canadiens: At Washington Capitals on Tuesday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Montreal Canadiens' Alexandre Carrier, second from left, scores against Vancouver Canucks goaltender Nikita Tolopilo (60) as Canucks' Tom Willander (5) defends during second-period NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks' Max Sasson (63) scores against Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) during second-period NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Nikita Tolopilo (60) watches the puck in front of Montreal Canadiens' Alexandre Texier (85) as Canucks' Marcus Pettersson (29) defends during second-period NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Alexandre Carrier (45) scores against Vancouver Canucks goaltender Nikita Tolopilo, bottom left, as Canucks' Tom Willander (5) defends during second-period NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)