A river that moved but did not water

In 1758, the Tâmega was described in Cavez as a caudal river throughout the year, with a particularly strong current in winter. It had dams, canals and cereal mills. On the banks, the report pointed out cultivated areas, olive groves and trees that supported vineyards.

Despite this presence in agricultural life, the vicar said that the river did not water the fields of the parish: it ran too deep to allow levadas. It is an important difference between having water nearby and being able to lead it to a portion. The description shows how the relief conditioned the uses of water at that time; it does not characterize the current irrigation.