LIFE PROJECT Spain: Practical implementation of river management

River management has to resolve conflicting interests of the major stakeholders operating in the Guadajoz River basin. The challenge for this LIFE project was to bring together all sectors of the local community to draw up a set of integrated policies for the sustainable development and environmental management of the river and its surroundings.

The Guadajoz River is one of the biggest tributaries of the Guadalquivir, which flows down to the Vadomojón Dam. Several small towns – Baena, Castro del Río, Espejo, Nueva Carteya and Valenzuela – are located in the river basin area, which has a population of 40,000 and extends over 700 km2. The beneficiary, "Mancomunidad de Guadajoz y Campiña Este de Córdoba", the region’s municipal association, was founded in 1993 with the main objective of fostering social and economic development in terms of the sustainability of the river’s resorts.

The project:

• Promoted the creation of political and technical structures that are useful for the planning and integrated management of river resources – building necessary capacity;
• Developed systems to improve the natural environment, including demonstrating initiatives to combat erosion and control water quality, sponsoring training initiatives and fostering agreements with farmers and industries;
• Involved the whole local community through awareness-raising educational campaigns and the introduction of new economic activities that are compatible with river conservation;
• Developed an integrated model of environmental management in the Guadajoz River zone that is potentially applicable to similar areas of southern Europe.

All stakeholders involved and concerned with the sustainable use of the Guadajoz River

The Guadajoz project has had a significant impact on the Guadajoz river basin. It has introduced institutional coordination, technical innovation and social participation, which has resulted in an integrated model for the environmental management of the river basin. The setting up of a "River Board" allowed the institutions and organisations that operate in the river area to work together towards sustainable development. Joint initiatives are ongoing. The project has helped the region meet the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). It has analysed the environmental problems the river faces and devised solutions for combating them. Several techniques have been tested including: erosion control; improvement of water quality; monitoring; definition of 'ecological' flow levels; and restoration of natural vegetation. Effective techniques were also established for regenerating different areas of 'run down' or unmanaged riverside habitats.

The most important impact of the project, however, was the creation of a foundation for a follow-up, EU co-funded programme. This initiative will have a total budget of over €100 million and will introduce additional restoration actions in the Guadajoz river basin and its surrounding environment.

For more information go to http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life

Project Number: LIFE99 ENV/E/000278

Title: River agreements – design & implementation of fluvial management policies

Beneficiary: Mancomunidad del Guadajoz y Campiña Este de Córdoba, Spain