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Water conflicts in Navarre: 11 concrete proposals to the Foral Government
  • On Thursday, the Subai Erakuntza Foundation and the Navarra Network for the Defense of the Urbizi Rivers presented to the Katakrak society of Pamplona/Iruña the report "Water policies in Navarra, significant conflicts and proposals for water management".
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Esako Urtegia. (Argazkia: Urbizi)

The report notes the hottest points seen in water management in Navarre and makes proposals to the Government of Navarre in collaboration to solve these problems. In short, the aim of partnerships is not to treat water as a "commodity", but as a "heritage to protect, defend and treat as such", as set out in the Water Framework Directive.

At the press conference the list of proposals was made available to the Government of Navarra. They are as follows, as specified in the letter distributed by them:

1) To carry out with the utmost urgency the study of the ecological flows necessary for the conservation purposes of the Natura 2000 Network (Special Conservation Areas and Areas of Special Interest for Water-Dependent Birds).

2) Irrigation expansion should not be subsidized in an abusive and irrational manner. The cost of irrigation infrastructure shall be passed on to the beneficiary users in accordance with the terms laid down in the legislation in force. New concessions should not be created with shadow tolls.

3) Nitrate contamination of livestock and agriculture is a serious problem which must be limited and prevented and, if necessary, limited the most polluting crops and farms.

(4) The Montejurra Commonwealth should improve the management of water demands by implementing control, transparency and participation measures to help resolve the conflict with the conservation of the Ega River.

5) Due to the impact that the mining project of the wells Mina Muga may have on the waters, it is necessary for the Government of Navarra to carry out specific and rigorous monitoring of it.

6) In view of the Stability Study of the right slope of the Yesa reservoir, further "Additional Measures" are required. The works must be stopped and the high reservoir must not be kept outside the safety height.

7) Cancellation of water transfers. It is not necessary to carry out the water project from the river Salazar to the reservoir of Yesa.

8) Improve management and monitoring of endangered species in water.

9) Water governance measures should be established to facilitate active public participation.

10) Water monitoring is related to water management: support for extensive mountain farming, land farming and traditional irrigation.

11) And finally, the effort to inform and coordinate the institutions involved in flood management, in close connection with river space and spatial planning.

In addition to these proposals, the report broadly addresses the seven main sources of conflict that currently exist in Navarre around water and each of them to be carried out. These areas are as follows, as they appear in your document:

1) As regards supplies, a report has been prepared on the Master Plan for the Integral Cycle of Urban Water 2019-2030. It has many positive aspects, but it still has policies for managing the supply and use of large infrastructures.

(2) The conflict over increased water catchment in Egaibar for supply to the Montejurra Commonwealth. The springs and fountains of the Ega Valley are drying each year in longer periods, and the Ega River has an increasingly marked period of styling. At the same time, from the aquifer of Lokiz the Montejurra Commonwealth is pumping water for supply. In order to save the Ega and defend the aquifer and the river, there is a strong connection between several municipalities, for abusive use and without the required legal authorizations for it.

3) The Canal de Navarra continues its course, with 21,500 hectares in anticipation for phase 2, although there is not enough water. In addition, there are unconfessed increases in the shadow toll tacitly agreed between the government and the concessionaire that presides over OHL for the irrigation of enlargement. Endless cover and economic confusion.

4) The rise of the Yesa dam has caused landslides in both margins, as well as two empty and expropriated urbanizations, state of emergency in submerged populations, with a continuous increase in the cost of the works. We have to deal with a security problem for first-rate human lives. The increase has been due to unfounded objectives and urgency has once again affected an area where the emergency situation had a serious impact.

(5) In connection with the expansion of the Yesa reservoir, and in order to fill the reservoir, it has been planned to draw up a study to bring the water from the Salazar River to the Yesa reservoir, by means of an Aspurtz dam and a tunnel of 9.8 kilometres in length to transport 170 hm3 per year. A new threat to mountain areas.

6) The mining of the wells in the County of Pamplona has left polluting landfills, waste wells, salt rivers and aquifers, holes and seismicity. The Mina Muga project, close to the Yesa reservoir, may pose the threat of repeating the same effects on a larger scale in an area of high geological and seismic risk.

7) The management of the river territory and the flooding of Navarre has facilitated some very positive actions, but much remains to be done. The report summarizes the catastrophic event in Cidacos in July 2019. It shows its close relationship with regional planning.

For those who want to delve deeper into these conflicting areas, the Subai Erakuntza Foundation has hung the full report on its website, in Spanish: "Water policies in Navarre, significant conflicts and proposals for water management"