by To enter a river, you usually need long fishing boots. However, this Thursday, the environmentalists that have “invaded” the river bed of the muga river To protest against the Government’s decision to reduce the flow of the rivers, as part of the plan against drought, they have done so with normal footwear. This Empordà river, in the sections of Peralada and cabinsis completely dry and it has been transformed into a barren cantorral.
Scientists warn of the risks for the ecosystem of this Government measure that is already perceived in the Ter and the Muga
“The image is a strong argument against the drastic cut in minimum environmental flows imposed by the Generalitat,” he criticizes. Arnau Lagresamember of IAEDEN (Alt Empordanese Institute for the Defense and Study of Nature). Put words to the discomfort of more than 20 environmental associations (among which the XCN, Xarxa per la Conservació de la Natura), which a week ago took this action to the prosecutor’s office in the form of a complaint. “We understand that mouth water must be ensured, but the second priority must be the maintenance of the river ecosystems, which are already dying,” he details. Lagresa.
Consider that the decision is “a sentence” for the river and the species, many of them in danger of extinction, that live in its bed. Furthermore, the platforms in the area cannot understand why the Muga is the river where flows will be restricted the most. Catalonia entered into emergency last Friday and today, the data managed by the Catalan Water Agency (ACA) confirm that the reduction in flows is already a reality.
The specific situation of a tree, a mollusk and a bird show the descent of the rivers.
The ACA planned to reduce the flows of the Llobregat, Ter and Muga. And the first two affected are the two northern rivers. In less than a week, the cup has gone from 135 liters per second to 100 liters per second. he tersince the Pasteral dam, it has gone from 2,000 meters per second to 1,600. The Government, from day one, has insisted on an idea: the reductions will be progressive and if serious effects on ecosystems are detected, they will be stopped.
The Muga river, with hardly any flow. / IAEDEN
This explanation does not convince the groups that reject the measure. The other asset of the Catalan Executive to defend this controversial decision are the calls ‘hydrotips’, actions that consist of increase flow rates for a few hours, twice a week, to relieve river habitats. However, Lagresa believes that they are not enough.
Marc Ordeixbiologist specialized in rivers, shares the thesis: “What good is a fish willing to have water two days a week? Can you imagine that they tell you that? you can only breathe twice every seven days?”. Ordeix, who runs the CERM (Centre d’Estudis dels Rius Mediterranis), understands that water is needed, but affirms that drowning the rivers more is stretching the rope too much.
dead alders
To exemplify the decline of rivers, which can even be intensified further with this measure by the Generalitat, they expose three very striking situations that affect a tree, a mollusk and a bird. Start with him aldera typical tree of riverside forests, this highly threatened habitat: “In recent years, They are dying in large numbers. Alders always need to have moist roots. And if the river dries up or constricts, they die or are very damaged. We are seeing it in all the studies we do.”
auriculate naiad / Agencies
The second protagonist is a very rare mollusk: the auriculated naiad. Their populations have decreased drastically despite various conservation strategies. “The naiad, when the river dries up, buries itself, but cannot leave. And if the period of water scarcity lasts long, it dies. In the end of the river Ter there are a few sections and they can suffer it,” he warns Ordeix.
An aquatic mirror. / The newspaper
The last paradigmatic case presented by the expert is that of water blackbird, a little bird that constantly dives to look for food among river stones. “In the meadow mountains and in several sectors of the Guilleries, this species is experiencing a worrying decline. In Prades there is almost none, because it needs a somewhat powerful flow to eat and survive.
