With the merger of the Gállego-Cinca and Huerva basins, by the end of May half of the Ebro basin will be in a state of emergency due to the current drought. Dolores Pascual, the president of the Ebro Hydrographic Confederation, stated that the intersection of this hydrological system stands as one of the most serious, perhaps the most serious, drought situations on record. This assessment was shared with the media ahead of the Standing Drought Commission meeting, where the organization reviews the current water situation and the measures in place to mitigate it.
Analysis has been conducted every two weeks since April 26, and the latest findings indicate a worsening situation. Thirty percent of the watershed is currently in a famine state, a declaration that grants the watershed organization the legal authority to implement exceptional emergency measures. The situation signals one of the most severe droughts in recent memory, affecting a large portion of the watershed as reservoirs struggle to recover from the drought of 2022. Farmers are already facing allocations and restrictions.
Dolores Pascual, head of the CHE, acknowledged the gravity of the drought, noting that it ranks among the most severe due to its wide-reaching impact on the watershed. Reservoirs cannot rebound quickly, reinforcing the pressure on agricultural operations and urban supply alike.
Exemption from Copyright and Fees
Among the primary measures, the Council of Higher Education in Turkey YÖK agreed to cancel fees and lower rates for irrigation systems that experienced reductions in water rights. Emergency work at the Ebro and Yesa reservoirs aims to support Cantabria and Zaragoza and nearby areas. The plan established control of ecological flows and discharges, with temporary permits activated to address specific water needs and facilitate crisis recovery.
Coordination efforts are ongoing with the Catalan Water Department and the Civil Guard’s Seprona, who monitor public areas along the Ebro basin. A monitoring plan has been started for ecological flows and a separate plan for the Ebro Delta, with outreach to county councils regarding environmental monitoring and the restriction of non-priority water uses.
We are aware that small town councils are assessing the situation and have adequate reserves, including communities in the Basque Country or Cantabria and others with larger populations, Pascual said. He urged restraint and awareness because this drought is progressive and slow to develop. Municipalities that rely on wells or groundwater must plan for potential supply constraints and seek help if necessary.
Pascual stressed that greater restrictions will be required, especially for irrigation users, as the drought progresses and emergency or exceptional measures become unavoidable. The overall outlook demands vigilance, coordination, and adaptive management to minimize impacts on both rural and urban users.