Integrated water resources management in the basin of the Segura river (southeast Spain); an example of adaptation to drought periods

Abstract

The integrated management of the Sinclinal de Calasparra aquifer and surface waters of the Segura river during periods of drought represents an example of sectoral implementation of the European regulatory framework in terms of adaptation to climate change, thanks to the continued effort of the resource management agency, Confederacion Hidrografica del Segura, over almost 30 years of operation. The effective network of piezometric control and gauging stations distributed throughout the basin has made it possible to meet groundwater demand in situations of declared drought in a predominantly agricultural region, while monitoring the effects on the environment of resource abstraction. The agency has promoted the use of numerical models of aquifer behavior as a management tool, as presented in this work, which has served to anticipate the effects of the abstractions planned for the period 2015–2021 on the Gorgoton spring and on the flow of the Segura river as it passes through the aquifer.