10 Apr The Miño-Sil River Basin District Water Council gives a favourable report on the draft Hydrological Plan for the 2022-2027 cycle
- The document has been informed by the Governing Board and by the Committee of Competent Authorities, before being submitted to the Water Council, the highest participatory planning body
- The new text includes a programme of measures with 320 actions and an overall budget of 444.14 million euros for the 2027 horizon
- It is worth highlighting the wide public participation, 972 comments received, almost three times more than in the previous cycle, when 375 were received
The Miño-Sil River Basin District Authority (CHMS), an autonomous body under the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO), this morning brought together the demarcation’s governing, participation and cooperation bodies – Governing Board, Committee of Competent Authorities and the Water Council – to report on the consolidated contents of the draft hydrological plan for the 2022-2027 cycle, following the 6-month public consultation period, which ended on 22 December last.
The draft Plan, following a report by the Water Council, will be transferred to the MITECO. Other subsequent procedures include the report to be drawn up by the National Water Council, the Advisory Council for the Environment, attached to the MITECO and the Council of State, and the completion of the mandatory strategic environmental processing. The approval of this document, with the changes that may occur in this process, will be by means of a Royal Decree approved by the Council of Ministers.
Previously and this morning, the document has been informed by the Governing Board and by the Committee of Competent Authorities, before being submitted to the Demarcation’s Water Council, the basin’s highest participatory planning body.
The new Plan
During the sessions of the collegiate bodies, all the contents of the draft hydrological plan were detailed, mainly those relating to the new characterisation of the bodies of water, the new inventory of natural water resources, the impact of climate change, the study of pressures and impacts of human activity on the bodies of water, the updating of demands, the status of the bodies of water and the environmental objectives set.
As a starting point, following the status assessment carried out in 2020, it is concluded that 75% of surface water bodies and 92% of groundwater bodies achieve good status.
Based on the above, a Programme of Measures has been drawn up consisting of 320 actions with an overall budget of 444.14 million euros for the 2027 horizon, with the aim of achieving good status of all water bodies and reducing the pressures and impacts caused by the different activities.
These actions consist of 102 measures to reduce point pollution with a budget of 127.91 million euros, 33 measures for actions to restore and conserve bodies of water, with a budget of 131 million euros, those relating to flood risk management with 57 million euros, and improvements in governance related to the digitalisation of both the automatic hydrological information system (SAIH) and water quality (SAICA), with a budget of 55 million euros.
In terms of investment by administrations, the State, through the Directorate General for Water of the MITECO and the CHMS, foresees an investment of 289.94 million euros, 65.28% of the total, the Autonomous Communities 76.73 million euros, 17.28%, and the local entities 56.01 million euros, 12.61%.
Public participation
It is important to highlight the broad public participation, in this sense it should be pointed out that 972 comments were received, almost three times more than in the previous cycle, which amounted to 375; of these, 50.41% were added to the new text, although all were answered and a report was drawn up on the basis of these comments, which was incorporated into the document presented to each of the collegiate bodies.
With regard to their subject matter, 195 of them dealt with ecological flows, 181 with hydromorphological alterations, 170 with hydroelectric uses and 161 with protected areas, mainly in the Natura 2000 Network. In addition, 136 were received on concessions and priorities for use, 118 on the public water domain, 110 on the programme of measures and 104 on aspects relating to mining, especially slate.
Source: CHMS