Low reach of River Cinca

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Low reach of River Cinca


Factsheet: Low reach of River Cinca

General
Country ES
River Name Cinca
Site Name Low reach of River Cinca
River Characterisation
    River typology
    Location (Lat Lon) 41.5627383376453, 0.301780700683594
    Altitude lowland: < 200 m
    Catchment area large: > 1000 - 10000 km2
    Geology Siliceous
    National code/
    River type name
    15. Ejes mediterráneo-continentales poco mineralizados.
    Hydromorphological quality elements

    Biological quality elements
    Ecosystem Services
    EU Directives
    Pressures
    Measures
    Other
    Project size 1550 ha
    Approximate costs > 1 000 000 Euros
    Synergy
    Status In progress
    Period of realization 2008-2010
    Evaluation Hydromorphological changes
    Implemented by Ministerio de Medio Ambiente (Environmental Agency). River Ebro basin management


    Key features of the case study

    The objective of the project is to restore the stream morphology and floodplain conditions in the right bank of the river Cinca, in the lower reach, between Velilla de Cinca and Fraga. There is a major actuation that consists of remove a levee that only protects crops.

    Site description

    The river Cinca is one of the largest rivers in the Ebro Basin that drains part of the North of Aragon, in Spain. The river has a lot of impacts in both riverbanks: crops, urban areas, reforested areas, levees, communication infrastructures...

    There is a huge presence of sediments inside the stream that usually formed bars, more or less colonized by natural vegetation. The flow regime is regulated by upstream dams like "Mediano" o "El Grado" (436hm3 and 399hm3).

    The presence of crops and cultivated areas has contributed to build defenses and to profit the fertile soils to plant black poplars.

    View of the levee that only defends crops

    Measures selection

    There are two groups of measures: Morphological and about riparian vegetation.

    MORPHOLOGICAL The main measure consists of increase the Fluvial Mobility Space through the remove of the levee that is closer to the river. There is other levee that protects the 500-year flood, but it will be preserved. This actuation will increase the lateral connectivity between the stream and the riparian vegetation.

    RIPARIAN VEGETATION Here are included 2 different tasks:
    a)Natural riparian vegetation recovery through the cut down of black poplars plantation. There are going to plant native species: Salix, Corylus avellana, Fraxinus, Populus, Ulmus.
    b)Reforest areas without vegetation.

    Success criteria

    Ecological response

    Hydromorphological response

    Hydrological regime

    Unaffected

    Monitoring before and after implementation of the project

    During the execution phase, there will be different researches: Water Quality; Fishes and other communities; Sediments analysis.
    During the actuation phase, there will be an environmental and technical control.
    Before the finalization of the project, there will be another time, the researches in Water Quality; Fishes and other communities; Sediments analysis.

    Socio-economic aspects

    Contact person within the organization

    Extra background information

    References

    http://oph.chebro.es/DOCUMENTACION/Restauracion/Restauracion.htm

    Related Measures

    Related Pressures