The last week of February 2024 has seen a significant increase in flows in the middle stretch of the Ebro due to the rainfall recorded in the Ebro basin.
This episode of flooding at the limit of what is considered extraordinary flooding (which would generate greater affectations) leaves us these images of the response of the intervention typologies being implemented by the Ebro Resilience strategy in this section, those just initiated by the LIFE Ebro Resilience P1 project and some actions anticipated by the Ebro Hydrographic Confederation after the most important episodes of flooding of the last decade in the Ebro axis in 2015 and 2018.
The example of the La Roza meander
This meander has been recovered as a river space in the municipality of Alfaro, in La Rioja, through the LIFE Ebro Resilience P1 Project, with European funding. In addition, the drainage capacity of the railroad bridge eyes has been improved and, for the first time in 40 years, all 15 eyes were available during a flood event.
Interventions completed under the Ebro Resilience Strategy
Images that show the benefits for the fluvial dynamics of actions to recover fluvial space, create relief channels, build krainer walls or recover river branches that had been abandoned.
This is the case of the first phase of El Ortigoso, in Milagro, Navarra; El Estajao, in Alfaro, La Rioja and La Nava, in Alfaro.
Solving the problems of river narrowing
In El Ortigoso, before the Ebro Resilience project, the dykes constricted the river just around the mouth of the Aragón river into the Ebro river. The river went from widths of up to 597 meters to other points with only 103 meters. Reclaiming space for the river was a necessity to reduce the effect of the flows.
More intervention typologies Ebro Resilience
During the February floods, we have seen the response of other actions of Ebro Resilience typology, seeking reconnection of abandoned river branches, recovery of space, pre-flood areas… that were launched by one of the partners of LIFE Ebro Resilience P1, the Ebro Hydrographic Confederation after the episodes of 2015 and 2018.
Some of them have been executed for the defense and improvement of the adaptation of urban centers.
What are lateral flow buffer zones?