Collective Action for water in Spain

Mar Menor - Segura Basin (DHS) Information Repository

WRAP Water Stewardship programme for Mar Menor - Segura basin (DHS)

What do we understand by water Stewardship?

This term is defined as “the use of water that is socially and culturally equitable, environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial, achieved through a stakeholder-inclusive process that includes both site- and catchment-based actions.”

(Alliance for Water Stewardship - AWS, 2014).

It is an approach that seeks to go beyond what we traditionally understand as sustainable water management, with a focus on the basin level and promoting dialogue and collaboration between different stakeholders to provide collective responses to shared water challenges.

What does this Story Map have to offer?

This story map is a place where information about the water and environmental situation of the Segura River Basin and Mar Menor is collected and displayed. There is a large amount of data, reports, plans and initiatives about the area, but they are scattered in different websites or publications. The aim of this tool is to gather and consolidate this information and present it in an accessible and visual way.

To view the story map, simply scroll down and the content will appear as the user scrolls. The user will also be able to interact with the maps that appear, zooming or clicking on the different elements displayed to consult their information or zoom in on elements of interest when a "+" appears in the text.

The repository can be downloaded in PDF format by clicking on the ··· icon at the top right and selecting "Print Preview -> Print -> Save as PDF". All references are listed at the bottom of the page, with links to the various sources of information used.

This is the second Storymap created for the WRAP Programme in Spain. Thefirst Storymap focuses on the Doñana area and can be found  here .

The project

This repository will help achieve the objectives of the Water Stewardship Programme launched by the British NGO  WRAP and its roadmap towards water security for the food and drink supply . The Programme is now also supported by  IDH-SIFAV. 

This initiative, with a time horizon to 2030, channels the interest of a group of international companies, mostly supermarkets and agricultural value chains, in promoting collective action to encourage sustainable water use in the main agricultural production areas of their supply chains.

The South-East of Spain is one of the priority regions where the programme aims to promote sustainable water use and management and to mitigate water risks in the main fruit and vegetable producing areas. A project plan has been developed that runs from 2022 to 2030 and defines the actions and objectives around four main lines of work, as shown in the image.

This repository aims to generate knowledge to add value to all working lines. It also aims to be a meeting place to provide information on the actions being promoted or supported and to encourage participation.

 

One of the Programme’s priority areas is the Mar Menor in Murcia Region. Mainly its catchment area, but extending the focus to surrounding areas such as the Vega Media del Segura or the Guadalentín valley. This is due to the importance of agricultural production for the value chains of the companies participating in the programme, together with the environmental importance of the area and factors related to water sustainability.

A Water Stewardship Action Plan has been designed to initiate the implementation of the programme, with specific targets until the end of 2025 as shown in the picture.

In order to work towards these targets, a solid information base on the local situation is needed. The aim of this repository is to provide such a freely accessible reference information base, based on official and public data, which objectively shows the hydrological reality of the area, and its relationship with environmental and agricultural aspects.

Based on this detailed knowledge of the basin, the aim is to identify shared water challenges and opportunities for collective action.

Basin Geography

Hidrology, surface and groundwater bodies

Figure 1. Hydrological area of the Mar Menor, hydrological zones and sub-zones and water bodies of the Segura River Basin.

The main element that defines the scope of this repository is the catchment area of Mar Menor.

Mar Menor is the largest salt lagoon in Europe, with a surface area of 170 km 2 , a coastline length of 73 km and a maximum depth of 7 metres.

Mar Menor has several protection figures: it is a protected Natura 2000 Network area, a Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area for Birds (ZEC-ZEPA), a Wetland of International Importance (WII) under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention), and a Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI).

Although there is significant agricultural activity in the catchment area of the Mar Menor, the municipalities and hydrographic areas adjacent to the Mar Menor are also home to large irrigated agricultural areas of great importance for international supply chains.

The importance for international supply chains, together with the study of water quality and quantity status and conversations with local actors, has motivated the inclusion on this repository of the irrigated areas adjacent to Mar Menor, located in the southern half of the Segura River Basin.

For this reason, the whole of the Segura River Basin is also taken into account on this repository.

The Segura River Basin has a total area of 20,234 km 2 , with the continental part covering 19,025 km2. The 58.8% of the territory of the basin is located in the Region of Murcia. The basin has a great orographic variability, from the upstream areas with mountains and heights above 2,000m to the coastal areas with wide plains.

The basin is occupied by a single river - the Segura - and its tributaries.  The rest of the watercourses with direct discharge to the sea are ephemeral wadis, being of special importance the Rambla del Albujón, which flows into the Mar Menor. The hydrographic network has a total length of 1,553 km.

The demarcation is divided into 14 hydrological zones, 35 sub-zones and a total of 177 catalogued water bodies; 114 surface and 63 groundwater bodies.

Regarding surface water bodies, the River Basin Management Plan (2022-2027) identifies 114 surface water bodies that are labelled according to their typology (river, lake, transition and coastal).

Source:

These water bodies are in turn classified according to their category (natural, artificial or heavily modified).

Source:

Concerning groundwater bodies, 63 groundwater bodies have been identified, with an average surface area of 241.72 km 2 .  

In addition, there is an extensive network of canals that provide resources mainly from the Tagus-Segura water transfer, and the Taibilla and Almanzora water transfers in the Almeria area. 

Land uses

Irrigation development in the basin began with the Arabs around the 10th century, although it was not until the 16th century that agricultural expansion took place, with the introduction of citrus fruits and mulberry trees. This growth continued until the possibilities of capturing more surface water from streams and rivers were exhausted at the end of the 19th century. It was from the second half of the 20th century onwards that the great expansion of irrigation took place due to the use of groundwater and the arrival of the Tagus-Segura Transfer   III  .

The implementation of the water Transfer in 1979 made possible the expansion of the current intensive horticulture in the area, which today is one of the largest areas in Europe for the production of vegetables out of season without the use of greenhouses.  

According to the information provided by the  Geographic InformationSystem for Agricultural Plots (SIGPAC)  IV , the basin’s area corresponding to agricultural uses (irrigated and rainfed) would reach 772,000 ha, which covers around 40% of the total basin surface. Of this, approximately 60% corresponds to irrigated land and the remaining 40% to rainfed land. As for the Mar Menor, approximately 61% of the surface area of the Mar Menor catchment basin is used for agriculture.

The areas in the basin that account for most of the irrigated land are those corresponding to Campo de Cartagena, Valle del Guadalentín, Sur de Murcia and Vegas Media and Baja del Segura, which also constitute the main focus in the scope of this repository.

According to data from the Survey on Crop Areas and Yields ( ESYRCE ) V , the Region of Murcia has the highest rate of irrigated land in relation to the geographical area, with 15.2% of its territory dedicated to irrigation in 2022. The evolution of the total irrigated surface area in the region has experienced a decrease since 2018, when it reached an irrigated surface area of more than 183,000 hectares.

This might have been related to climatological conditions and the  closure of around 9,000 has of irregular irrigated areas in the Mar Menor catchment area  during the last 3 years, as a result of the implementation of the Action Plan for the recovery of Mar Menor, which is detailed in the governance section.

The decline on irrigated area has been influenced by a marked decrease in irrigated horticultural crops area during this period, while other crops such as fruit trees, olive groves or vineyards (the latter two included in the "other" category in Graph 4) have remained stable and have even seen their irrigated area increase. 

Regarding export values, it is important to highlight the importance and economic weight of the agricultural sector and specifically the production of fresh fruit and vegetables. In the case of the Murcia region, fresh fruit and vegetables accounted for an export value of more than 3,300 million euros, of which fruit accounted for 41% and vegetables for 59%. The main exported products are lettuces, cabbages, broccoli, lemons, peaches, watermelons, melons, almonds, tomatoes and peppers. Germany is the main destination country, followed by France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands ( Informe interactivo de Comercio Exterior VI  ). 

The growing trade volume over the years that can be seen in Graph 5 is evidence of the economic weight of the sector in the region, which has seen the value of fruit and vegetable exports grow by almost 1 billion Euros in the last 10 years. 

Geographical distribution of productive areas

This project for which this repository has been created seeks to prioritise water-related interventions. It is therefore essential to understand the geographical distribution of the productive zones, and the origin of irrigation water in the different agricultural areas of relevance.

Figure 3. Agricultural Demand Units (UDAs) of the Segura River Basin

In accordance with the analyses included in Annex 3 of the Segura River Basin Management Plan, the Agricultural Demand Units (UDAs) are the representative spatial unit for characterising irrigation in the basin. The gross surface area of the 62 UDAs in the basin amounts to 448,254 hectares, of which around 260,000 hectares (261,626 hectares) are irrigated.

Within the framework of the project, work has been carried out to map the main suppliers of the supermarkets and companies participating in the WRAP programme. This analysis showed an important presence of producers in the hydrological zones of the Mar Menor, Guadalentín and the Vega Media y Alta, coinciding with the UDAs framed in the irrigation systems of the Tajo-Segura Transfer (TTS), the Campo de Cartagena, Guadalentín Valley or the traditional irrigation systems of the Vegas.   

According to the distribution of the agricultural Demand Units (UDAs), the irrigation areas with the highest net water allocation per hectare (net demand/net irrigated area) are located in the aforementioned areas around the Mar Menor, Guadalentín and Vegas del Segura. These UDAs would concentrate most of the demand for resources. 

In relation to the origin of irrigation water, in most cases these areas are supplied by a combination of water sources: surface water (mainly through the Tagus-Segura water transfer), groundwater, or alternative sources such as the reuse of treated water or desalination. The map shows the main origin of irrigation water, but it is also possible to consult the secondary origins by clicking on the layer of UDAs. 

General information on climatic conditions

The basin is characterised by a Mediterranean climate. The average annual rainfall is around 370 mm since 1982/1983   III    and with large fluctuations and a clear contrast between the upstream areas and the middle and lower parts of the basin. The focus areas of this repository have an annual rainfall of between 320 and 240 mm. In terms of temperature, the lowest temperatures are found in the north-western area, and descending towards the coast, the average annual temperature increases, reaching up to 18ºC.  

The analysis of the average accumulated rainfall in the basin in recent years shows that there have been both above and below average years. The historical average annual precipitation since 1940-41 shows a downward trend in precipitation. 

Figure 4. Risk of desertification and projections of rainfall variation to 2040 in the Segura River Basin

The Segura basin is one of the most arid areas of Spain, and the focus areas of this repository present medium, high and very high risk of desertification. The available projections point to increasing aridity in the southeast of the country, which means that it is more vulnerable to desertification processes and affected ecosystems will have less capacity for recovery. 

models such as those developed by the Centre for Hydrological Studies (CEDEX) point to a decrease in average annual rainfall of almost 5% in the southern half of the basin. This implies that the basin will be more vulnerable to desertification processes and with less capacity for recovery of the affected ecosystems. 

Climate Change projections

Annex 13 of the River Basin Management Plan estimates changes in precipitation, evapotranspiration, humidity, recharge and runoff for what are called Impact Periods (IP). Table 2 summarises some of these results for two climate change scenarios, an intermediate emission reduction scenario (RCP 4.5) and a high emission trend scenario in which greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced. Data show a reduction in precipitation of between 2 and 5%, a reduction in recharge of between 7 and 10% and a reduction in runoff of between 7 and 9% for the 2040 horizon.

Table 2. Climate change projections on precipitation, recharge and runoff for different scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) in the Segura River Basin.

The projections also indicate a concentration of rainfall in February and a reduction of rainfall at the end of the summer in all scenarios. The natural water contributions to the Segura River will be reduced by approximately 10% by 2039, and it is estimated that the own basin’s water resources will be reduced from 1426 hm 3  in 2027 to 1394 hm 3  in 2030.   

The reduction in soil moisture does not seem very high (between 0 and 2%) because the soil already has very low soil moisture today. However, due to the current fragile balance and the high risk of desertification, this change will have a major impact on associated ecosystems and agriculture. 

Other climate change indicators, such as heat stress which has a significant influence on agricultural production, are projected to be on an upward trend.

Graph 7. Projected Heat stress from RCP 4.5

Status of Water resources

Main water uses and demands

Consumptive water demands in the Segura River Basin reach 1,695.7 hm 3 . The main water use is irrigation with 1,476.3 hm3 per year, 85% of the total; urban supply holds the second place with 199.6 hm 3  per year, 11.5% of the total. Other uses with economic importance although with less water demand are livestock farming, 11.2 hm 3  per year, industry and tourism, 11.2 hm 3  per year and industry not connected to urban supply networks, 8.5 hm 3  per year. 

The gross surface area of the 62 UDAs amounts to 448,254 hectares, of which an average of 260,000 hectares are irrigated. The Irrigation Zones of the Tagus-Segura Transfer (Zonas Regables de Trasvale Tajo-Segura) accumulate the most water demand for irrigation with 540 hm 3  per year, followed by the rest of principal system and Vegas del Segura. All of those areas sits within the south-east areas of the basin, which constitutes the priority scope of this repository.

Regarding demands for different crops, there are currently two types of crops that lead in terms of demand. These are outdoor horticultural crops (such as melon, watermelon, broccoli and lettuce) and citrus, with 376.5 and 370.4 hm 3 /year respectively. They are followed by non-citrus fruit trees with 177.5 and far behind by protected vegetables with 43.3 and almond trees with 28.9 hm 3 /year.  

In terms of the monthly distribution of agricultural demand, although there is demand for water throughout the year, the months with the highest water demand are June, July and August.

Water availability

Water resources come from a wide variety of sources: surface and groundwater bodies, transferred, regenerated and desalinated water. Desalination plays an important role, with a maximum production capacity of 404 hm 3 /year for the 2027 horizon and beyond. The maximum annual volume of groundwater abstraction is 695 hm 3 /year.  

Regarding water resources transferred from other basins, the basin receives resources from the Tagus and Guadalquivir River Basins. By means of the Tagus-Segura Transfer (TTS) 540 hm 3 /year can be transferred, although the average contribution is around 300 hm 3 /year. The Tagus-Segura Transfer is of great importance for irrigation in the demarcation, being able to contribute up to 122 hm 3 /year to sectors such as Campo de Cartagena.  

The maximum volume from the TTS that can be used for irrigation is 400 hm 3  per year. However, this maximum volume is not usually reached. During the year 2020/21 the volume transferred for irrigation was 200 hm 3 , whereas during the year 2021/22 it was about 150 hm 3  and for the hydrological year 2022/23 it was 124 hm 3 . Monthly situation reports can be consulted  here , and historical data from the TTS can be consulted  here .

Graph 12. Actual and reference consumption of water transferred for irrigation since 2020/21 accumulated on a monthly basis

The resources transferred from the Negratín-Almanzora water transfer from the Guadalquivir basin (South-western area of the basin) are estimated at 17 hm 3 /year. 

Figure 5. Total available resources in Groundwater bodies within Segura Basin Demarcation (SBD)

The total own resources of the SRB amount to 1410 hm 3 /year and the average of resources transferred from other basins is 312 hm 3 /year, making a total of 1,722 hm 3 /year. As we saw in the previous section, demand in the basin is 1,695.7 hm 3 /year.

The map below shows the network of canals that distributes water from water transfers, as well as the volumes of groundwater available (Total Resources - Environmental Reserves), and the piezometric network, where the evolution of the levels of the groundwater bodies can be consultedthrough the data from the different control points. 

To understand water availability, it is important to be aware of whether the basin is in a status of prolonged drought and water scarcity. Meteorological drought, caused by the lack of rainfall, means that flows are reduced, and the ecological flows of the normal situation cannot be complied with, applying those defined in regulations for a situation of prolonged drought. Scarcity relates to the level of availability of resources to cover the demand.

The latest official report on prolonged drought and scarcity of May 2024 XI  shows a large part of the basin in Pre-alert scarcity situation, with the northern area also being in Alert situation and the western area in Emergency situation. On the other hand, most of the basin is in a situation of prolonged drought.  

Figure 6. Situation of prolonged drought and scarcity

For a more detailed monitoring of the evolution of the availability of resources, the  drought and scarcity reports published monthly  by the Segura River Basin Authority XII , the  Segura Automatic Hydrological Information System  XIII  and the  MITERD Weekly Hydrological Bulletin  XIV  can be consulted. It is also possible to consult the piezometric levels from the  monitoring networks viewer  XV  and from the  Segura River Basin cartographic Viewer XVI . 

Pressures and status of water bodies 

Masas de agua subterránea

Figure 7. Estado químico y cuantitativo de las masas de agua subterránea de la DH del Segura

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The basin’s water bodies show problems of diffuse pollution that are mainly due to the excessive concentration of nitrates and the presence of traces of pesticides in the water reaching them from irrigation returns.

In the Segura River Basin (SRB) there are three areas with a high level of agricultural activity above groundwater bodies: the Vega Media del Segura, the Guadalentín Valley and the Mar Menor, which have been declared vulnerable areas.

Royal Decree 47/2022 establishes the criteria for defining the  Vulnerable Zones due to Nitrates of agricultural origin XVII  , and the measures necessary to reduce the pollution of surface and groundwater caused by nitrates from agricultural sources.

In the SRB, 24 zones have been declared vulnerable to nitrate pollution, with a total surface area within the basin equivalent to 27% of its extension.

In total, 23 groundwater bodies (37%) do not reach good chemical status, mostly in the north, east and south of the demarcation, coinciding with the areas of greatest agricultural activity. Due to the technical impossibility of achieving good quality status in 2027, established in nitrate concentrations of 50 mg/L, the 2022-2027 Hydrological Plan has established less stringent objectives (OMR) in groundwater bodies located in the north, east and south of the demarcation, coinciding with the areas of greatest agricultural activity.

In terms of quantitative status, a large part of the groundwater bodies present serious problems of overexploitation, with exploitation rates above 80% and in some cases above 100%, indicating a use far in excess of recharge capacity.  

Intensive use of groundwater has led to a significant drop in piezometric levels in some groundwater bodies. This decline is having negative hydrological effects as it has affected discharge in springs and river-aquifer relationships - reversing the direction of flow in some cases. It is also causing the intrusion of saline waters into coastal aquifers, the mobilisation of deep waters with inadequate chemical conditions for their use, or the disconnection with surface waters, mainly in rivers and wetlands, in some cases affecting ecosystems.

The status assessment presented in the Hydrological Plan 2022/2027 shows that of the 63 groundwater bodies, 38 (60% of the total) do not reach good quantitative status, while 23 (37%) do not have good chemical status.

Those groundwater bodies that do not achieve overall good status have different time horizons for achieving good status. By clicking on each of the water bodies you can consult both the reason for derogation and the environmental objectives for quantitative, chemical and overall status (the latter represented on the map).

Surface water bodies

Figure 8. Chemical and ecological status of the surface water bodies of the SRB

28% of the surface water bodies in the SRB are affected by significant abstraction pressures. The Vega Alta, Media and Baja del Segura stand out as areas with a high extraction ratio, coinciding with the extraction of resources from the water transfer and the traditional irrigation areas. In addition, 30% of the surface water bodies present significant pressures due to diffuse pollution of agricultural origin, mainly due to nitrates. Of the 114 surface water bodies in the SRB, 20 of them do not reach good chemical status (18%), including the Mar Menor and the Rambla del Albujón, which flows toward it. 

These factors also affect ecological status. Of the 114 surface water bodies in the SRB, 62 of them do not reach good chemical status (54%). 

Overall status of groundwater and surface water bodies

In terms of overall status (considering the quantitative and chemical status), 43 of the 63 groundwater bodies have a poor overall status (68%). Furthermore, the environmental objectives for 5 of these bodies (Águilas, Alto y Bajo Guadalentín, Campo de Cartagena and Cuaternario de Fortuna), which are linked to important agricultural areas, indicate that they will not reach good status until 2039, establishing partial objectives for the next planning cycles. As for surface waters, 64 of the 114 water bodies have a poor overall status (56%).

Figure 9. Overall status of the surface and groundwater bodies of the SRB

Environmental flows

Spanish legislation establishes the need to determine ecological flows in river basin plans and defines them as "those that maintain at least the fish life that would or could naturally inhabit the river, as well as its riverside vegetation"  XVIII  . Ecological flows are established to make water uses compatible with the preservation and improvement of the environment. The implementation of environmental flows in the different bodies of water may result in a restriction on the use of the resource, since environmental flows are not a use, but a restriction prior to exploitation. In the event of prolonged droughts, a less demanding flow regime may be applied. 

The ecological flows (in m 3 /s) in the SRB are set out in  Annex 5 , specifically in section 9. The characterisation of the ecological flow regime extends to all surface water bodies classified as “river”. The annex also establishes the water requirements (m3 /year) of the ecosystems associated with the different wetlands. On the map below the minimum environmental flows by water body can be consulted, grouped on a quarterly scale in average m 3 /sec (click on a water body to consult them). This information can also be accessed on the  web of the Segura Basin Demarcation-DHS . 

Figure 10. Environmental flows at the SRB

To monitor compliance with the ecological flows, the SRB uses gauging stations belonging to the    Official Network of Gauging Stations  (ROEA) XIX  and the    Segura Automatic Hydrological Information System  (SAIH) XIII . In addition, compliance with the ecological flow regime can be assessed in specific campaigns. 

Water governance

In terms of hydrological planning, the competent authority in the Segura River Basin is the Confederación Hidrográfica del Segura, which developed and implements  the River Basin Management Plan for the third cycle 2022/2027 III  .  

The  Tagus River Basin Management Plan XX   is also of great importance for the Segura basin, as it stablishes the environmental flows that must be complied with in the Tagus Demarcation, and on this depend the quantities transferred through the Tagus-Segura Transfer on which many irrigation systems in the Segura basin depend. We explain how the TTS works in the next section.

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Regulations of the Tagus-Segura Transfer (TTS)

The Central Commission for the Exploitation of the Tagus-Segura Aqueduct, set up in 1978, supervises its exploitation regime and controls and coordinates the river basin authorities in charge of managing its exploitation. It also authorises the volumes of water to be transfered under normal hydrological conditions. In exceptional hydrologicalcircumstances, it is the Minister for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge who authorises them.  

The quantities transferred through the TTS depend on the combined reserves in the Entrepeñas and Buendía reservoirs. At the beginning of each month, the following monthly levels are established in these reservoirs. Depending on the amount of water in the reservoirs, the level at which they are found is defined (levels 1 to 4), and the transfers are agreed, with a total annual maximum of 600 hm 3  to be transferred for the Segura basin.  

Graph 13. Tagus-Segura inter-basin transfer exploitation rule

The following graph shows the volumes authorised for transfer since October 2013 in accordance with these regulations: 

Graph 14. Authorised volumes for transfer since October 2013

Framework of Priority Actions for the Recovery of the Mar Menor (MAPMM)

 The Framework of Priority Actions for the Recovery of the Mar Menor XXIII  , in place since the end of 2021, is a set of projects and interventions designed to recover the biological integrity of the lagoon, contribute to readjusting the socio-economic uses of its surroundings and make them more compatible with the preservation of the Mar Menor. The Framework has an estimated budget of 675.05 million euros until 2026. The plan includes a set of short- and medium-term measures in areas such as the management of the public water domain, the environmental restoration of the lagoon perimeter with 'green' or Nature-based Solutions, the reduction of the pollution load of the waters that end up in the lagoon with improvements in sanitation, purification and flood risk management, among other measures.  

The short-term objectives are: 

  • Restore the legality and natural dynamics of the ecosystems 
  • Establish the necessary control mechanisms to guarantee the adequate use of water and fertilisers 
  • Restore and renaturalise in the different areas of action at basin level
  • Develop different interventions in the territory applying nature-based solutions that allow forgreater functionality and resilience throughout the Mar Menor Basin.
  • Strengthen knowledge, establish a monitoring system and develop a viable strategy in the medium and long term. 

After the first two years of implementation, and on the basis of the lessons learned, in April 2024 the  update of the Framework of Priority Actions  was published, with the aim of continuing to intervene in the causes of the problem of the Mar Menor and contributing to the recovery of its natural dynamics and the catchment area.

Illegal area disconnected and area restored by the Murcia Regional Authority - CARM (Source:  MAPMM April 2024 )

One of the most visible consequences of the implementation of this Plan has been the closure of approximately 9,000 hectares of irregular irrigated land in the Mar Menor catchment area as part of the actions included in line 1 of the programme for the management and surveillance of the Public Water Domain.

This fact has influenced the reduction in irrigated land in the Segura area, which has moved part of the production to other areas adjacent to the area of influence of the Mar Menor

Projects for the restoration and environmental improvement in the agricultural area of the Mar Menor

The  Fundación Biodiversidad  is a public sector foundation, attached to the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge. The Foundation presented in 2023 a Call for grants for the restoration and environmental improvement in the agricultural area, to contribute to the recovery of the ecological functionality of the Mar Menor. The grants of the call are aimed at fulfilling objective 2.4 ‘Restoration and environmental improvement in agricultural holdings’ of the Framework of Priority Actions for the Mar Menor. The territorial scope is the agricultural area within the catchment area of the Mar Menor. Information on the 11 selected projects with duration until the end of 2026 can be found  here.  

It is also important to mention the  Regional Law 3/2020 for the recovery and protection of the Mar Menor XXIV  , which has among other objectives the de-intensification of agricultural activity in the Mar Menor catchment area, and includes a modification of the fertilisation procedures in the Campo de Cartagena, the limitation of agricultural activity on land near the maritime-terrestrial public domain and the establishment of a control and monitoring system. Within the framework of this Law, the  Farm Inspection Plan for the three-year period 2022-2024 XXV  was drawn up to programme inspections of agricultural holdings. 

Regarding the Mar Menor, the Mar Menor Council (Consejo del Mar Menor) is the highest consultative and participatory body for the integral protection of the Mar Menor xi . The General Directorate of the Mar Menor is responsible for the study, planning, execution and development of projects and actions in the Mar Menor related to the protection and environmental regeneration of its ecosystem. The Scientific Advisory Committee of the Mar Menor is a working group belonging to the Regional Ministry of Water, Agriculture and Environment of the Region of Murcia for scientific advice on the selection and implementation of actions aimed at improving the ecological state of the Mar Menor, and the promotion of scientific knowledge and research.  

State of ecosystems, pressures and their causes

The Mar Menor is a very fragile ecosystem that suffers significant anthropogenic pressures, mainly agriculture, urban development, sand dredging, mining, fishing, navigation and hydromorphological alterations. In recent decades it has suffered episodes of advanced eutrophication due to the excess of nutrients from intensive agriculture and other human activities that reach the lagoon through the catchment areas of the Campo de Cartagena. In 2016, the event known as "green soup" occurred, which wiped out most of the macroalgae and seagrass meadows in the lagoon, and in 2019 there was a massive die-off of marine fauna due to an anoxic event following torrential rains in the Campo de Cartagena. In August 2021 another event of hypoxic conditions occurred, resulting in another case of marine fauna mortality at several locations in the lagoon.

Figure10. Protected Natural Spaces of the Segura River Basin

There are 38 Special Protection Areas for Birds (SPAs) and 75 Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) with a total surface area within the basin of 5,297 km2 (26.2% of the total area of the demarcation) and 5,141 km2 (25.4% of the total area of the basin), respectively. The total basin’s surface area with Natura 2000 network areas (SPAs and/or SCIs/SACs) amounts to 6,735 km2 (33.2% of the basin's total). The last RBMP identified 65 SCI/SACs and 33 SPAs related to the aquatic environment due to the presence of aquatic habitats and/or species, of which a total of 30 SCI/SACs and 20 SPAs are directly related.

In addition, the Segura River Basin has numerous national and regional protection figures which, together with the international protection figures, result in a wide range of protected areas, many of them under different figures of protection.

Specifically, the has several approved environmental protection figures and other classifications of geological and ecosystemic interest. It is a protected area under the Natura 2000 Network, classified as a Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA). Within the SPA is the Protected Landscape "Open Spaces and Islands of the Mar Menor". In addition, the Mar Menor is a Wetland of International Importance (WII), according to the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention), and is a Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI). "The Mar Menor and its associated wetlands” are also a Wildlife Protection Area, and the lagoon is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), with 3 marine and 9 terrestrial habitats of Community interest.  

Challenges & opportunities

Understanding the main risks and challenges at basin level is the first step in developing a Collective Action Programme. Currently, there are several global tools that help to understand the different water risks and their geographical distribution (e.g.; the  WWF's Water Risk Filter  or the  WRI Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas ). However, it is important to carry out a detailed analysis on a spatio-temporal level to have a more accurate view of the situation. The information summarised in this repository shows the main risks identified are:

  • Water Scarcity: The high water demands, especially from the agricultural sector, which accounts for 85% of the basin's water demands, are mainly concentrated in the areas covered by this repository, located in the southern and eastern half of the basin, encompassing the area of influence of the Mar Menor and adjoining areas such as the Guadalentín and the Vegas del Segura. The ability of the system to meet the demands depends on a combination of surface and groundwater sources and alternative resources such as desalination or regeneration, partly dependent on the Tagus-Segura Transfer (TTS). The state of overexploitation of groundwater bodies in these areas, the variability and limitation of the volumes transferred depending on the resources available in neighbouring basins, and the existing state of pre-alert or alert due to scarcity, make it difficult to meet the different water demands. The current climatic situation and climate change projections suggest that this situation will worsen in the future.
  • Water Quality: Nitrate pollution from agricultural sources and lack of urban wastewater treatment adds another important pressure on the environment. It is important to mention that the groundwater bodies in the area surrounding the Mar Menor and adjacent areas such as the Guadalentín are in poor condition and are not expected to reach good status until 2039, with partial objectives in relation to nitrate concentrations less ambitious for the next planning cycles.
  • Regulatory factors: Physical risks derive in the development and the need for compliance with different regulations or directives. These are mainly the river basin management plans and their programmes of measures to comply with the objectives of the European Water Framework Directive, the special plans such as the Action Framework for the Recovery of the Mar Menor (MAPMM) and the different tools to regulate and define the legality of water or land use. In addition, in this case, the Tajo-Segura Transfer regulation is of great relevance and another regulatory factor to be considered.
  • Reputational factors: All the above factors also influence the reputation of companies and actors linked to this area. Issues related to water, agricultural production and the conservation of ecosystems around the Mar Menor and the Segura basin generate a high media impact both nationally and internationally.

Water risks affect not only valuable ecosystems, but also the local society and economy, which in the case of the in the Mar Menor influence area and the wider Segura basin is largely dependent on agricultural production.

Stakeholders within the agricultural value chain, such as producers, traders, as well as others involved in water management, such as river basin authorities or irrigation communities, and others related to civil society, are exposed to these risks to varying degrees, but all are part of the solution.

The degree of participation in collective actions and the type of activities that each type of actor can carry out in this type of process is summarised in this figure.

Identifying opportunities for collective action

The main objectives from which to identify ideas for collective action to be included in the Water Stewardship Plan by 2026, together with some preliminary ideas to take shape, are as follows:

Drive Water Stewardship practice

  • Promote spaces for dialogue (workshops, round tables...) to share experiences and build capacity in water stewardship and sustainable water use.
  • Integrate and share materials or publications.
  • Develop communication and awareness-raising materials.

Ensure legality of Water use

  • Sharing common approaches and tools for legality verification.
  • Build capacity for certification schemes and training of auditors.
  • Develop and share benchmark analyses of standards to identify improvements and strengthen certification systems.

Decrease Water scarcity & quality risks

  • Promote good agricultural practices, such as efficient irrigation systems or measurement and control of water and nitrate use.
  • Promote financial support mechanisms among value chain actors to scale up the implementation of good practices

Improve status of water bodies & ecosystems and reduce desertification risks

  • Promote agro-ecological practices to mitigate the effects of desertification.
  • Stimulate activities for the restoration of degraded ecosystems or the conservation of ecological corridors and biodiversity

Get Involved

One of the objectives of the WRAP Collective Action Programme is to share information, provide materials and publications of interest, or identify ideas for possible collective action activities.

The intended outcome of this repository is that it serves as a knowledge base on which to build synergies and collective actions in the Mar Menor/Segura basin. By compiling various sources of information and presenting it in a simplified and visual way, the repository aims to facilitate decision-making on what collective actions to promote and develop with the support of international value chains in the area. It also provides a meeting point for all actors in the agricultural value chain where all initiatives supported by the project will be presented. This repository will be constantly evolving, so it is very important that users actively participate in its development by sending us publications, studies and reports of interest, or by suggesting changes they feel are needed. If you have any comments on the repository or ideas for possible collective actions, please do not hesitate to contact us: Alex Fernández Poulussen (GSI) -  alex@goodstuffinternational.com  Marta Agujetas Pérez (GSI) -  marta@goodstuffinternational.com  Sophie Harrison (WRAP) -  sophie.harrison@wrap.org.uk 

References

The different sources of information used or consulted for the development of this repository are listed below:

  1.  I  Alliance for Water Stewardship   https://a4ws.org/about/  
  2.  II  Confederación Hidrográfica del Segura:  Infraestructura de Datos Espaciales (IDE-CHS) 
  3.  III  Confederación Hidrográfica del Segura:  Plan Hidrológico de la DHS (2022-2027)  
  4.  IV  Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación.  Sistema de Información Geográfico de Parcelas Agrícolas (SIGPAC) 
  5.  V  Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación.  Encuesta sobre Superficies y Rendimientos Cultivos (ESYRCE) 
  6.  VI  Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación.  Informe interactivo de comercio exterior 
  7.  VII  Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico.  Programa de Acción Nacional contra la Desertificación (PAND) 
  8.  VIII  Centro de Estudios Hidrográficos (CEDEX) (2017).  Evaluación del impacto del cambio climático en los recursos hídricos y sequías en España 
  9.  IX  European Climate Change Service:  Agroclimatic indicators explorer for Europe from 1970 to 2100 
  10.  X  Cento de Estudios Hidrográficos (CEDEX) (2024).  Comisión central de explotación del acueducto Tajo- Segura. Informe de situación 
  11.  XI  Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y Reto Demográfico:  Informes de la situación de sequía y escasez 
  12.  XII Confederación Hidrográfica del Segura.  Informes mensuales de segumiento de sequía prolongada y escasez cotuntural de la DH del Segura 
  13.  XIII  Confederación Hidrográfica del Segura.  Sistema Automático de Información Hidrológica (SAIH) de la DH del Segura. 
  14.  XIV  Ministerio para la Transición Ecoloógica y Reto Demográfico.  Boletín Hidrológico semanal. 
  15.  XV  Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y Reto Demográfico.  Redes de segumiento. 
  16.  XIV  Confederación Hidrográfica del Segura.  Visor Cartográfico de la DH del Segura 
  17.  XVII  Ministerio para la Transición Ecolológica y Reto Demográfico.  Cartografía de Zonas Vulnerables a contaminación por nitratos 
  18.  XVIII   Real Decreto Legislativo 1/2001, de 20 de julio, por el que se aprueba el texto refundido de la Ley de Aguas  
  19.  XIX  Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y Reto Demográfico.  Red Integrada de Estaciones de Aforos (SAIH-ROEA) 
  20.  XX  Confederación Hidrográfica del Tajo.  Plan Hidrológico de la parte española de la Demarcación Hidrográfica del Tajo 
  21.  XXI   Ley 21/2015, de 20 de julio, por la que se modifica la Ley 43/2003, de 21 de noviembre, de Montes (Disposición adicional quinta) 
  22.  XXII  Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y Reto Demográfico.  Trasvase Tajo-Segura 
  23.  XVIII  Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y Reto Demográfico.  Actuaciones Prioritarias para Recueperar el Mar Menor 
  24.  XXIV   Ley 3/2020, de 27 de julio, de recuperación y protección del Mar Menor. 
  25.  XXV   Plan de inspección de explotaciones agrícolas para el trienio 2022-2024 

Other sources of data and information consulted:

This story map was made possible thanks to the support of WRAP and the technical development led by GSI with the assistance of Jesús Vargas, professor at the University of Málaga and member of the Citizen Drought Observatory -  Observatorio ciudadano de la sequía .

Source:  Plan Hidrológico de la DH del Segura (2022-2027) III  

Source:  Plan Hidrológico de la DH del Segura (2022-2027)   III   

Source:  European Climate Change Service, Agroclimatic indicators explorer for Europe from 1970 to 2100 IX  

Source:  Comisión central de explotación del acueducto Tajo- Segura. Informe de situación X  

Source:  Ley 21/2015, de 20 de julio  XXI 

Source:  Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y Reto Demográfico. Trasvase Tajo - Segura   XXII 

Illegal area disconnected and area restored by the Murcia Regional Authority - CARM (Source:  MAPMM April 2024 )

Source:  Marco de acciones prioritarias para el Mar Menor