The Ebro River Defense Platform organized the 25th edition of the Paddle Trip, an emblematic event that brought together around 250 participants. The activity invites citizens to journey along the river stretch between Xerta and Tortosa in kayaks and canoes, highlighting the importance of river conservation.
During the event, concerns about the river's current state were emphasized. According to the organization's spokesperson, Matilde Font, the water's clarity, which is not as murky as expected, indicates the proliferation of invasive species and a significant change in the river's conditions over the last 60 years. This situation arises at a crucial time for the debate on the Ebro River Basin Hydrological Plan and the initiation of the Catalan Water Transition Law's processing.
Young participants played a significant role in this edition. Students from the Sant Llàtzer School were responsible for reading the manifesto, advocating for river knowledge to ensure its survival under the slogan 'Defending the river is defending our land. The river is life, no to diversions!'.
Earlier this month, the Ebro River Defense Platform (PDE) had already submitted allegations to the Hydrological Plan, requesting sufficient flows for the river and the Delta. The entity calls for changes in the Schemes of Important Topics (ETI) and demands the return of water allocation to Siurana, sediment mobilization, and the protection of allocations for Delta irrigators. In total, the PDE and 25 other organizations have submitted eighteen allegations.
The PDE is also working on the Catalan Water Transition Law, strongly opposing potential diversions of the Ebro River to Barcelona. The organization calls for the involvement of civil society, political parties, institutions, unions, and business organizations to ensure the defense of the territory.
