The proposal, submitted by the Taula de Consens to the Ebro Hydrographic Confederation (CHE), aims to reduce the flow in the river's central axis, from Xerta to the sea, from 80 m³/s to 65 m³/s, between May and August. The main goal is to redirect this water into the canals to secure supplies for rice cultivation and sustain the lagoons and bays of the Delta.
The Plataforma en Defensa de l’Ebre (PDE) deems this adaptation “environmentally and economically detrimental.” According to the platform, the reduced input of fresh water would lead to severe salinization problems, directly impacting shellfish production in the bays and fisheries in the Ebro sea.
“"In the canals there was only what was called environmental flow, a term that legally means nothing. The forecast for August 15 was zero water. Zero. This raised many alarms."
Curto rejected the idea that the measure only benefits the agricultural sector, emphasizing that canal water is vital for 99.9% of the deltaic surface, including lagoons and bays. He also noted that the proposal was agreed upon with mussel farmers and fishermen, sectors highly dependent on freshwater availability.
The delegate of the Government in the Terres de l'Ebre, Joan Castor Gonell, acknowledged the need to reconsider the river's ecological flow. He indicated that it is necessary to study which portion of the water flowing through the canals should be considered environmental flow to protect the natural areas and associated economic activity.
