The Association of Active Navigation Companies of the Ebro Lands (AENATE) has expressed deep concern over the lack of timely warnings. This situation, according to the sector, endangers user safety and causes significant economic losses.
A recent example was the programmed release last Monday, which tripled the river's flow to 1,500 cubic meters per second. Communication about this increase, from 500 to 1,450 cubic meters per second, reached companies on Sunday night, leaving little time to react.
“"Normally, the CHE would warn us in advance, but with a programmed release with virtually no warning and over the weekend, we had a significant scare: going from a low flow to 1,450 cubic meters per second, an accident could happen. We were a bit scared: if someone doesn't get this information and is caught on the river, we could have a serious incident."
Companies emphasize that their activity directly depends on the behavior of the Ebro river and that they work daily with visitors, organized groups, and educational centers. Rigorous planning for activities like kayaking or paddle surfing requires reliable flow forecasts to ensure safety.
For its part, the CHE has stated that controlled releases are part of the hydrological plan and that the warning for Monday's release was sent on Friday afternoon. Nevertheless, the organization has committed to improving its anticipation capabilities to prevent adverse effects on the population and the sector.
The sector urges competent administrations to implement urgent communication mechanisms to ensure timely warnings, allowing for anticipation of flow variations and minimization of risks. They stress that they are not asking for privileges, but rather basic conditions to work safely and professionally.
