Spain has led the way in Europe with, for example, 108 dam removals in 2021, a record-breaking year for dam removals across the continent.
It is not only dams that are being removed, but all artificial barriers including flood defences. The problems this policy causes are obvious and we are perhaps seeing the consequences of such bad policies in the recent devastating floods in Spain.
Who is behind these policies and will they be held accountable for the devastation and loss of life in Valencia?
Last year, Spain was experiencing a drought with parts of the country restricting water usage and farmers warning that they face the worst harvest in 30 years. While the government pushed to swap reservoirs for rivers in Spain, the agricultural sector called for more newly built dams capable of storing diminishing rainwater supplies farmers needed for irrigation and livestock, The Local said.
However, the government continued to dismantle dams, citing the need to restore natural river flows and improve water quality; an approach that aligns with the European Union’s (“EU”) goal to reconnect at least 25,000 km of rivers by 2030, aiming to restore natural habitats and improve biodiversity....<<<Read More>>>...