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Date Published: 20/02/2025

Mar Menor recovery gains momentum with 56 per cent of illegal irrigation land restored

The Region of Murcia government has also allocated 76 million to completely overhaul the outdated irrigation systems on farm land

One of the largest obstacles facing the recovery of the Mar Menor finally looks to be in its final stretch. A significant milestone has been achieved, with 56% of the illegal irrigation in the area being restored to its original state. This represents 2,968 hectares in total, which has now been transformed into dry land or natural vegetation.

The restoration of these plots comes as the result of 300 complaints filed against farmers.

According to the Confederación Hidrográfica del Segura (CHS), a total of 8,065 hectares of illegal irrigation has been uncovered in the Mar Menor, but this unlawful practice hasn’t actually increased for a number of years now. The CHS believes that although some illicit activity may remain under the radar, practically all of it has now been identified.

The reduction of illegal irrigation has already had a positive impact on the environment, with a decrease of 500 tonnes of diffuse nitrate pollution in the Mar Menor between 2022 and 2023. However, the elimination of nitrates in the lagoon will be a process that will last several years, since most of them are not found on the surface.

The Ministry is currently processing a total of 72 projects for intervention in different areas around the Mar Menor, including the comprehensive restoration of the Sierra Minera and the creation of a Green Belt to retain 918 tonnes of nitrates that enter the lagoon every year.

In the meantime, the Ministry of Agriculture has launched a plan to modernise irrigation in the Region of Murcia, with a total investment of 76.27 million euros. The project will benefit 17,642 hectares of crops in farming communities in Cieza, Totana and Librilla, promoting the use of renewable energy, non-conventional water and the digitalisation of irrigation.

The incorporation of renewable energies is one of the pillars of this project, with the installation of photovoltaic solar plants in several irrigation areas. A floating solar plant is being built on a water storage pond in the Serrana-Los Albares, which will reduce electricity consumption and decrease water evaporation, benefiting 450 farmers who grow stone fruits on 1,341 hectares.

In addition, the Junta Central de Usuarios Norte de la Vega del Río Segura has built a solar plant, which will allow 930 irrigators on 4,643 hectares to do without the use of fossil fuels, reducing costs and minimising their environmental impact.

The incorporation of desalinated water is another important aspect of the modernisation, with the farming community of the Tajo-Segura Transfer in Totana able to use water from the desalination plants of Torrevieja and Águilas, thanks to the construction of new regulation ponds, pumping stations and hydraulic connections. This improvement will benefit 4,095 farmers and 10,776 hectares of crops.

In Librilla, the changes will be even more dramatic, as the transformation will include an automated irrigation network, pumping stations, a photovoltaic solar plant and digitalisation systems to optimise water use, benefiting 689 irrigators who cultivate 892 hectares.

All of this work is part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan and is financed by European Next Generation funds.