A new study looks at how changes in the Serpis River Basin in Spain can help address the challenges posed by climate change and invasive species, providing precious lessons on how to maximize agricultural benefits and environmental flows. The research was carried out by a team that includes scientists from the CMCC Institute for Earth System Predictions. 

Dams and water flow regulation help manage water, but they can also harm river life and make it easier for invasive species to thrive. Furthermore, Spain’s water resources are under more pressure due to climate change, leading to a need to adapt river basin management plans.

A new study involving the CMCC Institute for Earth System Predictions with the authors Lorenzo Sangelantoni and Daniele Peano, , evaluates different strategies for adapting to these changes, focusing on improving how water is used for farming, like switching from traditional irrigation methods to more efficient ones like drip irrigation.

The findings of the study suggest that the benefit of irrigation modernisation for farmers would come at almost no cost for the ecological status of the Serpis River compared with the current situation because the most relevant changes already occurred after the construction of the existing dam.

However, dealing with invasive species remains a challenge, particularly in scenarios with less water availability. This highlights the need for proactive measures, like managing forests or changing crops, to ensure enough water for farming and protecting the ecosystem from invasive species, especially in the face of more pessimistic climate scenarios that are predicted throughout the Mediterranean region.

In conclusion, the international team suggest ways in which to gain further water resources and counteract the challenging effects of ongoing climate change and invasive species presence in the future with valuable lessons for the Serpis River Basin and beyond.

For more information:

Muñoz-Mas R. et al; Adaptation measures to global change in the Serpis River Basin (Spain): An evaluation considering agricultural benefits, environmental flows, and invasive fishes; 2024, Ecological Indicators, Volume 161 – Article number 111979, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.111979