Life Ebro-Admiclim The Ebro delta General overview Riba-Roja dam Mequinensa dam Length: 30 km Length: 84 km Capacity: 210 hm3 Capacity: 1534 hm3 Built in: 1969 year Built in: 1966 year Flix dam Length: 13 km Capacity: 11 hm3 Móra d’Ebre Admiclim Built in: 1948 Pilot actions Pilot Xerta Life Ebro- Life Tortosa Amposta N 0 20 km Environmental problem Reservoirs Climate change + Subsidence Sediment deficit Sea level rise Delta plain lowering Admiclim Coastal retreat Elevation loss Life Ebro- Life nvironmental problem nvironmental E 1956 1995 Life Ebro-Admiclim Environmental problem Expectedimpact Options i) The classical engineering approach: impounding the low-lying areas by means of defence structures, following the example of the Po delta or the Dutch polders. Admiclim Approach Life Ebro- Life ii) The ecological engineering approach: restoring the sediment fluxes to the delta to stop coastal retreat and maintain land elevation in a relative sea level rise scenario. This approach is being implemented in some parts of the Mississippi delta Integrated approach for managing Habitats Water Sediment (rice fields and wetlands) Optimizing ground elevation (through inputs of inorganic Admiclim sediment and organic matter) Approach Increasing the Improving accumulation Life Ebro- Life water multiple aim (sequestration) quality of carbon in the soil Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) Adaptation and mitigation actions Lower Ebro River Ebro delta plain Restoring the sediment flow Optimize carbon sequestration Reduce GHG emissions Reservoirs Increase ground elevation Admiclim Improve water quality Artificial Approach wetlands Life Ebro- Life Water treatment plant Rice fields Lower Ebro River : action B2 Pilot test of injecting sediment into the final stretch of the river Ebro. Evaluation of the potential for sediment transport in the current hydrologic conditions of the River Ebro, to determine the feasibility of transferring sediments from the reservoirs. Admiclim Pilot actions Pilot Life Ebro- Life Main aim: Restore the sediment continuity by means of a new concept of reservoir management Riba-Roja dam Mequinensa dam Flix dam Móra d’Ebre Admiclim Pilot actions Pilot Xerta Life Ebro- Life Tortosa Amposta N 0 20 km Lower Ebro River: action B1 Pilot test of injection of sediment from a water treatment plant into the Ebro Delta irrigation network. Assessing the feasibility of reinject sediments from the water treatment plant into the Ebro Delta, so that the sludge becomes a resource contributing to Admiclim climate change adaptation. Pilot actions Pilot Life Ebro- Life Main aim: The establishment of a controlled system to deliver part of the sediment to the delta plain Riba-Roja dam Mequinensa dam Flix dam Irrigation channels Móra d’Ebre Admiclim Xerta Pilot actions Pilot Tortosa Life Ebro- Life Amposta 0 20 km N Ebro delta plain: action B3 Operational optimization of two constructed wetlands to maximize carbon sequestration, the soil elevation, and the assimilation of nutrients and pollutants. Optimization of these variables by testing different water management schemes. Admiclim Pilot actions Pilot Life Ebro- Life Main aim: increase soil accretion, improve water quality and reduce the GHG emissions Ebro delta plain: action B3 Illa de Mar Area: 45,37 Ha. Admiclim L’embut Area: 77,63 Ha. Pilot actions Pilot Life Ebro- Life • Heavy metals & pesticides in water & soil • Total Carbon & nitrate in soil • Soil texture (accretion) • Chlorophyll • DBO and DQO • Main physicochemical water parameters • Subsidence & accretion • GHG emissions Ebro delta plain: action B3 First year: Maximum water depth & minimum water recirculation Minimum water depth & minimum water recirculation Second year: Maximum water depth & maximum water recirculation Minimum water depth & maximum water recirculation Admiclim Thirst year: Pilot actions Pilot Identical water depth & water recirculation Life Ebro- Life Experiments will be carried out from April/May to November/December Ebro delta plain: action B4 Optimization of GHG emissions and carbon sequestration in the rice fields of the Ebro Delta. Evaluation of emissions and sequestration as a function of agricultural practices and the characterization of terrains Admiclim Pilot actions Pilot Life Ebro- Life Main aim: Establishment of the basis for a plan for GHG emissions management. Life Ebro-Admiclim Pilot actions Ebro delta plain: action B4 action plain: delta Ebro Ebro delta plain: action B5 Evaluation of the effects of sediment from a water treatment plant on rice production and the emission of greenhouse gases. To assess the possible effects of sediment supply from the water treatment plant CAT on rice production practices and the characteristics of the terrains. Admiclim Life Ebro- Life nvironmental problem nvironmental E Main aim: Establishment of the basis for a plan for GHG emissions management Ebro delta plain: action B6 Assessment of areas vulnerable to subsidence and sea-level rise in the Ebro Delta. Admiclim Pilot actions Pilot Life Ebro- Life Main aim: Determination of the most vulnerable areas with high spatial resolution. Ebro delta plain: action B7 Developing a Climate Action Plan of the Ebro Delta Admiclim Pilot actions Pilot Life Ebro- Life Main aim: Integration of adaptation measures and mitigation to develop a coherent scheme of measures that will combine those in the Catalan Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation with those resulting from the pilot actions Expected results • Determination of the real capacity of the Ebro River for sediment transport, which is expected to change from 10 mg / L at present to about 100 mg/L if the flow of sediment through reservoirs is restored. • Demonstration of the feasibility of reincorporating ca 1,000 tonnes/year of Ebro River sediments currently retained in a water treatment plant. Admiclim • Optimization of the performance of constructed wetlands, which Results are expected to achieve carbon sequestration rates of the order of 80 g/m2/year, floor elevation rates of the order of 0.5 cm/year, nitrate reduction rates higher to 70% and contaminant Life Ebro- Life reduction rates of around 30%. • Accurate assessment of GHG emissions from Delta rice fields, which are expected to be in the order of 80,000 tonnes/year of CO2 equivalent. GHG reductions of 10-15% are expected to be achieved following particular changes in agricultural practices Expected results • Accurate assessment of Ebro Delta subsidence, which has been estimated a priori to be ca 2-3 mm/yr, and identification of the areas (expected to be 30-45% of the total area) most vulnerable to rising relative sea level. • Development of a Climate Action Plan for the Ebro Delta with concrete and effective measures for adaptation to and mitigation of climate change. Admiclim Results Life Ebro- Life Life Ebro-Admiclim Partners Thanks you veryattention you for your Thanks much .