Initial technical project to restore ecological connectivity in the Ompolveda Stream through the removal of obsolete barriers and agreements for the permeabilisation of a water supply dam.
The Ompolveda Stream is a permanent watercourse located in the headwaters of the Tagus River Basin, in Guadalajara, Spain. Due to its high ecological quality, it has been designated a Riverine Nature Reserve by the Spanish Council of Ministers.
It hosts habitats of high ecological value, including gallery forests (92A0) and Mediterranean wet meadows (6420). The stream is particularly important for its fish fauna, as it provides refuge for one of the most genetically pure populations of brown trout (Salmo trutta) in the Tagus basin and supports populations of the Pyrenean chub (Squalius pyrenaicus) with unique evolutionary traits. Despite being classified as having good ecological status, the stream is fragmented by several barriers that alter its morphology and connectivity.
| Project status | Live |
|---|---|
| Project type | Dam removal: pre-demolition |
| Country | Spain |
| River | Ompolveda Stream |
| Focal species | Salmo trutta, Squalius pyrenaicus |
| Organisation | Asociación de Municipios Ribereños de los Embalses de Entrepeñas y Buendía (AMREEB) |
| Website | riberenos.es |
The Tagus basin faces significant challenges related to water management and ecological degradation. Although the Ompolveda Stream has high ecological value, it is affected by hydromorphological alterations caused by transversal barriers, including weirs from a former water intake for the municipality of Pareja and a small artisanal dam. These structures disrupt sediment transport, fish movement, and habitat connectivity, leading to sediment accumulation and the creation of artificial lentic conditions.
There is institutional consensus among the Pareja Town Council, the Tagus River Basin Authority, and the Regional Ministry for Sustainable Development of Castilla-La Mancha to address these issues. This project represents an important opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of river restoration in small Mediterranean streams and to contribute towards achieving the good ecological status required by the Water Framework Directive.
The main objective is to carry out the preparatory work required for the removal of two barriers – the weirs of the former water intake and an artisanal dam with a through pipe – enabling the reconnection of 1.9 km of watercourse (upstream). The project includes:
The expected outcome is that both barriers will be ready for demolition, restoring river continuity and delivering ecological benefits for priority species.
Funded by
