The construction of a dam or weir (Cerro Blanco) in Río Grande, in addition to other environmental impacts during its construction phase and later in the operational phase, due to the barrier effect that will obstruct the longitudinal connectivity of the river, directly affects the flow regime of its water mass.
The new withdrawals of water flowing through the river will be a major impediment to guaranteeing the ecological flow for the maintenance of the biodiversity of this body of water inhabited by species that are included in the Habitats Directive.
The objectives of the Water Framework Directive, which consider it a priority to combine territorial development models and human well-being with the conservation of aquatic ecosystems, are not guaranteed by the development of the Cerro Blanco Dam project.
Diverting the water via the weir or dam would impact the river's dynamics and, consequently, the protected natural area of the Natura 2000 network and the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) ES6170033 Río Guadalhorce, Fahala y Pereilas. This diversion, which could represent up to 40% of the estimated flow, would significantly affect the eight habitats of community interest included in the SAC inventory and the recorded fauna species.
The ZEC fulfills an essential function as an ecological corridor, connecting different ecosystems from the coast to the mountains, counteracting habitat fragmentation and proving fundamental for the coordination of management plans for these protected areas.
Therefore, the Cerro Blanco dam or weir and any conduit to take away the water goes against the Water Framework Directive, since it further contributes to the deterioration of the Río Grande and its basin, by intervening on its channel and banks and deducting from it a flow that is essential to achieve the objectives of said Directive.
JUNE 2026
The Río Grande Natural Valley Association presents objections to the intermediate phase of the 2028-2032 Hydrological Plan, rejecting once again the Cerro Blanco dam.
The technical and legal reasons make its inclusion in the planning unfeasible, according to the Association.
We denounce the severe environmental impacts that the dam would represent, and the lack of study of viable alternatives, thus violating basic principles of water legislation and environmental assessment.
JUNE 2025
The Valle Natural Río Grande Association appears as an interested party in the allegations of the new water cycle, whose first phase ends on June 20, 2025 (Hydrological Plan 2028-2033, Initial Documents).
We are advising the Irrigation Communities of Río Grande that they should also participate before June 20th in the presentation of allegations, where they defend their ancestral rights of access, so that their flows are neither threatened nor diminished.
Lawyer Maribel Martínez-Díaz
Present
Present
JUNE 2026
The Río Grande Natural Valley Association presents objections to the intermediate phase of the 2028-2032 Hydrological Plan, rejecting once again the Cerro Blanco dam.
The technical and legal reasons make its inclusion in the planning unfeasible, according to the Association.
We denounce the severe environmental impacts that the dam would represent, and the lack of study of viable alternatives, thus violating basic principles of water legislation and environmental assessment.
JUNE 2025
The Valle Natural Río Grande Association appears as an interested party in the allegations of the new water cycle, whose first phase ends on June 20, 2025 (Hydrological Plan 2028-2033, Initial Documents).
We are advising the Irrigation Communities of Río Grande that they should also participate before June 20th in the presentation of allegations, where they defend their ancestral rights of access, so that their flows are neither threatened nor diminished.
Lawyer Maribel Martínez-Díaz
...at the same time, voices from various administrations They advocate the destruction of our Rio Grande!!!
The Cerro Blanco dam or dam has threatened to be built for many years.
The new Hydrographic Plan 2021-2026 includes it again...
In this Demarcation, the Cerro Blanco dam with a budget of 85 million euros to be executed by the AGE, whose construction will modify the physical characteristics of the Río Grande water mass, will cause serious effects on the SCI of the Guadalhorce River located downstream of the location of said infrastructure, as well as the spaces linked to both and that are included within the Natura 2000 Network.
Present
JUNE 2026
The Río Grande Natural Valley Association presents objections to the intermediate phase of the 2028-2032 Hydrological Plan, rejecting once again the Cerro Blanco dam.
The technical and legal reasons make its inclusion in the planning unfeasible, according to the Association.
We denounce the severe environmental impacts that the dam would represent, and the lack of study of viable alternatives, thus violating basic principles of water legislation and environmental assessment.
JUNE 2025
The Valle Natural Río Grande Association appears as an interested party in the allegations of the new water cycle, whose first phase ends on June 20, 2025 (Hydrological Plan 2028-2033, Initial Documents).
We are advising the Irrigation Communities of Río Grande that they should also participate before June 20th in the presentation of allegations, where they defend their ancestral rights of access, so that their flows are neither threatened nor diminished.
Lawyer Maribel Martínez-Díaz
JUNE 2026
The Río Grande Natural Valley Association presents objections to the intermediate phase of the 2028-2032 Hydrological Plan, rejecting once again the Cerro Blanco dam.
The technical and legal reasons make its inclusion in the planning unfeasible, according to the Association.
We denounce the severe environmental impacts that the dam would represent, and the lack of study of viable alternatives, thus violating basic principles of water legislation and environmental assessment.
JUNE 2025
The Valle Natural Río Grande Association appears as an interested party in the allegations of the new water cycle, whose first phase ends on June 20, 2025 (Hydrological Plan 2028-2033, Initial Documents).
We are advising the Irrigation Communities of Río Grande that they should also participate before June 20th in the presentation of allegations, where they defend their ancestral rights of access, so that their flows are neither threatened nor diminished.
Lawyer Maribel Martínez-Díaz
JUNE 2026
The Río Grande Natural Valley Association presents objections to the intermediate phase of the 2028-2032 Hydrological Plan, rejecting once again the Cerro Blanco dam.
The technical and legal reasons make its inclusion in the planning unfeasible, according to the Association.
We denounce the severe environmental impacts that the dam would represent, and the lack of study of viable alternatives, thus violating basic principles of water legislation and environmental assessment.
JUNE 2025
The Valle Natural Río Grande Association appears as an interested party in the allegations of the new water cycle, whose first phase ends on June 20, 2025 (Hydrological Plan 2028-2033, Initial Documents).
We are advising the Irrigation Communities of Río Grande that they should also participate before June 20th in the presentation of allegations, where they defend their ancestral rights of access, so that their flows are neither threatened nor diminished.
Lawyer Maribel Martínez-Díaz
JUNE 2026
The Río Grande Natural Valley Association presents objections to the intermediate phase of the 2028-2032 Hydrological Plan, rejecting once again the Cerro Blanco dam.
The technical and legal reasons make its inclusion in the planning unfeasible, according to the Association.
We denounce the severe environmental impacts that the dam would represent, and the lack of study of viable alternatives, thus violating basic principles of water legislation and environmental assessment.
JUNE 2025
The Valle Natural Río Grande Association appears as an interested party in the allegations of the new water cycle, whose first phase ends on June 20, 2025 (Hydrological Plan 2028-2033, Initial Documents).
We are advising the Irrigation Communities of Río Grande that they should also participate before June 20th in the presentation of allegations, where they defend their ancestral rights of access, so that their flows are neither threatened nor diminished.
Lawyer Maribel Martínez-Díaz
JUNE 2026
The Río Grande Natural Valley Association presents objections to the intermediate phase of the 2028-2032 Hydrological Plan, rejecting once again the Cerro Blanco dam.
The technical and legal reasons make its inclusion in the planning unfeasible, according to the Association.
We denounce the severe environmental impacts that the dam would represent, and the lack of study of viable alternatives, thus violating basic principles of water legislation and environmental assessment.
JUNE 2025
The Valle Natural Río Grande Association appears as an interested party in the allegations of the new water cycle, whose first phase ends on June 20, 2025 (Hydrological Plan 2028-2033, Initial Documents).
We are advising the Irrigation Communities of Río Grande that they should also participate before June 20th in the presentation of allegations, where they defend their ancestral rights of access, so that their flows are neither threatened nor diminished.
Lawyer Maribel Martínez-Díaz
