The delegate of the Government in Cantabria, Eugenia Gómez de Diego, and the president of the Cantabrian Hydrographic Confederation, Bárbara Monte Donapetry, visited today the works of the restoration of the Besaya riverbed and the Tejas stream in the municipal terms of Molledo and San Feliz de Buelna.
The Ministry for Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO), through the Cantabrian Hydrographic Confederation, is implementing in the autonomous community a comprehensive plan that seeks to recover the natural functioning of rivers and improve flood protection.
The works of Molledo and San Feliz de Buelna are "practically finished", in the absence of the last finishing touches that will be carried out during these days, and have involved an investment of 1.36 million euros. The action is part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR) that is funded by the State Secretariat for the Environment through the Ecological Restoration and Resilience Fund (FRER).
During the visit, the delegate of the Government and the president of the Cantabrian CH have checked the progress in the works, in which advanced bioengineering techniques have been used for the construction of containment walls and the stabilization of river margins.
After thanking the President of the Confederation for her visit to Cantabria, the Government delegate stressed the "importance and scope" of "this project that is key not only to restore these environments to their ecological balance, but also to prevent possible floods".
In this sense, Gómez de Diego has influenced the long-term impact of these actions: "The works being carried out by the Confederation will serve to address the challenges of climate change, and these works are an example of how we can protect the environment while improving the security of urban centers and infrastructure," he said.
For his part, Bárbara Monte stressed that this project "represents a significant step in our commitment to ecological restoration and flood prevention". As he explained, in its execution the Confederation is "combining advanced engineering techniques with ecological restoration principles to create a more resilient and ecologically functional river system."
In addition, Monte has pointed out that the Confederation carries out other waterway conservation actions in Cantabria in which it invests an average of 2.5 million euros per year.
During the visit, the delegate and the president of the Cantabrian CH were accompanied by the mayors of Molledo, Joaquín Villegas, and San Feliz de Buelna, José Antonio Cobo, who valued the actions positively and thanked the Ministry for the investment made.
Global project
The overall project implemented by the Confederation in Cantabria entails an investment "in excess of 4 million euros" and includes actions to improve the river condition, permeabilization of structures, removal of tiles (water jumps) and improvement of water supply stations.
In the year 2023, two actions were carried out: a train station in Rábagos, on the Nansa River, for the amount of 600,000 euros, and a waterproofing of an azud in Selaya, with an investment of more than 200,000 euros. The project, which will continue next year in Asón and Liébana, has an execution horizon dated June 2026.
The executed actions are:
Arroyo Tejas
The restoration of the Tejas stream contemplates a series of strategic interventions to improve its stability and ecological functionality. First, transverse ribs are implemented along the course to counteract erosion and prevent loss of bed material. The project is divided into three distinct sections, each designed to address specific challenges: a section lined near the bridge to overcome the existing slope, followed by a segment filled with natural catches from the riverbed itself. At the mouth, an innovative ramp of stones has been built with blocks arranged in a staggered pattern, thus facilitating the re-assembly of species of fish fauna. In addition, a thorough repair of the damaged fences has been carried out, reinforcing the structural integrity of the banks of the stream. Only a few final details are missing to complete the work.
Besaya River in San Feliz de Buelna
Following the actions in the Tejas stream, the restoration works of the Besaya River contemplate a series of strategic interventions to improve its hydraulic and ecological functionality. First, the defense nerve located 120 meters downstream of the mouth of the Tejas stream will be recovered, maintaining its original height. Along with this structure, a dissipation pond designed specifically to mitigate hydraulic energy during the avenues has been built. To facilitate the transit of fish fauna, a ramp of stones has been implemented on the right side, simulating a natural stretch of rapids.
Upstream, the project includes repairing and reinforcing the existing nerve, which showed signs of erosion at its base. This intervention is complemented by the construction of another dissipation well. In addition, a 37-metre aquaculture ramp will be installed on the left bank, capable of bridging a 1.7 metre slope, significantly improving the river’s longitudinal connectivity for aquatic species.
Besaya River in Molledo
The works pursue the recovery of the original waterway through the movement of carries, maintaining the 2019 canal as an auxiliary drain. To protect vulnerable areas, a Krainer wall is being built on a hill, while the waterproofing of the azud of the Cobra will facilitate the transit of fish fauna. The margins are stabilised by means of bioengineering techniques, such as Krainer walls and palisades, complemented by the planting of certified indigenous species. These measures are combined with clearing, pruning and hauling works, all aimed at restoring the natural layout of the river and strengthening its ecological resilience. This approach not only seeks to improve the hydraulic functionality of the river, but also to recover and enrich its biodiversity, creating a more robust ecosystem and adapted to future challenges.