· The actions in the Albaida River as it passes through Manuel, Senyera and Castelló recover the riverside forest after eliminating the invasive species Arundo donax or common cane
· The river recovery of the Albaida has a budget of 3M€, "the most important carried out by the Government in the restoration of rivers in the C.Valenciana", said the delegate
· The CHJ has invested about 11M€ in the recovery of 10 kilometers of waterways in 2023
The delegate of the Government in the Valencian Community, Pilar Bernabé, accompanied by the president of the Hydrographic Confederation of Júcar, Miguel Polo, presented this morning in Manuel the river restoration works that are being carried out in the final stretch of Albaida River, at its confluence with Júcar, in the municipal terms of Manuel, Senyera and Castelló.
The action aims to recover the riverside forest from the riverbed, has a budget of three million euros and is executed over a stretch of three kilometers in length. The works, which began in mid-September, are part of the integral restoration of the Albaida River contemplated in the program of measures of the Júcar Hydrological Plan 2022-2027. The investment in the Albaida River “is one of the most important in the recovery of rivers carried out by the Government of Spain in the C.Valenciana”, said Bernabé.
This action will make it possible to recover the riverside forest and the natural state of the Albaida River as it passes through these three localities of the Ribera Alta. It recovers, in this way a green space for the enjoyment of the people by removing the common cane (Arundo donax) that had invaded the channel. Bernabé highlighted that this work reiterates the “evident commitment of the Government of Spain to the sustainability and recovery of the biodiversity of the rivers of the C.Valenciana”
The delegate has highlighted the investment that is being made by the Government in the field of river restoration. Thus, through the Confederation of Júcar in 2023, around €11 million has been invested to recover more than 10 kilometers of waterways, “data that show the absolute commitment of the Government to the good condition of our rivers”.
Rod removal and installation of geotextile coverage
The first phase of the work, which began in mid-September, focuses on the elimination and clearing of the aerial part of the invasive species, mostly common cane or Arundo donax. These works are carried out with heavy machinery and the objective is to clear the cane area, but not to end all the vegetation since its presence is key to decrease the power of the river in episodes of large avenues
This first phase usually lasts 10 months and also serves to crush the remains that are generated with the weeding, which will be mixed with the ground before installing an opaque geotextile cover that will remain on the ground for at least 18 months. This is a common technique in the restorations carried out by the CHJ due to its great effectiveness. The tarpaulins generate heat in the soil, prevent sunlight from passing and the plant can perform photosynthesis, so its rhizome is exhausted and the Arundo donax can not sprout again.
After these 18 months, the work of the second phase of the integral restoration of this stretch of the Albaida River will begin. First, the geotextile cover will be removed and then plantations of native riverside species will be carried out periodically.