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The Tajo Hydrographic Confederation begins the work of recovery and improvement of the Manzanares river and the Culebro stream as it passes through Getafe (Madrid)

15/10/2025

River restoration actions

  • The actions have as their fundamental objective to recover the hydrodynamic balance, reduce erosion, reinforce the bed and stabilize the slope of the stretches of channel considered.
  • The river Manzanares and the stream Culebro have suffered significant morphological variations caused by the alteration of their flows as a consequence of the degradation and impoverishment of the river environment, affecting the vegetation and fauna of the riverside
  • The project, funded by European NextGenerationEU funds, exceeds the EUR 3.3 million budgeted and will be completed by the end of June 2026.

The Tajo Hydrographic Confederation (CHT), an autonomous body attached to the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, has launched the project for the recovery and improvement of the Manzanares river and the Culebro stream located in the municipality of Getafe (Madrid). These actions, funded by the European Union through the NextGenerationEU program, aim to recover the hydrodynamic balance of both channels considering the conditions imposed by geology, the current hydromorphology of the channel and the altered hydrological regime. The project has a budget of 3.3 M€ and is expected to be completed by June 2026.

The actions, aimed at recovering the hydrodynamic balance of the river, reducing erosion, strengthening the river bed and stabilizing the margins, fall within the remit of the Hydrographic Confederation, in accordance with the provisions of the Consolidated Text of the Water Law (Royal Legislative Decree 1/2001, of 20 July).

The project for the recovery and improvement of the Manzanares River and the Arroyo Culebro has a favourable environmental report from the Community of Madrid that considers the action compatible with the current regulations on protected areas since these are works of improvement, aimed at recovering the hydrodynamic balance in both channels and reducing the erosive capacity of the same, improving the structure and composition of the riverside vegetation and the stability of the slopes.

PERFORMANCES IN EL ARROYO CULEBRO

The Culebro stream is a waterway very affected by the erosive dynamics of the river generated by the change in land use of the basin since 1956 that has led to the waterproofing of a large part of the surface of the basin, as a result of the expansion of the urbanized areas, and aggravated by the significant flow spilt by the two large WWTP located in the area (Culebro upper middle basin and lower basin), factors that have contributed to the generalization of erosion in the margins of the area. These erosive processes have led to the degradation and impoverishment of the river environment, affecting both the riverside vegetation and the populations of fauna linked to it.

The performances in the Culebro stream are located in five sections located between the EDAR Arroyo Culebro Cuenca Media Alta and the end of the Los Gavilanes Industrial Estate in Getafe (Madrid). These actions are based on structural engineering techniques for protection of the riverbed, both in the bed and in the margins, which allow to stabilize the ground, dissipate the energy and avoid the direct action of the water on them. The slopes will also be stabilized by laying and planting riverside species corresponding to the series of vegetation in the area.

PERFORMANCES ON THE MANZANARES RIVER

The Manzanares River has suffered significant morphological variations caused by the alteration of its river dynamics as a result of urbanization and the large population that collects its basin. For this reason, the need to establish a series of corrective measures to mitigate these effects is justified.

In these first works, various actions will be carried out from the EDAR of Butarque to the confluence of the Culebro stream in the municipality of Getafe (Madrid). Specifically, it is planned to carry out forest treatments on both margins along the entire stretch, with elimination of exotic species and subsequent planting to improve the vegetation orle, decompaction of sediments to allow their mobilization by the circulating flow; as well as the reinforcement and protection of the slope of the right margin of a stretch of the river.

More information about the recovery and improvement project of the Manzanares River and Culebro Stream located in the municipality of Getafe (Madrid) can be found in the following section of the CHT website: https://www.chtajo.es/actuaciones-culebro-y-manzanares