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Drought Management Plans in the European Union. The Case of Spain

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Abstract

Water is a strategic resource for the economic, social and environmental development. However, water scarcity and droughts are current challenges to this growth, as it is reflected in European Union (EU) water policies, and in national and regional growing initiatives. In addition, these water related issues could worsen by climate change effects, adding pressure to already water stressed areas. This paper presents a general overview of drought management in the European Union, reviews scientific and technical advances, the status of implementation of policy tools and focuses on drought management plans. It analyses the specific case of Spain, a country characterised by presenting a high irregularity in temporal and spatial distribution of water resources and numerous areas affected by water scarcity and droughts. Details are presented on the National Drought Indicator System and drought management plans approved in 2007 in Spain, which represent strategic tools with positive results in drought warning and impact mitigation respectively.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the Ministry of Environment, and Rural and Marine Affairs of Spain for providing the opportunity to take part in different national and international projects related to droughts. In addition, they thank Vicente Ramírez-Perea for his technical assistance in data analysis and map development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jucar River Basin Authority of Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Valencia, Spain

    Teodoro Estrela

  2. Research Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering (IIAMA) of Technical University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain

    Teodoro Estrela

  3. Evaluación de Recursos Naturales S.A. (EVREN S.A.), Valencia, Spain

    Elisa Vargas

Authors
  1. Teodoro Estrela
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  2. Elisa Vargas
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Correspondence to Teodoro Estrela.

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Estrela, T., Vargas, E. Drought Management Plans in the European Union. The Case of Spain. Water Resour Manage 26, 1537–1553 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-011-9971-2

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