The territorial delegate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development in Almería, Antonio Mena, visited the municipality of Rágol to oversee restoration and maintenance works on a section of the Andarax river. During the visit, he was accompanied by the local mayor, Miguel Rodríguez, provincial deputy Matilde Díaz, and members of the municipal corporation.
Mena explained that the primary objective of the intervention is to restore the hydraulic functionality of the riverbed and reduce risks associated with future flood events, ensuring the adequate conservation of the Public Hydraulic Domain. The project has an initial investment of 1,779,996.74 euros, began in November 2025, and is set to run until November 2027, with a planned budget increase of 1,461,003 euros, totaling over 3 million euros in two years for riverbed maintenance in the province of Almería.
The works, being carried out in the Pago del Cura area at the confluence of the Guadix ravine and the Andarax river, commenced in February 2026 and will continue until next autumn. Previous studies revealed significant sediment accumulation, exceeding 2.5 meters in thickness, originating from the Guadix ravine. This had caused clogging of existing defenses, reduced the Andarax river's drainage capacity by over 50%, and diverted flood flows towards the right bank.
This situation posed a potential risk to nearby infrastructure, particularly the regional road A-348, increasing the area's vulnerability to intense rainfall events. Consequently, the Ministry deemed this specific action necessary to restore the riverbed's hydraulic capacity and minimize the risks of potential flooding.
The intervention involves removing substantial accumulations of sediment and biomass, as well as controlling invasive vegetation that hindered the river's hydraulic function. The delegate detailed that "this project aims to improve the resilience of the Andarax river as a green infrastructure, reinforcing its adaptation to the effects of climate change and promoting the recovery of its environmental and functional values."
“"This project aims to improve the resilience of the Andarax river as a green infrastructure, reinforcing its adaptation to the effects of climate change and promoting the recovery of its environmental and functional values."
The mayor of Rágol, Miguel Rodríguez, expressed gratitude to the Junta de Andalucía for this "historic action for our municipality," highlighting the Andalusian government's commitment to reversing the years of decline the river's environment had suffered. "These works were completely necessary to guarantee the safety of our town and bring life back to a natural space that is vital for the entire region," he stated.
“"historic action for our municipality"
“"These works were completely necessary to guarantee the safety of our town and bring life back to a natural space that is vital for the entire region"
