REFLOODING AND RESTORATION OF THE BALLESTEROS LAGOONS (CUENCA PROVINCE, SPAIN)

forthcoming

"The ""Ballesteros Lagoon Complex, 225,03 ha, and Moscas River Valley, 126,51 ha"", ES4230008 is a lagoon system and floodplain, made up of more than thirty lagoons, some permanent and others seasonal, of sulfated waters, derived from the existence of a karst currently active of great botanical and geomorphological value. The area is partially drained, even so, 15 sinkholes have semi-permanent or permanent water, and the rest are temporary ones, flooded in wet seasons. Most of the habitats are partly occupied by rainfed lands, but there is also an irrigated plot of 57,40 ha that extracts water from the aquifer that feeds the lagoons and causes significant drops in their water levels and the drying up of the floodplain. Main objectives: - Purchase and elimination of the 95% of the rainfed and irrigated farmlands to convert them into protected natural habitats. It includes the acquisition of the irrigated plots, 57,40 ha, to avoid water extractions from the aquifer to restore former water levels and the large floodplain - Expansion of the SAC by a 28%, purchasing 63,09 ha. - Expansion of priority habitats: 1520*, Iberian gypsum vegetation; 3170*, Mediterranean temporary ponds; and 7210*, Calcareous fens with Cladium mariscus, from 3,93 ha to 163,42 ha. - Expansion of the rest of the habitats: 1410, 3140, 3150, 6410, 6420 and 92A0 - % of habitats increase 868%. 250,82 ha of net increase. Main actions: - Purchase of 273,87 ha from 18 owners (prices already agreed). - Removal of 3,5 km of drains, irrigatin infrastructures and 1 km of trails, etc. - Revegetation with 250.000 native plants, mainly Cladium mariscus and others. - Agri-environmental schem to improve the sustainability of surrounding crops that may affect the aquifer beyond the SAC. - Legal enlargement of the SAC boundaries and Management Plan review. - Public use."