The Duero Hydrographic Confederation (CHD) and WWF have today signed a river stewardship agreement to work together to protect the river environment of the Hoces del Río Riaza and its surroundings. The Duero Hydrographic Confederation (CHD) and WWF have today signed a river stewardship agreement to work together to protect the river environment of the Hoces del Río Riaza (Segovia) and its surroundings. This agreement was born within a project that WWF is carrying out with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MAGRAMA), through the Biodiversity Foundation, to launch a demonstrative model of river stewardship, which aims to serve as a reference for other river ecosystems.
 
The ecological values and richness of this place were recognised almost 40 years ago with the creation of the Montejo de la Vega Raptor Refuge, at the initiative of WWF, and the annexed Linares Reservoir Refuge that was declared shortly afterwards and has been managed by the CHD ever since. In 2004, this area was declared a Protected Natural Area by the Junta de Castilla y León and included in the Natura 2000 Network.
 
The natural flow regime of the lower section of the Riaza is altered by the Linares dam, which was built more than 50 years ago. Although this dam is still in operation for various uses, there are several dams in disuse that are an obstacle for fish.
 
The river suffers from other conservation problems such as the presence of invasive exotic species, including the Asian clam, the blackbass, the Florida pond turtle or the signal crab, which harm native species. Likewise, monitoring of the quality of the river’s waters is required, as well as the environmental restoration of the riparian forest in some areas where it has been replaced by crops or plantations.
 
The project, which has the support of the Biodiversity Foundation, will include technical studies and conservation actions on the ground to promote river connectivity, restore ecological flows in the river and improve river habitats and species for the enhancement of river heritage. It also includes training actions for fishermen, municipal managers and other users of the river, as well as environmental volunteering actions.