Participation and planning bodies

The Law 62/2003, of transposition of the Water Framework Directive introduces a series of modifications to the Water Law. Among them, the hydrographic basin is redefined and the figure of the Hydrographic Demarcation is created. Likewise, it creates the Demarcation Water Council (which replaces the old Cuenca Water Council). According to this transposition, this body happens to have a crucial role in terms of participation and planning, given its attributes.

At Royal decree 1705/2011, from 18 November, the composition, structure and operation of the Water Council of the Segura River Basin District is established.

It is the responsibility of the Water Council of the demarcation to promote information, consultation and public participation in the planning process, and to submit to the Government, through the Ministry of the Environment, the hydrological plan of the basin and its subsequent revisions. Likewise, it will be able to inform the questions of general interest for the demarcation and those related to the protection of the waters and the better management, exploitation and protection of the hydraulic public domain.

The Board can act in plenary session and in Committees. In any case, there will be a Hydrological Planning Commission for each Hydrological Plan that is foreseen in the territorial scope of the Basin Organization.

Functions.

General:

1. Promote information, consultation and public participation in the planning process.
2. Raise to the Government, through the Ministry of the Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs, the Hydrological Plan of the demarcation and its subsequent revisions.
3. Report issues of general interest to the demarcation.
4. Report on issues related to the protection of waters and the best management, exploitation and protection of the public hydraulic domain or those that are entrusted to it by the President or the Governing Board of the Basin Organization.

In relation to the hydrological planning process, there will also be specific tasks of the Water Council of the demarcation:

1. Report the proposal of the Governing Board to proceed with the revision of the Hydrological Plan.
2. Issue mandatory report on the provisional outline of important issues in water management provided for in article 79.6 of the Hydrological Planning Regulation approved by Royal Decree 907/2007, of July 6.
3. Issue a mandatory report on the proposed Hydrological Plan project and its subsequent revisions prior to its submission to the Government for approval.
4. Inform the special action plans in situations of alert and eventual drought prior to their approval.

Other tasks and powers:

1. Be informed and heard prior to the declaration of overexploitation or risk of overexploitation of hydraulic resources in an area, prior to its approval by the Governing Board, reporting the study on the situation of the aquifer that is in process of being declared overexploited or at risk of being so. It will also report on the extraction management plan drawn up after the overexploitation declaration.
2. Report on the delimitation of the aquifer protection perimeters, prior to their approval by the Governing Board.
3. Report on the determination of the aquifer perimeters within which the granting of new groundwater concessions will not be possible, prior to their approval.
4. Inform about the modifications on the width of the easement and police zones, of the Hydraulic Public Domain, prior to their approval by the Governing Board.
5. Any others that are legally attributed to it.

• Chairman of the Board of the CHS.
• The First Vice-Presidency will correspond to the member who is elected by and among those who represent the Autonomous Communities.
• The Second Vice Presidency will fall on the member elected by and among the members representing the users.
• Secretary of the Council, with voice but without vote, the Secretary General of the CHS will act.
• Members of the Water Council of the demarcation:
  • Representing the ministerial departments:
    • A member of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
    • A member of the Ministry of Science and Innovation.
    • A member of the Ministry of Defence.
    • A member of the Ministry of Finance.
    • A member of the Ministry of Territorial Policy and Public Service.
    • A member of the Ministry of Sealth.
    • Six members of the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda.
    • Two members of the Ministry of Interior.
    • Seven members of the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge.
  • Representing the technical services of the CHS.
    • The Water Commissioner.
    • The Technical Director.
    • The Head of the Hydrological Planning Office.
  • On behalf of the Autonomous Communities:
    • Andalusia, two vowels.
    • Castilla-La Mancha, four vowels.
    • Region of Murcia, twelve members.
    • Valencian Community, four members.
  • On behalf of the Local Entities, whose territory coincides totally or partially with that of the demarcation, three vowels.
  • On behalf of users, twenty-eight members.
  • Representing associations and organizations for the defense of environmental, economic and social interests related to water, the following members:
    • Agricultural associations, two members. COAG, ADEA-ASAJA
    • Environmental associations, two members. Ecologists in Action Murcia Region, Association of Southeast Naturalists (ANSE)
    • Business associations, one member. Murcia Regional Confederation of Business Organizations (CROEM)
    • Trade union organizations, one member. Unions UGT and CC.OO.

With a smaller composition, proportionally similar to that of the plenary session, and with more agile convocation and action, being in charge of approving the guidelines of the Hydrological Plan, prior to the preparation of the Plan proposal, as well as reporting on issues of general interest for the Basin.

• President.
• Technical Director.
• Water Commissioner.
• Head of the OPH.
• Representing users: 12 members:
  • MCT
  • IBERDROLA
  • CR.CAMPOTEJAR/LOS DONES
  • J.HACENDADOS HUERTA MURCIA
  • J.P.A. ORIHUELA
  • SCRATS
  • CR. CAMPO DE CARTAGENA
  • C.R. LORCA
  • JCU.NORTE VEGA SEGURA
  • RIEGOS DE LEVANTE MI
  • RIEGOS DE LEVANTE MD
  • C.R. CAMPO DE CARTAGENA
• Representing organizations / associations: 3 members:
  • ECONOMIC INTERESTS
  • SOCIAL INTERESTS
  • AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS
• Representing local entities: 2 members
• Representing the State Administration: 7 members
  • MAGRAMA (3)
  • FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT. PUBLIC (1)
  • PROMOTION (1)
  • INDUSTRY (1)
  • ECONOMY AND COMPETITIVENESS (1)
• On behalf of the CC.AA. 8 members:
  • REGION OF MURCIA (3)
  • VALENCIAN COMMUNITY (2)
  • CASTILLA-LA MANCHA (2)
  • GOVERNMENT OF ANDALUSIA (1)
• Permanent guests:
  • CG RIEGOS MERIDIONALES
  • CR. MARTÍNEZ PARRAS
  • C.R. MAZARRÓN
  • ECOLOGISTAS EN ACCION R.MURCIA
  • AYTO. CALASPARRA
  • DEMARCACIÓN COSTAS MURCIA
  • AUTORIDAD PORTUARIA CARTAGENA