€125,000 for wetland restoration in Llobregat Delta

The Generalitat de Catalunya will invest €125,000 in the ecological restoration of the Ricarda and Remolar lagoons, two key wetlands in the Llobregat Delta. The funding is part of a broader set of river restoration projects outlined by the Catalan Water Agency (Agència Catalana de l’Aigua, ACA), aimed at improving the ecological condition of water bodies that have suffered decades of environmental degradation. The lagoons, located near Barcelona-El Prat airport, have been impacted by urban development, agricultural activity, and airport operations, all of which have disrupted natural water flows. As a result, the wetlands now face issues including reduced freshwater input, poor water renewal, and eutrophication, an excess of nutrients that promotes algal blooms and depletes oxygen levels.

Restoration plans face airport expansion uncertainty

The restoration effort coincides with plans to extend the airport’s third runway, a project that could affect part of the Ricarda lagoon. According to documents from Aena, the state-owned airport operator, the expansion will be included in its next investment cycle (DORA 3, 2027–2031) and is designed to minimise environmental impact. Aena claims the revised plan preserves the water surface of La Ricarda by ending the runway before it reaches the lagoon’s main channel to the sea. Still, environmental groups have raised concerns. Lluís Toldrà of conservation group Depana described it as contradictory to invest in restoring natural habitats while advancing infrastructure projects that could damage them. If the expansion proceeds, further restoration work may be needed on any unaffected areas.

The Generalitat has a legal obligation under EU directives to improve the ecological status of these water bodies, which have been degraded for years.

Ecological gains must balance with flight safety

Another challenge is aviation safety. Improving wetland conditions may attract large water birds, increasing the risk of bird strikes. Any restoration work must therefore balance ecological recovery with measures to mitigate risks to aircraft, as required by international and national aviation regulations. The ACA has previously carried out interventions at Remolar in Viladecans to improve water renewal, but water quality remains suboptimal. The Ricarda site is more complex due to the potential impact of airport development. Ultimately, the success of the €125,000 investment will depend on future decisions about the airport’s expansion and the long-term protection framework established for the delta’s wetlands.

Primary sources: aena.es, aigua.blog.gencat.cat, govern.cat. Reported by barnadiario.com, elperiodico.com, Barna Diario.