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The
EbroAgua Working Group and its questions
Although
sustainability is a term frequently used in debates on the future of
society and its needs (e.g. European Water Frame Directive), many
questions seem to be open with respect to a sustainable management
of the Ebro River system. For instance, its geology is well known,
but more data are still necessary to reconstruct the geologic
“architecture” of the area in order to answer questions on its
natural resources and hazards involved with the use of these
resources. Such questions are e.g.:
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How
much groundwater is available and what is its quality?
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What
is the value of thickened alluvial deposits as rich sources of
aggregates needed for construction in urban areas and what is
its value as groundwater reservoirs?
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Is
it possible to elaborate risk maps with respect to subrosion of
Tertiary
evaporites which may result in sagging as well as collapse
features?
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How
will changes in land use or irrigation techniques applied in
agriculture affect erosion?
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What
will be the amount of sediment trapped in the water reservoirs
that were originally mobilised by erosion on agricultural areas?
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How
will possible changes in climate affect present water management
and the water management provisioned in the National
Hydrological Plan?
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What
will be the economic impacts?
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Is
it possible to elaborate a dynamic geographic information system
which will allow the modelling of different land use scenarios?
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How
are the ongoing water related projects accepted by the local
population and what could improve or decrease the acceptance?
As
it can be seen easily, the current working group concentrates on
geologic and economic questions as well as on water management.
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