Sustainable management of water resources in Castilla y León

This thematic evaluation examines sustainable water resources management and its link with hydrological planning in Castilla y León (Spain) under the 2014-2022 RDP. It draws mainly on analyses carried out in 2018 and 2019 and focuses on Sub‑measures 4.1 (support for investments in agricultural holdings) and 4.3 (support for investments in infrastructure related to the development, modernisation or adaptation of agriculture and forestry), programmed under Focus Area 5A on improving water use efficiency, with secondary contributions to Focus Areas 2A, 5B, 5C, 6A and 6B.

The evaluation aims to assess the impact of these measures on water resources, particularly effective water savings, and to analyse their effects on competitiveness, employment, energy use, environmental aspects and rural development.

A mixed‑methods approach is applied, combining desk research, analysis of administrative data (including Paying Agency databases and measure‑manager datasets), consultation of technical project files, three case studies in modernised and non‑modernised irrigation areas, and 20 semi‑structured interviews. Additional data sources include the Agricultural Technological Institute of Castile and León (ITACYL) Irrigated Crop Monitoring Plan (2011–2016), Duero Hydrographic Confederation hydrological data and regional statistics.

The analysis is supported by the common monitoring and evaluation framework (CMEF) indicators, including T14 (% of irrigated land moving to a more efficient system), R13 (increase in water use efficiency in supported projects) and T4 (% of farms receiving support for restructuring or modernization), as well as national indicators for irrigation modernisation.

The evaluation concludes, among other things, that irrigation modernisation generally improves water use efficiency by reducing transport, distribution and plot‑level losses, achieving savings ranging from 7% to 50% (around 20% on average). By 2019, 315 farms had invested in on‑farm modernisation, covering more than 5 500 ha, mainly through pivot systems and underground pipelines. Modernisation supports more precise water management through improved measurement and irrigation scheduling, with estimated economic effects of 0.41 EUR/m³ of water saved and 208.28 EUR/ha in gross value added (GVA), while enhancing resilience to drought. It also facilitates generational renewal and is supported by training and advisory tools such as INFORIEGO.

Findings on competitiveness effects indicate an expected increase in gross margins by 34.25% on average, net margins by 43.53% and agricultural income by 24.16%, alongside structural improvements such as land reorganisation.

Irrigation‑transformation actions covering 8 250 ha could raise GVA by about 800 EUR/ha/year, though these results require confirmation after project completion. In terms of energy use, modernisation can reduce consumption and costs through more efficient technologies, while transitions to pressurised systems may increase energy demand; some projects integrate renewable energy or zero‑energy designs. Environmental effects include more precise fertiliser use and reduced leaching, while generally good ecological status of associated water bodies, although certain groundwater bodies still fail to achieve good chemical status. From a rural‑development perspective, modernisation improves farmers’ quality of life through more automated irrigation, supports the continuity of irrigated agriculture, and contributes to generational renewal in farming communities.