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Nabarralde | Nabarra Papers
Lon-Term
Restoration Plan for the
Errobi River
Mila Parot Zubimendi.
Efforts are underway to implement a long-term plan for managing,
improving and restoring the Errobi (La Nive) River in northern
Basque Country under French administration. The Errobi River
Project, a state sponsored project, is in the final stages of
putting together a cooperative comprehensive conservation and
management plan for the river and delta.
The
project plan was initiated three years ago through consultation
with communities and resource agencies on security measures
and community duties. A contract between all the implicated
parties is to be signed in the next few months.
The
goals of the project include to restore and protect a diverse,
balanced and healthy population of fish, invertebrates, wildlife,
plan species and their habitats; improve water quality by eliminating
and preventing pollution at its source, and where that is not
possible, minimizing the discharge of pollutants into estuary
waters from non-point sources; preserve and restore wetlands
to provide habitat for wildlife, and protect against flooding.
These
goals are very ambitious and implementing the comprehensive
plan will involve a complex and challenging strategy. According
to the project manager, Bernard Auroy, restoration of the Errobi
will cost 230 millions FRF (36.1677USD)
As
progress is made towards the implementation of the plan, those
enlisted in the project are seeking citizen involvement. Several
meetings to inform residents on the long-term plan will take
place during the next two weeks.
The
Errobi River is 150 km long and has its source in the Urkulu
mountain. The Errobi flows through Donibane Lohizune, Ustaritze,
Baiona and into the Atlantic.
Communities
in Lapurdi have
worked diligently for years to revitalize the Errobi, polluted
by industrial, agricultural and urban waste.
Water
sports and recreational activities have contributed to the degradation
of the river.
The
promoters of the project are calling on farmers, owners of small
fishing industries, sports people and councillors to take part
in the upcoming meetings.
July
1999
Mila
Parot is a law student and free-lance writer. She's currently
living in Miarritze.
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