El impacto de la extracción de aguas subterráneas en el Parque Nacional de Doñana

Abstract

The National Park of Doñana (PND) is the most important one in Spain and one of the principal National Parks in Europe because of its large surface (730 km²) and its relevant ecosystems. It is located on the Almonte-Marismas aquifer system. This aquifer system has a surface of about 3,400 km² at the lower valIey of the Guadalquivir river. The characteristics of the three main PND ecosystems (stabilized sands, moving dunes and marshlands) and of their respective ecotones (contact zone between two ecosystems) depend to a great extent on the Almonte-Marismas aquifer groundwater flow system. Important agricultural and turistic developments have been performed at the neaby zone during the last two decades. They have implied a groundwater withdrawal of sorne 60 miIlion m³/year. The authors' opinion is that such withdrawal might cause relevant impacts on fundamental parts of the Park at short term. It might occur something similar to the recent ecological deterioration on the National Park of Las Tablas de Daimiel. This study is focused mainly on the El Rocío zone because it is probably the most significant one in relation to the ecological impact caused by the groundwater extraction. The water table evolution forecast by the models run by the Agencies in charge of the PND are analyzed. The authors conclude that such forecasts are too optimistic and significant impacts will occur before the time foretold.