An environmental impact study: Vallfornés water reservoir. Catalonia-Spain

Abstract

Environmental impact studies are used as a tool in project development to attain an adequate integration of the proposed activities in their environments so that adverse effects that are likely to affect the environmental quality can be avoided or reduced. The Vallfornés reservoir project case, whose main objective is storing water for irrigation, has al so the peculiarity of being located in the Montseny Natural Park (Catalonia, Spain) thus needing not only a careful treatment of the projected works, but also the resolution of the unavoidable conflicts that can arise related to the Natural Park regulations. This paper focuses on the main aspects of the environmental Impact study of this reservoir project: Natural Park regulations that could affect the project, environmental characterization of the area, Identification, characterization and assessment of environmental impacts, and recommendations for reducing or avoiding impacts.