https://www.vivaalmanzora-ecologicalrestoration.live/blog-2-1 daily 0.75 2026-04-30 https://www.vivaalmanzora-ecologicalrestoration.live/blog-2-1/8-assessing-the-role-of-monoculture-agriculture-in-altering-local-and-catchment-scale-hydrology-in-the-almanzora-valley monthly 0.5 2026-04-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/7b544870-eb3c-4a7e-834e-79a4d4dd7ac0/aerial+view+of+the+greenhouses+-+sea+of+plastic+almeria.png Viva Almanzora Blog - 8. Assessing the role of monoculture agriculture in altering local and catchment-scale hydrology in the Almanzora Valley - ‍Monoculture cropping necessitates artificial inputs such as fertilizers being delivered and applied at an industrial scale - which in turn damages watercourses with the runoff. The same practices also reduce biodiversity which weakens the ecosystems’ ability to absorb large amounts of water in storms, store carbon, and self-regulate pests and diseases. In Almeria specifically it has taken a unique spin in the region close to the sea in the south of the region, a super intensive version optimised over time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/e8c77e75-6f56-4773-bcd2-d616de0559c9/old+image+of+inside+a+greenhouse+in+almeria.png Viva Almanzora Blog - 8. Assessing the role of monoculture agriculture in altering local and catchment-scale hydrology in the Almanzora Valley - Single plant species also mean a lack of diverse root systems breaking up the soil layers below which allow precipitation to make its way deeper into the ground when it comes. If the plants used don’t have deep reaching and strong enough roots, not only can they not spread as deeply, but they also don’t support as many types of wildlife that can burrow and tunnel under the surface, churning, tunneling and aggregating soil as they create pathways for the water to make its way down and be kept long term https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/0fa180d4-5aa2-45d9-b353-3cb955f97592/overhead+view+of+a+new+plantation+-+monocrop-irrigated.png Viva Almanzora Blog - 8. Assessing the role of monoculture agriculture in altering local and catchment-scale hydrology in the Almanzora Valley - Image on the left- A google earth Image of newer Citrus plantations appearing on the outskirts of Los menas, Near Huercal-Overa This demonstrates the reality of the situation in the region. Yet it has had little to no effect on the number of new plantations being set up on newly acquired plots despite there being a royal decree issued to curtail the demands on freshwater usage. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/c876d824-0d33-40db-9f93-972cbd7bfcd5/EUTROPHICATION.png Viva Almanzora Blog - 8. Assessing the role of monoculture agriculture in altering local and catchment-scale hydrology in the Almanzora Valley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/4a73d6c5-50f2-488b-8491-093494266534/harmful+algal+bloom+imgae.jpg Viva Almanzora Blog - 8. Assessing the role of monoculture agriculture in altering local and catchment-scale hydrology in the Almanzora Valley Toxic Algae bloom water, usually caused by Excess nutrient pollution. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/a3cebb26-34db-4a50-8a9c-9db34c4267d0/m3.11+overall+diagram.png Viva Almanzora Blog - 8. Assessing the role of monoculture agriculture in altering local and catchment-scale hydrology in the Almanzora Valley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.vivaalmanzora-ecologicalrestoration.live/blog-2-1/how-does-soil-structure-influence-infiltration-rates-and-what-processes-lead-to-its-collapse-in-dryland-systems monthly 0.5 2026-04-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/1f7ed102-3065-49da-83c6-97882724b5e9/Soil+Horizons+dryland+woodland.png Viva Almanzora Blog - 7. How does soil structure influence infiltration rates, and what processes lead to its collapse in dryland systems? - Make it stand out A generated image depicting Soil horizons in a healthy dryland forested area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/a881d75b-ace1-451a-ad57-fe9a4e15ebb2/soil+triangle+-+texture.png Viva Almanzora Blog - 7. How does soil structure influence infiltration rates, and what processes lead to its collapse in dryland systems? - Make it stand out The Soil Triangle - (a way of classifying Soil Texture) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/e3f5c84d-0311-4408-9ecc-fde0ec630cd0/graph+for+m3.10.png Viva Almanzora Blog - 7. How does soil structure influence infiltration rates, and what processes lead to its collapse in dryland systems? - Make it stand out Graph illustrating these influences on soil moisture infiltration from the study, “The influence of litter crusts on soil properties and hydrological processes in a sandy ecosystem” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/f738e4a9-5f77-4044-a447-44bef480c52d/ChatGPT+Image+Apr+27%2C+2026%2C+09_20_46+AM.png Viva Almanzora Blog - 7. How does soil structure influence infiltration rates, and what processes lead to its collapse in dryland systems? - Make it stand out Degraded Dryland Soil horizons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/d59cffe7-2fa3-4613-8424-5db28d1babd0/Leaf+Litter+food+web.png Viva Almanzora Blog - 7. How does soil structure influence infiltration rates, and what processes lead to its collapse in dryland systems? - Make it stand out Infographic showing the often understated role Litter crusts play in ecosystems https://www.vivaalmanzora-ecologicalrestoration.live/blog-2-1/6-what-are-the-dominant-feedback-loops-driving-hydrological-degradation-in-semi-arid-landscapes monthly 0.5 2026-03-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/1773158303229-8EI4D7AIYIW7KEIV5J8V/ChatGPT+Image+Mar+9%2C+2026%2C+04_08_02+PM.png Viva Almanzora Blog - 6. What are the dominant feedback loops driving hydrological degradation in semi-arid landscapes? - The impact of historic land use in the Mediterranean has been debated widely, summarised well in the paper by Karl W. Butzer - Environmental history in the Mediterranean world: cross-disciplinary investigation of cause-and-effect for degradation and soil erosion (doi:10.1016/j.jas.2005.06.001) – where it shows there have been studies going on since the 60’s about whether the land use over the last 8000 years has degraded the land. The consensus is that the primordial forest that one covered the Iberian Peninsula is largely gone, predominantly from human activity, although anomalous meteorological events cause devastation regardless of whether people are there or not. These are the exception though and not the norm. Land deforested and used for pasture with cattle, although it looks green and healthy with grass cover, the animals stop anything substantial growing back which can create the feedback loop here of: Human activity for sustenance and survival has depended on clearing forested land, using wood for construction and fuel, and farming the cleared land for crops and pasture of animals. This is the first step in this loop of degradation; the next step is the same weather and precipitation to hit the area is now received differently. Rain that was intercepted by the tree canopy thereby reducing its built-up kinetic energy- By allowing water to run down branches and trunks to the base of the tree or drip from the leaves gradually in the trees drip zone. The Rainfall now hits the ground with its terminal velocity gained falling from the clouds, before impacting the soil and rocks, which in turn take more kinetic energy causing splash erosion & surface crusting (see this article - Soil Crusting) it doesn’t have the same time to soak into the ground so runs downhill faster than before. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/52e13a52-029a-403a-ad47-20dd31a84f72/Land+atmoshphere+connection+diagram+for+semi+arid.png Viva Almanzora Blog - 6. What are the dominant feedback loops driving hydrological degradation in semi-arid landscapes? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/6827458a-bcf6-45ea-be89-7a9492a046b2/Almanzora+soil+erosion.png Viva Almanzora Blog - 6. What are the dominant feedback loops driving hydrological degradation in semi-arid landscapes? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.vivaalmanzora-ecologicalrestoration.live/blog-2-1/why-does-episodic-rainfall-lead-to-both-flooding-and-drought-in-degraded-catchments-such-the-almanzora-river monthly 0.5 2026-03-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/ffd9a9f9-484d-46a1-9b8f-f97468656920/Precipitation_rate_map_over_Spain_pillars+gota+fria.webp Viva Almanzora Blog - 5. Why does episodic rainfall lead to both flooding and drought in degraded catchments such the Almanzora river? - Evidence shows that the geomorphology exposed as it has been influenced by the heavy bouts of episodic rainfall which are so well known and characterise the area, have a popular name - Gota Fria, but more often in technical writing it’s known as DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos). The phenomenon is infamous for the flashy nature which at first is a much welcomed drink for the parched plant life but then can become dangerous by its sudden nature, unleashing heavy floods as the large amounts of water hit desiccated, hydrophobic land with little to no soil on much of the elevated watersheds such as the barren looking hills that bracket the valleys. Alarmingly the occurrence is becoming more intense year on year as discussed in this recent paper: Human-induced climate change amplification on storm dynamics in Valencia’s 2024 catastrophic flash flood. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/01fde071-e9f6-483b-ae70-91c9d267e681/WhatsApp+Image+2025-12-02+at+13.04.30+%282%29.jpg Viva Almanzora Blog - 5. Why does episodic rainfall lead to both flooding and drought in degraded catchments such the Almanzora river? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/475219c5-e8f9-4156-9290-977ae4da8888/ChatGPT+Image+Mar+10%2C+2026%2C+11_22_08+AM.png Viva Almanzora Blog - 5. Why does episodic rainfall lead to both flooding and drought in degraded catchments such the Almanzora river? - Make it stand out An illustration inspired by Rainwater Harvesting for drylands and beyond, Authored by Brad Lancaster - depicting what i am proposing to do as an intervention measure where possible, reducing flash flood volumes and holding and sinking water longer, allowing the landscape to act as a slow-release sponge. https://www.vivaalmanzora-ecologicalrestoration.live/blog-2-1/to-what-extent-is-water-scarcity-in-almeria-a-problem-of-timing-rather-than-volume monthly 0.5 2026-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/7625997d-c31f-4f6c-96c1-84ad233839eb/output+%281%29.png Viva Almanzora Blog - 4. To what extent is water scarcity in Almeria a problem of timing rather than volume? - Make it stand out A hydrograph showing the river flow rates of a storm in a rambla river basin vs a perennial river https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/5ddf03ba-cabd-4564-8bb1-71e4a8cdadc4/output+%282%29.png Viva Almanzora Blog - 4. To what extent is water scarcity in Almeria a problem of timing rather than volume? - Make it stand out An example of a Hyetograph of the same river showing a flash flood event caused by a storm https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/75d423be-7294-46ad-a47c-ca54c84f201a/snip+of+water+course+down+to+rambla.png Viva Almanzora Blog - 4. To what extent is water scarcity in Almeria a problem of timing rather than volume? - Make it stand out A google maps view of an area taken in may so following the rainy season, showing the potential for vegetation to take hold, prior to the summer. Notice the clear path from the hills down to the rambla itself which is a channel for the heavy stormwater flashes. https://www.vivaalmanzora-ecologicalrestoration.live/blog-2-1/how-does-subsurface-hydrology-influence-surface-water-availability-in-semi-arid-mediterranean-catchments monthly 0.5 2026-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/b6ec4ecf-0240-4f93-a5cd-c9c8b01d4e52/m.2.5+Spanish+drinking+water+levels+of+minerals.png Viva Almanzora Blog - 3. How does subsurface hydrology influence surface water availability in semi-arid Mediterranean catchments? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/51254317-cf55-4f94-9ee1-86968e6b73e9/snip+of+rambla+be+laconception.png Viva Almanzora Blog - 3. How does subsurface hydrology influence surface water availability in semi-arid Mediterranean catchments? - Make it stand out Google streetview Image from the POV of La concepcion on the south side of the Rambla https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/115ccb56-daea-43aa-9f33-a4b7d418c352/KARST+MAR.png Viva Almanzora Blog - 3. How does subsurface hydrology influence surface water availability in semi-arid Mediterranean catchments? - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/705bd9ae-328f-4bed-ab4a-d50a7e284534/nappe+tectonic+-+en+espanol.png Viva Almanzora Blog - 3. How does subsurface hydrology influence surface water availability in semi-arid Mediterranean catchments? Also, in this area There are fault lines created during the nappe tectonics process which made the very hills and mountains that nurture the climate, creating our environment, and they are another key contributor to recharging that deeper aquifer underneath the shallow one capable of holding water deposited there over thousands of years. These formations of rocks look like horizontally laid slabs jutting out of the surface at an odd angle providing more routes down below the surface. These subterranean faults and cracks in the crust of the earth enable the water to move not just down vertically, but also laterally to areas you wouldn’t assume by looking at them to have any source of natural water. Once sufficiently charged with groundwater, it’s in these hidden areas that springs can emerge and small streams which then feed into surface rivers can also supply some of that stored water back out on the surface. the water had time to slowly flow through the ground unseen and more importantly un-evaporated, by rising through the ground again it can present itself as clearer almost drinkable water, perfect for tapping a spring or being used in shallow wells. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/b015851e-4962-42fd-83b8-99c8ccba44c6/unnamed.jpg Viva Almanzora Blog - 3. How does subsurface hydrology influence surface water availability in semi-arid Mediterranean catchments? - Just an idea of what could be there The cycle isn’t performing as it could do at the moment because the missing link in the chain is the water being held in a suitable place for long enough to infiltrate deeper. By amending this part of the process and keeping the water there as long as possible, the groundwater levels could recharge. https://www.vivaalmanzora-ecologicalrestoration.live/blog-2-1/blog-post-title-one-x754c monthly 0.5 2026-03-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/e95f2592-ef17-4570-b1a1-b173058f81e0/Post+Rain+Debris+Rambla+2025-12-15+at+07.34.47.jpeg Viva Almanzora Blog - 1. What’s Really Happening to the Almanzora Valley? - Every year, the river in the centre of the ramblas runs for days at a time following a heavy downpour, although it’s a relief to see running water once the initial surge has gone, they can and do cause some damage. By carrying heavy debris which has a destructive effect. Roads can be damaged, drainage blocked and salts and contaminants are all washed over flooded land into the watercourse as well. https://www.vivaalmanzora-ecologicalrestoration.live/blog-2-1/historic-land-use-impacts monthly 0.5 2026-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/30a2b5f8-146e-434f-9872-12a8bfc877ce/BP.2.+Pic+1+timeline+illustration.png Viva Almanzora Blog - 2. Historical land use - How it shaped the hydrological function of South-eastern Spain & the Almanzora Valley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/debde398-20c6-4903-9a02-db3ed45a8820/pre+celtic+iberian+map+of+AOI.png Viva Almanzora Blog - 2. Historical land use - How it shaped the hydrological function of South-eastern Spain & the Almanzora Valley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/2676def4-9887-4a3e-98df-ca6ec307b424/BP2.3+-+Islamic+Al-andalus+hydrological+infrastructure.png Viva Almanzora Blog - 2. Historical land use - How it shaped the hydrological function of South-eastern Spain & the Almanzora Valley - Make it stand out Illustrations of what the Hydrological earthworks could have looked like. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68ed0ace7f155906eb734c20/3c851d2d-6dfc-4c9a-ba4e-8353c95a8d7c/BP2.4-modern+era+hydro+infrastructure.jpg Viva Almanzora Blog - 2. 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