Methodology for watershed management and planning: a new approach based on sustainability criteria

Abstract

This article presents a watershed management methodology based on a land-use planning model whereby sustainability criteria are introduced according to the capacity of the environment to support interventions in the watershed. The model has been applied to the middle course of the Jarama river (Guadalajara, Spain), taking into account the likely construction of a storage dam for controlling the flow of the Tajo river into which the Jarama river flows. In this study a distribution of activities has been carried out according to the established goals in the management plan. The results show a greater degree of detail if compared to the ones obtained with the models traditionally applied in watershed management.