The Guadiana expropriates land for the emergency plans of five dams

The Guadiana Hydrographic Confederation (CHG) has opened the public information process regarding the assets and rights affected by the expropriations necessary to implement the emergency plans for five dams, two of which are in the province of Badajoz. The announcement is published in the Official Gazette of the Province of Badajoz No. 193, dated October 8, 2026, under reference Announcement 3958/2026, within the State Administration section.

Five Category A dams and their files

The file affects the Cancho del Fresno, Ruecas, Cubilar, Gargáligas, and Sierra Brava dams, all classified as Category A due to the potential risk derived from their failure or incorrect operation, which necessitates the approval and implementation of their Dam Emergency Plans (PEP).

• Cancho del Fresno (Cáceres), file 04.118.027/2111: base tender budget of 656,585.19 euros and estimated expropriation cost of 1,944.60 euros.
• Ruecas (Cáceres and Badajoz), file 04.118.028/2111: 413,286.12 euros budget and 1,403.93 euros for expropriations.
• Cubilar (Cáceres), file 04.199.058/2111: 329,301.55 euros and 1,128.01 euros.
• Gargáligas (Cáceres and Badajoz), file 04.199.059/2111: 300,022.89 euros and 1,764.97 euros.
• Sierra Brava (Cáceres and Badajoz), file 04.199.060/2111: 757,854.22 euros and 2,983.99 euros.

The PEPs for Cancho del Fresno, Ruecas, Cubilar, and Sierra Brava were drafted in December 2003. That of Cancho del Fresno was approved in July 2005, Gargáligas in January 2008, and those of Ruecas, Cubilar, and Sierra Brava in March 2008.

Legal framework and file authorization

On August 18, 2026, the CHG requested authorization from the Directorate General for Water of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge to initiate the public information file. The Director General for Water resolved to authorize it on September 14 and 17, 2026.

The process is supported by Article 83 of Law 39/2015, of October 1, Article 18 of the Compulsory Expropriation Law of December 16, 1954, and Article 6 of Royal Decree 503/2024, of May 21. The implementation of the plans is listed in Annex 11 of the Guadiana Hydrological Plan, approved by Royal Decree 35/2023, of January 24, and the applicable technical requirements derive from Royal Decree 264/2021, of April 13.

Affected parties in Badajoz and deadline for allegations

In the province of Badajoz, the affected areas are distributed among the municipalities of Puebla de Alcocer, Logrosán, and Navalvillar de Pela (Gargáligas) and those of Zorita, Madrigalejo, Alcollarín, Navalvillar de Pela, and Campo Lugar (Sierra Brava). Among the owners are:

• Pachón Reyes, José, for rain-fed olive groves in Logrosán.
• Mendoza de la Peña, Francisca, for irrigated farming in Navalvillar de Pela.
• Casas de Hitos, SL, for super-intensive olive groves in Madrigalejo and Navalvillar de Pela.
• Núñez Fonseca, María Isabel and Jiménez Rodríguez, Juan Manuel, in Campo Lugar.
• Madrigalejo City Council, ADIF, Canal de las Dehesas Irrigation Community, and the Guadiana Hydrographic Confederation itself.

Persons and institutions who consider themselves affected may file written claims with the Technical Director of the CHG, in Badajoz, at Sinforiano Madroñero Avenue, 12, within twenty business days from the publication of the summary note in the Official Gazette of the Province of Cáceres. The project is available for consultation at the Confederation’s offices and for download via the links published in the announcement.

The announcement is signed by the Minister for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, by delegation (Order TED/544/2026, of May 28), the president of the CHG, Samuel Moraleda Ludeña.

The publication opens the period during which owners of rural estates may lodge objections against the list of assets and rights, a preliminary step to the occupation of the land. For the owners of plots in the areas of Gargáligas and Sierra Brava, the announcement details the affected area in full ownership, easement, and temporary occupation, and sets the deadline for claims.

Source: Official Gazette of the Province of Badajoz, No. 193, October 8, 2026, State Administration, pp. 1-11 (official reference: Announcement 3958/2026).