The CHE participates in the centenary gala of the hydrographic confederations held in Madrid

The Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro (CHE) has participated in the commemorative gala of the centenary of the hydrographic confederations, held on June 11 at the Royal Collections Gallery in Madrid. The event was presided over by H.M. the King and organized by the Directorate General for Water of the Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico.

The gala brought together the Third Vice-President of the Government and Minister for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Sara Aagesen; the Minister of Environment and Energy of Portugal, Maria da Graça Carvalho; and the presidents of the hydrographic confederations. The commemoration focused on a pioneering model of water management: the river basin as a natural unit for planning and cooperation.

The event began with the screening of the commemorative video “The legacy and future of the hydrographic confederations.” Following the screening, H.M. the King presented three awards: to Manuel Lorenzo Pardo, posthumously; to the Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro, collected by Carlos Arrazola; and to the Confederación Hidrográfica del Segura, collected by its president, Mario Andrés Urrea.

In his speech, the King recalled that the Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro was the first institution of its kind in the world and emphasized that the confederations have contributed during this century to consolidating a water culture based on planning, knowledge, and shared responsibility. He also noted that current challenges, from the protection of rivers, wetlands, and aquifers to adaptation to climate change, require continued strengthening of the work of these bodies and their technical staff.

Sara Aagesen championed the role of the hydrographic confederations as institutions capable of understanding the country through its water, protecting territories, and responding to present-day challenges. The Vice-President linked their ongoing relevance to public management, cooperation between administrations, user participation, and the ability to adapt to each era.

For the CHE, this recognition is part of its centenary program (1926–2026), which throughout this year is bringing the history, heritage, and current challenges of water management in the Ebro basin closer to the public through exhibitions, meetings, publications, and audiovisual content. The anniversary refers to March 5, 1926, when the Confederación Sindical Hidrográfica del Ebro was established, the predecessor of the current CHE and the first experience of the basin management model.