Floating Debris in the Low Segura River Basin (Spain): Avoiding Litter through the Irrigation Network

摘要: The Vega Baja region lays on the lower course of Segura River (southeastern Spain). It is one six traditional “huerta” European landscapes and has an ancient, extensive, complex network irrigation drainage channels. accumulation floating waste causes numerous economic, environmental, landscape problems in its infrastructures, hindering farmers’ water management practices. This work classifies estimates total volume at various points along channels as a first systematic approach to define quantify problem accumulation. Aerial images taken by drone were analyzed over time manual count residues was performed selected points. results obtained show that reeds riparian vegetation represent more than 95% debris measured riverbed. Anthropogenic waste, which represents less 5% volume, characterized, finding plastics domestic sources are most abundant (14.9%) only reduced part can be attributed agricultural activities (3.8%). Assessing type origin essential inform actions required order avoid reaching Mediterranean Sea.