The Canary Islands government has updated its Special Plan for Civil Protection and Emergency Response to Flood Risks (PEINCA) to better assess risks linked to new water management plans. This change is aimed at addressing the increasing number of hydraulic projects in the region.
The updated PEINCA, which was originally approved in 2018, revises its Annex III related to risk assessment. It now incorporates changes from the second cycle of Flood Risk Management Plans (PGRI) created by the individual water councils of each island. This includes modifications to the list of areas at significant risk of flooding, which now removes coastal areas like Puerto Tahiche and Playa de Melenara, while expanding the riverine risk zone for the San Sebastián Barranco in La Gomera.
Manuel Miranda, the Territorial Policy, Territorial Cohesion and Water Councillor, highlighted that the update allows for a more current evaluation of risks, improving emergency prevention and response capabilities.
To support irrigation infrastructure, the government will also implement a temporary employment programme to hire specialists with qualifications in Agricultural Engineering or Civil Engineering, investing €556,939.80 over three years, from October 2026 to September 2029. This comes as investments in irrigation projects have surged by 46% since 2024, amidst a challenging hydrological situation marked by prolonged drought and decreased rainfall, as well as increased heatwave occurrences related to climate change.
The rise in irrigation projects has created a technical burden on the Directorate General of Agriculture, particularly its Planning and Rural Management Services. The government believes the current technical resources are inadequate to manage the coordination and execution of these investments planned for this year and 2027.
Through these initiatives, the government aims to enhance civil protection planning for flood risks and improve technical capacity for hydraulic and irrigation investments, given the rising pressure on water resources.
