Canal del Henares irrigation community celebrates centenary

The Comunidad de Regantes del Canal del Henares will celebrate its centenary on September 23 at the Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA) in Marchamalo. Under the theme ‘Un siglo transformando el agua en futuro’, the event commemorates a century of collective water management and the historical impact of one of Guadalajara's most significant hydraulic infrastructures.

The canal spans approximately 40 kilometers and distributes water across three irrigation sectors. Notably, the system utilizes the dam's natural elevation to transport water without requiring energy consumption. The community currently manages roughly 6,500 hectares of irrigable land across municipalities in Guadalajara and parts of the Community of Madrid, serving approximately 1,500 members.

President Ángel Estremera highlighted the organization's transformative mission, which traces back to an original project promoted by the Count of Aranda to irrigate the Vega del Henares. Looking forward, the community aims to focus on infrastructure conservation, irrigation efficiency, and adapting agricultural practices to increasingly scarce water resources. As part of the anniversary, an initiative has been launched to recover historical and contemporary photographs related to the canal and its environment.