unnoticeable, leading to the recovery of fauna and flora including increased otter population in parts of the river they had once abandoned. Birds now rest at two recovered wetland areas recognised by the Ramsar Convention, during their migration between Europe and Africa. In addition, around 110 million m of reclaimed water is reused annually for agriculture in the region. With the river coming back to life, by 2013, otters and eels –both species particularly sensitive to water pollutants– had repopulated large tracts of the river where they had been absent for decades. As of 2015 the Segura River Project is a finalist for the 2016 European Riverprize Awards, organized by the International River Foundation. This recognizes the fact that the Segura went from being one of the most polluted major rivers in Europe to being the Spanish river with the lowest average pollution (considering the average of all tracts of the river) in the span of just one decade. Average discharge Floods The Segura is usually in a state of semi-permanent drought, however, now and then, it does occasionally flood as the consequence of the torrential rains (cold drop), which typically take place once every 6–9 years approximately, always in Autumn and Spring. The Guadalentín river, a tributary of the Segura, is the wildest European river. In the twentieth century significant flooding occurred in 1946, 1948, 1973, 1982, 1987 and 1989. Since 1990 the lower reaches of the river have been canalized, removing meanders and hence improving the evacuation of flood waters. The new canal was put to the test in September 1997, in October 2000, in December 2016 and September 2019, when heavy rainfall resulted in significant runoff. Segura floods in Murcia and Orihuela Flora and Fauna The predominant flora in the river Segurar is the riverine forest, abundant in Murcia, made up of trees and shrubs such as willows, reed beds, cumbungis and reeds near the river. A little further from the riverbed are the wild rose bushes and elm trees. And finally, in the middle strip, there are brambles, white poplars, other poplars and tarays. Regarding its fauna, there are otters, eels, barbel and trout; as for the birds, the eagles, the owls, the kingfisher, the nightingale, the white-throated dipper and the wagtail; bats and galapagos. See also List of rivers of Spain Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park Arroyo (creek) Basin Drowning Flash