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The report argues that Spanish hydrological planning consistently fails to prioritize environmental objectives over agricultural demands, leading to widespread failure in achieving 'good status' for water bodies. It highlights a systemic reliance on irrigation modernization as a flawed adaptation strategy, the misuse of WFD exemptions to delay environmental recovery, and the critical failure to implement adequate ecological flows, particularly in the Tajo and Ebro basins. Case studies on Doñana, Mar Menor, and the Alcolea dam further illustrate the gap between legal protections and actual water management practices.

The document argues that climate change increases flood risk through more intense and frequent extreme events, necessitating a shift from purely infrastructural defenses to a coordinated approach. Using the Ebro river basin as a case study, it demonstrates how spatial hydro-economic models can identify specific drivers of risk across different municipalities and sectors. The author advocates for a combination of institutional alerts, environmental river restoration, and private-sector self-protection to manage vulnerability and exposure.