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| Yagüe Reservoir | |
|---|---|
| Name | Yagüe Reservoir |
| Location | Priego de Córdoba, Province of Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain |
| Coordinates | 37°27′N 4°8′W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Inflow | Guadalmellato River |
| Outflow | Guadalmellato River |
| Catchment | 583 km² |
| Basin countries | Spain |
| Area | 1.2 km² |
| Volume | 12 hm³ |
| Dam length | 250 m |
| Dam height | 28 m |
| Construction began | 1971 |
| Opening | 1976 |
| Operator | Agencia Andaluza del Agua |
Yagüe Reservoir is an artificial impoundment located near Priego de Córdoba in the Province of Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain. The reservoir collects waters from the Guadalmellato River and serves irrigation, water supply, flood control, and recreational functions for municipalities in the Subbética region. It lies within a landscape influenced by the Sierra Subbética and forms part of Andalusia's network of reservoirs and hydraulic works developed in the 20th century.
The reservoir sits in the comarca of Subbética (comarca), close to the municipality of Priego de Córdoba and within the administrative limits of the Province of Córdoba. It is positioned in southern Andalusia between the Sierra Subbética Natural Park and the Valle del Guadiato, with nearby settlements including Carcabuey, Almedinilla, Rute, and Cabra. Regional transport links include the A-318 road and provincial roads connecting to the Autovía A-45. The reservoir influences microclimates near the Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park and borders agricultural landscapes characterized by olive groves and vineyards centered around towns like Lucena and Baena.
Plans for the reservoir were developed during the late Francoist period in Spain alongside broader hydraulic projects such as the Plan Badajoz and initiatives by the Confederación Hidrográfica del Guadalquivir. Construction began in the early 1970s, with engineering oversight by Spanish firms and provincial authorities, and the dam was completed in the mid-1970s, contemporaneous with works like the Iznájar Reservoir and San Clemente Reservoir. The project involved coordination with the Junta de Andalucía and agencies such as the Agencia Andaluza del Agua. Historical drivers included modernization policies under Francisco Franco's government and later regional water planning during the democratic period under leaders like Felipe González and regional presidents of Andalusia including Rafael Escuredo.
Yagüe Reservoir is fed primarily by the Guadalmellato River, a tributary within the Guadalquivir Basin, part of the larger hydrological system that includes rivers like the Genil River and Guadalquivir River. Seasonal variability reflects Mediterranean precipitation patterns associated with influences from the Atlantic Ocean and the Betic System. The reservoir's storage is managed to balance evapotranspiration in surrounding olive orchards and demand from municipalities such as Priego de Córdoba and Rute. Water quality parameters are affected by agricultural runoff from fields near Baena and point sources from small towns, interacting with freshwater species common to Andalusian reservoirs and streams like those in the Guadalquivir catchment.
The reservoir supports multiple uses including municipal water supply for Priego de Córdoba, irrigation of irrigated areas near Luque and Iznájar, and seasonal regulation for flood mitigation downstream toward the Guadalquivir River. It complements larger regional infrastructures such as the Negratín Reservoir and the Fuente de Piedra Lagoon water management strategies. Local agricultural producers, cooperatives in Baena and Lucena, and municipal councils coordinate allocations through institutions like the Confederación Hidrográfica del Guadalquivir and the Junta de Andalucía water agencies.
The impoundment altered fluvial habitats of the Guadalmellato River and affected riparian corridors historically used by species also present in the Sierra Subbética Natural Park and the Doñana National Park. Aquatic and semi-aquatic species such as endemic Iberian fish found elsewhere in the Guadalquivir basin, amphibians documented in regional studies, and bird communities using Andalusian wetlands interact with the reservoir’s habitats. Environmental monitoring involves agencies like the Junta de Andalucía and conservation organizations active in Andalusia and the European Union's Natura 2000 network, with considerations linked to directives from the European Commission on water frameworks and habitats.
The reservoir provides recreation opportunities for nearby residents and visitors from cities such as Córdoba, Granada, Málaga, and Seville. Activities include angling, birdwatching, and hiking with viewpoints toward the Sierra Subbética. Regional tourist circuits linking Priego de Córdoba with the Karst en Yesos de Sorbas Natural Area and the Caminito del Rey incorporate visits to reservoirs and natural landmarks. Local festivals in Priego de Córdoba and gastronomic routes featuring products from Lucena and Baena draw visitors who also use the reservoir’s picnic and leisure areas.
Operation of the dam and reservoir is overseen by the Agencia Andaluza del Agua in coordination with the Confederación Hidrográfica del Guadalquivir and municipal authorities of Priego de Córdoba and surrounding towns. Infrastructure includes the concrete gravity dam, spillways, outlet works, and access roads linked to provincial networks such as the A-315 road. Maintenance and emergency planning involve regional civil protection bodies including Protección Civil (Spain) and coordination with regional ministries of the Junta de Andalucía. Future planning references regional water plans and EU directives that guide adaptation measures for droughts and flood resilience across Andalusian reservoirs.
Category:Reservoirs in Andalusia Category:Buildings and structures in the Province of Córdoba (Spain)