Background In rural areas, agricultural practices have often led to the contamination of water resources. This has typically come from the high nitrate and phosphate contents of agricultural products and water run offs. The Monegros area in the Ebro river basin has been suffering from increasing degradation of water quality in most of its rivers, mainly caused by the intensification of agriculture. This has caused decreases in biodiversity and the quality of the natural ecosystem. One way of tackling this problem is to reduce the quantity of nitrates applied to the field. Another option is to remove these nutrients using natural systems, such as wetland management. Various studies and projects have proved that the creation of wetlands on agricultural land can lead to effective reduction in nutrient content. However, there is still a need to demonstrate their effectiveness at river-basin level at controlling the exportation of nutrients. There is also a need to successfully couple wetland creation with complementary measures such as river bank restoration and increasing biodiversity. Objectives This project aims to introduce ‘natural’ ecosystem structures of wetlands and riverbank forests to reduce inorganic nutrients - nitrates and phosphates - and salts from agricultural runoff in the entire Monegros area. It will seek to work with local farmers in the management of the wetlands constructed. Each wetland should have a local institution in charge of its maintenance and management. The project should achieve a general improvement in water quality of the River Flumen. It targets a reduction of the nitrate concentration below the threshold established by the Water Framework Directive (50 mg/l) and a reduction in phosphate concentrations. The measures introduced aim to improve biodiversity in the targeted areas that have been degraded by intensive agricultural use. Specifically the project targets the establishment of permanent populations of birds, amphibians and invertebrates in the wetlands and improved aquatic biodiversity. Expected results: Creation of wetlands and riverbank forests; Reduction of nitrates below the WFD threshold in the River Flumen; Reduction of phosphates in the river basin; Enhancement of local biodiversity; and Integration of the project measures in the new river basin management plans stipulated by the WFD.