Laguna de Ruíz Sánchez (lake)

Currently, this lake does not fall under any of the categories of protected areas existing in current legislation. However, it is a restored landscape, which formed part of the complex of lakes and wetlands that are currently named endorheic complex of La Lantejuela.

Situated in the southern part of the municipal area of Ecija, it has been used for agriculture for the last forty years. Once the area was drained, by channelling the streams, a drainage network was installed to prevent the natural accumulation of water on the farm, as had happened for thousands of years with the land in its natural state.

Before it was dried out, this lake was the largest of those that made up the endorheic complex. The current surface of the water covers approximately 358 hectares, less than the original, given that the uses made of the land after its drainage have altered the conditions of the land, as well as the dormant seed and egg banks, with a change in edaphic profiles, the introduction of water release and drainage systems, and the incorporation of intensive farming in areas that were not included in the restoration project, but which once belonged to the Ruiz Sánchez lake.

Indeed, the community of birds that inhabited the lake did not include a particularly wide variety of species, the importance of the area as a resting place for cranes on their migratory journey and some other species of lesser importance, make this an important spot.

In 2007, the Andalusian Regional Government’s Environmental Department purchased the estate, with the primary goal of restoring the area to its early and authentic condition, and returning an Endorheic Lake to this area, starting with the restoration works of this space in 2009. Therefore, we are talking about an area in the process of recovery. The provision of the infrastructure and services required to turn it into a wetland that can be visited is still to be done.