The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) has completed the installation and modernization of seven hydrometeorological stations in the Minho and Lima river basins, strengthening monitoring capacity and forecasting of extreme events in Alto Minho.

Four of these stations are new — located in Cavada (Caminha), Cerdeira (Vila Nova de Cerveira), Merufe and Segude (Monção). Three others, situated in Extremo (Arcos de Valdevez), Nogueira (Viana do Castelo) and Vila Nova de Cerveira, were upgraded with new sensors and teletransmission systems.

The equipment, installed within the framework of the European project RISC_PLUS, enables real-time data collection on precipitation, flow, temperature and water levels, contributing to more reliable predictive models and early-warning systems against floods and droughts.

With €1.6 million in funding from the Interreg Spain-Portugal programme, the project also strengthens cross-border cooperation between APA, the Minho-Sil River Basin Authority and research institutions in Galicia and Northern Portugal.