Management of the Turia River in Valencia (Spain): The Recent History of an Unfinished Metamorphosis

The management of the Turia River in Valencia (Eastern Spain) throughout the twentieth century and the early twenty-first century exemplifies the natural, social and even economic dynamics that usually affect Mediterranean urban riverbeds. However, this case has some particularities, such as the complete diversion of the river through a discharge channel and the conversion of the old riverbed into a linear urban park. This is the ultimate exponent of a profound environmental and urban metamorphosis that is still ongoing. This chapter identifies the different stakeholders involved in the governance of the Turia over the last 125 years, distinguishes the various stages of management, analyses the most evident territorial consequences of the hydrological policies and points out some aspects that are still pending in the fluvial scene.