The current landscape of the Baix Ter is the result of a network of miller and irrigation canals dating back to the Middle Ages. The water flowing through these channels acquires a new value in use which is economic, ecological and social at the same time. However, the recent carrying out of the piping and underground works of traditional irrigation from 2008, with the aim of improving efficiency in water use, has triggered an interesting social debate about what we want and what we can conserve of these traditional irrigation landscapes and, in the event that an agreement is reached, how we manage it and who will do it. The proposed paper tries to analyze the dynamics and challenges of present and of future which it must face the irrigation in the area. In this regard we will pay a particular attention to the multifunctional role that traditional canals can carry out, either from the point of view of production, environment, heritage, tourism, quality of life, etc. The attention will be fixed in how it has evolved the management of the canals across the time too. Complementary will be described some influences that can exercise in the matter on that subject new tools of sectorial policies and legislation as water or landscape.
