VODOPRIVREDNO – PROJEKTNI BIRO d.d. 10000 ZAGREB, Ulica grada Vukovara 220 E1592 Public Disclosure Authorized V 7

PREPARATION OF THE PROJECT

“INLAND WATERS” Public Disclosure Authorized

FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT OF YEAR 1

FLOOD PROTECTION PROJECTS Public Disclosure Authorized

Environmental Management Plan

Public Disclosure Authorized

Zagreb, February 2007.

VPB d.d. CROATIAN INLAND WATERS PROJECT Zagreb, Ulica grada Vukovara 220 Environmental Menagement Plan ______

CROATIAN INLAND WATERS PROJECT

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1. INTRODUCTION 2 2. THE EMP SCOPE 3 3. REGULATORY FRAMEWORK 3 4. PROJECT DESCRIPTION 4 4.1. Description of current state location 4 4.2. Description of proposed investments with considered alternatives 7 4.3. Execution technology 11 5. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT 11 6. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT MITIGATION PLAN 12 7. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND SUPERVISION 15 8. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 17

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1. INTRODUCTION Croatian Inland Water Project aims to assist the Republic of Croatia in reaching goals stipulated in Water Management Master Plan, a comprehensive strategy for meeting the sector investments and developing the institutional capacity needed to meet EU directives. The objective of the project is to improve:

- water supply services - wastewater services - flood protection measures

These improvements are expected to be carried out in the inland part of Croatia – mainly in the Sava and Drava/Danube river basins. These objectives will be reached by increasing sewerage coverage in Virovitica, Southern Baranja, Našice and Ogulin. In addition waste water treatment plants are going to be constructed in Našice and Ogulin. Water supply coverage will be improved in Northern Baranja, Davor-Nova Gradiška and Slavonska Podravina. Flood protection measures are to be implemented in Central Sava basin, Lonjsko Polje, by increasing the flood water retention volume.

The World Bank assesses each project that is being considered for financing against a number of environmental and social policies also known as safeguards policies. The Safeguard team, examining scope of the project concluded that following World Bank’s policies might apply to the proposed project: OP/BP 4.01 Environmental assessment, OP/BP 4.04 Natural Habitats, OP/BP 4.12 Involuntary resettlement, OP/BP 7.5 Projects on International Waterways. Issues related to OP/BP 4.12 Involuntary resettlement, OP/BP 7.5 Projects on International Waterways are dealt with in separate documents.

Related to OP/BP 4.01 Environmental assessment, the Croatian Inland Water Project was screened to determine appropriate extent and type of environmental assessment. The Project was categorized as FI, as it involves investment of Bank funds through a financial intermediary, in subprojects that might result in adverse environmental impacts.

This EMP focus on the Central Sava Basin flood protection which includes following investments:

- The northern dyke of Lonjsko Polje retention - The southern dyke of Lonjsko Polje retention - Overflow Palanjek - Overflow Jezero - Revetment in Desno Trebarjevo and bank repair works - Revetment in Martinska Ves Desna

Overall activities to be carried out under the Inland Waters Project will conform to current Croatian Environmental Regulations and the World Bank’s Safeguards Policies, including Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) and Natural Habitats (OP/BP4.04). World Bank policies require the preparation of an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for all projects which are financed by its loans.

3. The purpose of the environmental screening is to ensure that the procedures for social and environmental management during the implementation of the Inland waters project are adequate. The present evaluation focus on the flood protection in the Sava basin, with emphasis on the capital investments. In this case, as well as in the other projects that are financed by the World

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Bank, it is necessary to prepare the environmental protection evaluation in order to ensure that the construction or the rehabilitation of infrastructure is done in a way that minimizes or mitigates adverse environmental and social impacts.

The proposed infrastructure projects are: the northern levee of the Lonjsko Polje retention, the southern levee of the Lonjsko Polje retention, overflow Palanjek, overflow Jezero, revetment in Desno Trebarjevo and bank repair works, revetment in Desna Martinska Ves. These works are fairly simple and with limited environmental and social impacts. They can be classified as category B sub-projects requiring the preparation of an environmental management plan.

The proposed intervention would have a relatively minor environmental impact during the short period of implementation (construction) and a negligible impact during their utilization. The areas where the proposed works will be implemented are already developed and under some form of use. The implementation of the works would not negatively affect the current baseline situation and it would actually provide for some positive impacts with respect to the possibility of maintenance of higher water levels in the wetlands during dry years when precipitation is below the average. In terms of additional storage volume the cumulative impact of the six proposed interventions is incremental as they would raise the storage volume from a current level of about 600 million m3 to approximately 720 million m3 or about 20%.

2. THE EMP SCOPE

The scope of the EMP is defined by Annex C of OP 4.01 - Environmental Management Plan (EMP), which is also presented in Annex 4 of Environmental Framework for Croatian Inland Waters Project. In general, the EMP is the collection of measures for eliminating, avoiding or reducing unfavourable environmental and social impacts of specific interventions on the environment during construction, operation, or removal. The EMP should include the following components:

a) Responsible Institution b) Project Description: brief description of the subproject, the nature of the investment, its location, and any characteristics of the area that are of particular interest, a brief description of the socio-economic conditions in the area c) Mitigation Plan: description of the steps to be taken to identify all anticipated significant effects, to mitigate the major potential impacts on land, water, air and other media during the planning, design, construction and operation phases d) Monitoring Plan: description of the key parameters to be monitored (including monitoring locations, schedules and responsible entities) and reporting procedures e) Institutional Arrangements f) Implementation Schedule and Cost Estimates g) Consultations with affected groups and non-governmental organizations.

In addition to the scope defined by OP 4.01, Terms of reference for Consulting Services to Assess the Feasibility of Year 1 Flood Protection Investments is requesting to provide analysis of alternative technologies for the project. Since, in addition to OP/BP 4.01, OP/BP 4.04 Natural Habitats was triggered, this EMP will pay special attention to natural habitat conservation and measures for protecting such areas, especially for the reason that works will affect one of the listed Ramsar sites, i.e. Lonjsko Polje.

3. REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

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Flood protection in the Republic of Croatia has been regulated under the Water Act (Official Gazette, No. 107/95, 150/05) as a substantial part of the water management system. Health hazard protection is regulated under the Water Management Financing Act (Official Gazette, No. 107/95, 150/05). Besides these two Acts individual water management regulations are also to be found within other Acts, particularly in the ones that regulate nature protection, regional planning, agriculture, traffic and urban development.

Other applicable policies are: - National Water Protection Plan - State Flood Protection Plan - The Regulation on the Classification of Waters - Environmental Protection Act - Nature Protection Act - Act of Establishing Nature Park Lonjsko Polje - Agricultural Estate Act - Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the assessment and management of floods, COM(2006)15 final of 18.1.2006

Water Management Plan is passed by the Croatian Government every six years. Executive state- level planned document is the Water Management Plan according to which the financial support is obtained; the affairs, and precautionary action expenses are compensated.

Baseline data used for preparation of EMP for flood protection component, in addition to next to World Bank policies are the following:

- Study the regulation and management of the Sava River, UNDO, 1972. - Analysis of the floodwater regime of the Sava River, The Sava Authority, Zagreb, 1975 - Identification of the achieved safety levels in the Middle Sava Basin and analysis of priority works (available in Croatian), OVP Zagreb, Zagreb, 1983 - Environmental impact assessment of the Sava River flood control project, World Bank & Croatian Water, Zagreb, 2001 - Water Management Master Plan of Croatia, Part I – Water Management Strategy (draft document, available in Croatian), Croatian Water, Zagreb, 2003 - Environmental Framework, Croatian Water, Zagreb, 2006 - Feasibility study, Croatian Water, Zagreb, 2006 - Other numerous projects, studies and analyses

Due to its geographical position and the geomorphologic features as a riparian state of important international rivers, Croatia is inclined to cooperate in water resources management with its neighbouring countries. The overall international cooperation is regulated by the International Lake and Watercourses Protection and Utilization Convention (Helsinki, 1992). International cooperation at the Monte Negron estuary is regulated by the Co operational Danube River Protection and Utilization Convention (Sofia, 1994), Ramsar Convention, (Iran 1971), and the and the International Commission for Protection of Danube River (ICPDR) is to carry out the orders of the Danube Convention the headquarters of which are in Vienna.

4. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

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4.1. Description of current state location The area of the Middle Sava Basin is located at very heart of continental Croatia, along the Sava River, with the accompanying lowland area. This is the region where many small settlements have developed, where important traffic corridors have been built, and substantial agricultural surfaces established. For the most part, however, this area has retained its original, natural characteristics even today. This is also depopulated rural area where natural environment is used in traditional ways for survival. Part of the area is protected in accordance with laws and conventions on nature protection (Nature Park and a Ramsar site of Lonjsko Polje). The Middle Sava Basin has always been prone to flooding. In the natural conditions, about 205,000 ha were flooded annually before any interventions. The solution of flood protection was based on the imitation of centuries-old natural flood processes in the Middle Sava Basin, instead of complete exclusion of floodplains whose lowest parts are naturally suitable for flood retention due to their geomorphologic characteristics.

By proclaiming the area a Nature Park, the Republic of Croatia expressed its interest in the preservation of this unique community, with possesses natural and cultural values developed over centuries by local population’s traditional lifestyle. Biological features are characterized by typical wetland flora and fauna, rich in bird species. So far, 744 plant species have been described, including aquatic plant communities of international importance, and 250 bird species, a great number of which is protected by international conventions.

The proposed project will not negatively affect the Nature Park as it will simply provide for a relatively small increase in retention volumes (about 20%) for longer time periods during years of higher than normal precipitation (20-yrs return period). The proposed retention volumes and duration are compatible with historical patterns prior to the implementation of infrastructure systems in the basin. During drier than average years, the system will actually bring about positive impacts as it will allow for the retention of necessary water volumes for habitat conservation.

There are considerations that some local communities in impoverished and depopulated areas of the Middle Sava Basin may find their development opportunity in the traditional agriculture and its combination with alternative sources of income, offered by preserved environment. There are great potentials for the development of the new form of tourism based on preserved traditional architecture and lifestyle, and beautiful forest landscapes criss-crossed by pastures and open wetlands, exceptionally rich with birds and other fauna, as a rare remains of the past and the natural state. Other uses for natural floodplains are noted as well, such as grazing, fishing, sustainable forest cutting and the production of biomass. Special water management significance is reflected in the wetland areas’ great natural capacity for water purification via nutrient removal, and replenishment of groundwater via seepage of floodwater from spacious retention areas. It is important to stress that woodland and pastures will be directly lost only on a part of the alignment of the north and south dikes – these are minor areas compared to the remaining area, and for the purpose of the project, the location permits have been issued and land acquired. Furthermore, the alignment of the planned structures has been agreed with the representatives of Hrvatske vode and the management of the Nature Park. Increased level of flood waters in the retention area can have influence on forests and pastures; however, this influence cannot be safely proved in advance, since measurements of these kinds of impacts are missing. Actually, it can even be assumed that existing forests, already adapted on regular flooding, will not react in a negative way on changes. Besides, maximal increased level will occur really, i.e. every 25, 100 years, while regular changes in water table/level are much smaller and even insignificant. Significant water level changes, related to current situation,

______2.2007. 5 / 23 VPB d.d. CROATIAN INLAND WATERS PROJECT Zagreb, Ulica grada Vukovara 220 Environmental Menagement Plan ______are therefore, a rarity and exceptional phenomena, and duration of these higher waters, lasting usually several days, are not considered of such intensity to have negative impact on forests. Since current forests in the retention area are under constant supervision of forest experts, early warning will be issued for the public and appropriate actions taken.

With regard to the proposed structures, the water regime of the Sava River and Lonjsko Polje is of interest from hydrological standpoint. Hydrological measurement on the Sava River has a long tradition of more than 150 years, and the network of stations is satisfactory. On the area of the planned structures the Sava River has a catchments area of 12,500 km2, average flow of 285 m3/s, minimum flow of 52 m3/s, and recorded maximum of 2,291 m3/s. The Sava river basin is characterized by large water resources, but also by huge fluctuation of flow in time. That characteristic of the water regime causes many problems in water management, ecology, and physical planning. The fall of the Sava is 0.0375 m/1km. Average rainfall is 1,200 mm.

Table 1 Characteristic flows of the Sava River on the analyzed stretch (m3/s) Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Average 284 262 325 374 295 267 198 160 198 315 395 343 285 Minimums 73.8 67.2 77.2 83.4 77.2 62 57.8 52.2 58.1 69 67.9 69 52.2 Maximums 1,760 1,478 1,508 1,662 1,226 1,265 1,382 1,155 1,071 1,968 2,291 1,845 2,291

A network of hydrological stations has been established on the area of Lonjsko Polje as well. However, it is of recent date, and measuring (only of water level because it is a flood storage) is carried out in the event of high waters. The water regime is highly complex because the flood storage is filled from several directions: primarily from the natural watercourses gravitating towards it, from the Sava waters discharged over Prevlaka sluice, and downstream, also from the Sava waters discharged over Trebe 1 sluice. The 2004 water level graph of Lonjsko Polje serves as an illustration.

2004.g. 97

96

95

FP 94 Ã DM VW 93 GR YR 92 91

90

89 mj eseci Picture 1. Water level graphs of Lonjsko Polje flood storage

Measurement of groundwater in the Sava riparian zone takes place mostly along significant water intake areas and along water management structures. Measurements on other areas, such as flood storage areas, are insufficient and sporadic, on the basis of which rough conclusions can be drawn. Generally speaking, the Sava riparian zone upstream of Sisak, which has thick alluvial gravel deposits, is strongly correlated with the Sava water level; this connection weakens as the distance from the river grows. The underground of Lonjsko Polje does not react strongly to the changes of the Sava water level due to a completely different composition of soil.

Soils within Lonjsko Polje flood storage are mostly heavy and impermeable, and are therefore not used for agriculture, but they serve as pastures for feeding the cattle. The local population uses the land along the flood storage for agriculture, which is a primary activity on this area. The

______2.2007. 6 / 23 VPB d.d. CROATIAN INLAND WATERS PROJECT Zagreb, Ulica grada Vukovara 220 Environmental Menagement Plan ______vegetation of the area is specific; it is made of ca. 61% of forests, 20% of meadows, 9% of arable land, and 10% of hedge.

Cultural heritage on the Lonjsko Polje area consists of villages, nature, and the people’s cultural identity. Along with obvious architectural heritage, non-material cultural heritage is manifested through various forms of creative activities such as traditional music, dance, popular customs, and traditional art and crafts.

Water quality of the Sava River is measured on the point where it enters the Republic of Croatia from the Republic of Slovenia, and on several other stations. There are large point sources of pollution upstream of the Lonjsko Polje area on the Sava riverbanks – the city of Zagreb (800,000 inhabitants) and the town of Sisak (60,000 inhabitants) with strong industry, and Petrokemija (Fertilizer company) Kutina on the verge of Lonjsko Polje. The construction of the Zagreb wastewater treatment plant is near completion, while the pollution load in Petrokemija Kutina has decreased in recent years due to improved technological processes. Large industrial complexes on the Sisak area have built their own plants for full treatment (Sisak oil refinery) or for pre-treatment of technological wastewater (Sisak thermal power plant, iron and steel works).

The Lonjsko Polje Nature Park belongs to very sensitive areas. Additional protection measures are therefore undertaken on the part of the basin gravitating towards that large natural flood storage, particularly in the basin of the Lonja River, which pours over the nature park during high water levels. A primary wastewater treatment plant has been constructed for the settlement of Ivani Grad lying on the Lonja River, and secondary treatment is planned. The town of Kutina possesses a primary wastewater treatment plant. The town of Bjelovar, the largest point source pollution on the esma River, the largest tributary of the Lonja River, has a secondary wastewater treatment plant. There are plans to extend the sewerage network and construct a treatment plant for numerous gravitating settlements.

4.2. Description of proposed investments with considered alternatives The concept of the flood Protection of central Sava basin developed in the ’70, was based on the condition that all new procedures do not worsen the flood water regime of the downstream area which had been previously protected. The solution was based on using natural spillways along the Sava which have for centuries served for disbursing and storing surplus water. In a morphological sense these surfaces are natural depressions. These areas remain retention areas in this new solution but now have well defined contours which are obtained by the construction of protection levees. The uncontrolled discharge of large amounts of water into an unorganized water regime has been replaced with the controlled management of water volumes which are conveyed through hydraulic systems from the Sava to retention areas where they are stored until conditions in the Sava permit their drainage. This solution was presented in a comprehensive 1972 study, and has undergone changes and refinements over the years. The new approach, still based on original concept developed in the 70s, includes some important differences. The new plan has the same purpose, to store flood waters in natural inundation areas fulfilling international criteria for the management of catchment’s areas. However, the design focuses much more on minimizing the implementation of large infrastructure systems and preventing loss, or in many cases improving, alluvial habitats in the area.

Along with the main goal – flood protection, the adopted solution foresees the regulation of agricultural surfaces, the use of water current for energy, partial navigability, irrigation from accumulation as well as ensuring minimal current for sustaining life in the rivers. This is why we can say that the flood protection project for Central Posavlje has all the attributes of a complex water management solution.

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The entire solution is a combination of large retention areas used for storing surplus water which the Sava cannot discharge within its normal streambed as well as the implementation of classical hydraulic works where necessary: regulation of watercourses, constructing levees, land canals. All the proposed facilities are a part of the flood protection system in Central Posavlje with the purpose of reaching a higher level of flood protection. Apart from the local importance, some of them exert a positive impact on the broader downstream territory of the Sava river.

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Picture 2. The location of the priority facilities

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4.2.1. The Northern levee of the Lonjsko Polje retention outlines the retention on its northern fringe, between the water flows of the Graenica and Repušnica. The levee route is parallel to the Zagreb-Lipovac highway route at a distance of about 700m. It is necessary to reconstruct the existing dike (superelevation and extension) in the length of 2,317 m, and to construct a new dike in the length of 1,869 m. The completion of Lonjsko Polje retention is a priority task in order to continue the construction of the flood protection system in Central Posavlje because without its complete construction it is not possible to reach the foreseen levels of protection. Furthermore, along with the construction of the Palanjek distribution facility through which the retention will be filled, it is also crucial to close the retention in places where this has not be done and this should enable the retention to accept the planned water quantities. Since the highway Zagreb – Lipovac, which is one of the most important domestic roads and belongs to an international transport corridor, is in close proximity of the route of the Northern levee, the finalisation of its protection from the high flooding waters from the Lonjsko Polje retention is crucial. Moreover, the construction of the afore mentioned levee will protect the periodically flooded agricultural lands in the area north of the highway, which in present state have been flooded by the retention waters through the existing drains under the highway. Alternatives:

This structure is part of the 1972 plan, but its alignment has been slightly changed to make embankment shorter. Without constructing this structure the flood storage lacks its full function, and the highway Zagreb – Lipovac is not protected. It was not possible to come up with a different technical solution.

4.2.2. The Southern levee of the Lonjsko Polje retention represents the southern border of the retention between the distribution facilities Palanjek and the Trebe water gate. Around 6km of the levee are still to be constructed. The completion of the Lonjsko Polje retention, as already stated in the introduction, is a priority task. Along with the construction of the Palanjek distribution facility, through which the retention is to be filled, it is also necessary to close the retention in those parts where this has not been done yet and enable the retention to receive more water mass. The completion of the Southern Levee of the Lonjsko Polje retention, reinforced by the construction of the Northern Levee, should help achieve the desired effect. The area which is under the influence of high waters on the southern fringe of the retention has 1630 inhabitants. They live in 4 settlements, on the territory of about 12,000 ha which stretches between the Sava and the Southern Levee. The land in this area is for the most part agricultural. Alternatives:

This structure is part of the 1972 plan, but its alignment has been slightly changed after a detailed inspection of the area in order to minimize encroachment upon woodland area. Without constructing this structure the flood storage lacks its full function, and the settlements bordering the Lonjsko Polje flood storage are not protected. It was not possible to come up with a different technical solution.

It can be concluded that the Croatian model of protection against high waters which uses natural floodplains as regulated retention areas for receiving excess water is actually an “alternative solution”, because it was adopted as a substitute for the construction of high embankments, i.e. extension of the entire previously constructed downstream flood protection system. Since the Lonjsko Polje flood storage is almost entirely formed by dikes, the proposed structures (the north dike and a part of the south dike) represent only the completion of this clearly defined structure whose construction was initiated long ago. Hence, these two structures have no alternative.

4.2.3. The Palanjek overflow, 116 meters long, has recently emerged in the flood defence plans and it was not a part of the initial solution for the Central Posavlje system. The Palanjek overflow would be built on the left Sava River levee, just upstream from Sisak, and it would reduce

______2.2007. 10 / 23 VPB d.d. CROATIAN INLAND WATERS PROJECT Zagreb, Ulica grada Vukovara 220 Environmental Menagement Plan ______somewhat the risk of flooding in the areas downstream. The relieved Sava waters will fill the Lonjsko Polje flood storage, and this structure will have a positive effect on the downstream course of the Sava River. Alternatives: The Palanjek weir is in itself an alternative solution for the Palanjek water gate planned by the original 1972 plan, which has an enormous capacity (as high as 2290m3/s when high waters of the Sava emerge) and which would have the task of discharging waters from the Sava River into Lonjsko Polje. Because the financial resources necessary for the construction of these facilities would be tremendous, a solution with overflow has been suggested. Ecologists find this solution acceptable because, in this case, the influx of high waters might turn out to be less intense than in the case of constructed water gates. If the weir would not be constructed, the Sava River would on its downstream course be loaded by high flows instead of discharging into the Lonjsko Polje flood storage.

4.2.4. The Jezero overflow, 300 meters long, would partially discharge a part of the water mass into the right shore area of the Sava River into the flood prone area of Odransko Polje. On the right bank of the Sava River, downstream from the wider Zagreb area, there are overflows of the old levee and the flooding of villages situated in close proximity of the levee. The justification for this facility is primarily to be found in the fact that it will protect from high waters numerous rural settlements situated in the vicinity of the right bank of the Sava River, and this stretch of land is quite vast, about 50 km long. The levees protecting the stretch of the Sava River from the abovementioned location of the Jezero overflow to Sisak are not high enough and of poor quality, which means that any reduction in water flow is priceless

Alternatives: The Jezero overflow, as a facility, perfectly blends into the adopted flood protection concept in Central Posavlje. This manner of solving high water problems, i.e., retaining the waters in expansive and naturally flooded shore areas, goes hand in hand with those ecologically acceptable solutions which are nowadays in such high demand. An alternative solution in terms of selecting another location for the weir was not found because the area along the Sava is mostly developed. Not constructing this structure would leave many settlements still at risk from high Sava waters.

4.2.5. Revetment in Desno Trebarjevo and reinforcement of levee was suggested so as directly to protect from flooding the settlement of Desno Trebarjevo, its inhabitants and their assets, as well as an important county road stretching along the crest of the existing levee and agricultural lands situated in the settlement’s hinterland. The blending of the said revetments into the already built concrete revetments, both upstream and downstream, goes in favour of the proposed solution. The project documentation recommends a reconstruction or reinforcement of the levee with a concrete wall 427 meters long. The levee is not high enough in this stretch of the flood protection system. In the upper zone it has been damaged by water and traffic, and in the state of emergency it is reinforced by a “rabbit” levee.

Alternative: Reinforcing the levee with earthen material was considered, instead of using concrete wall. However, due to the lack of space and proximity of settlement, reinforcing the existing levee with earthen material was not possible without resettlement of inhabitants and construction of new road.

4.2.6. Revetment in Martinska Ves Desna In terms of height, levees along the Sava do not satisfy the necessary protection criteria in more than one place. One of the most critical sections of the flood protection system is the right bank of the Sava River, upstream from Sisak, part of which flows through the settlement of Desna Martinska Ves. The justification for their construction is to be found in the direct protection of the settlement of Desna Martinska Ves and its inhabitants

______2.2007. 11 / 23 VPB d.d. CROATIAN INLAND WATERS PROJECT Zagreb, Ulica grada Vukovara 220 Environmental Menagement Plan ______and their assets, the protection of an important county road which stretches along the crest of the existing levee, as well as the protection from flooding of the nearby agricultural lands. The blending of the said revetments into the already built concrete revetments, both upstream and downstream, goes in favour of the proposed solution. The project documentation recommends a reconstruction or reinforcement of the levee with a concrete wall 795 meters long.

Alternative: Reinforcing the levee with earthen material was considered, instead of using concrete wall. However, due to the lack of space and proximity of settlement, reinforcing the existing levee with earthen material was not possible without resettlement of inhabitants and construction of new road.

4.3. Execution technology While constructing all of the six proposed facilities within the Lonjsko Polje retention and the protection of the Sava west bank from high waters, common geodetic, preparatory, earthen, hydro-technical, road, carpenters’, concrete, reinforcing, installation and locksmiths’ works with all necessary equipment and machinery will be employed. These are the common works performed when constructing all hydro-technical facilities for which a detailed description of technology is not required. Therefore, performing those works is considered to be routine contractor’s works.

When performing water works during the levee construction, the construction technology is based on the excavation of the suitable local earthen material according to a material site profile, longitudinal and diagonal transport as well as building in the material by jamming it into the levee body. After the construction, the levee inclination and crest are to be grass sodden with local grass mixtures. According to the project documentation, suitable reinforced-concrete hydro- technical facilities are to be built into the levee body. The project documentation also proposes constructing facilities for protection from high waters within the settlement (walls) and roads on the levee crest.

5. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

The aim of this chapter is to recognize and then give the review of the possible environmental impacts during construction and utilization. Therefore, recognition and evaluation of the possibility of impacts is to be performed along with the recognition of the key inconsistencies and inaccuracies.

From the point of view of ecology, the most important factor within the scope considered is the relation between natural environment and human impact on it. The protection of natural resources, together with determining the possibility of their utilization without degrading and destroying them as well as rational utilization and protection in a way that it does not exceed the capacity of the resource basis, is the global goal for achieving ecological stability. Better understanding of natural processes can lead to the improvement of the environmental observations in any ecosystem.

First, it is important to point out positive impacts of all of the proposed structures on the living conditions of the local population, as well as indirect impacts on the downstream area. These impacts include the following:

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- Reducing flooding of the settlements and the agricultural areas on which the population makes its living will stop, thus creating favourable conditions for preventing depopulation, - it has to be stressed that the construction of the structures does not require any resettlement , - protection of a vital road – a highway connecting the west and the east of the Republic of Croatia – will no longer be flooded, - reduction of implementation costs of flood protection measures, - areas from where the material for construction will be taken will be managed and rehabilitated in such a way to create new habitats of alluvial flora and fauna, within the wetlands and the method of their regulation has been agreed with biologists.

There will also be adverse impacts of project mainly during the construction period. Impacts during the construction are limited to one, or two construction seasons of relatively short duration. They will primarily consist of:

- noise and air pollution by dust during the time of machines' work on the levee - devastation of vegetation cover on the construction site and next to alternative roads - impact on fauna, game and hunting - impact on landscape - impact on infrastructure - impact on water - impact on population - impact in case of accidental situations - construction may uncover archaeologically of culturally significant findings

Changes in the water regime of the Lonjsko Polje flood storage can be expected; it will get flooded more often, and the levels of retained water will increase. However, it is larger quantities of water retained in the flood storage that is the final goal of this project.

It is important to say that the area is already in use for flood protection storing some 600 million m3 of water with 100 years frequency and that the proposed project is incremental in nature increasing the current storage volume to about 720 million m3. Naturally, it has to be stressed that we are talking about a 100-year flood, i.e. about a very rare and extreme phenomenon, while other flooding of higher frequencies will mostly be an imitation of natural phenomena. It is precisely because of that that a mostly favourable impact on biodiversity of the area is expected, since this biodiversity has developed on the area that has been inundated for centuries.

There are no other significant environmental impacts during the time of utilization.

6. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT MITIGATION PLAN

Environmental protection represents the sum of all measures for maintenance and improvement of natural and cultural heritage, rare and endangered plants and animal species, and their habitats. Addressing environmental protection measures is very important since it is caused by civilization's attainments. Nature conservation is a part of environmental protection and not only should we work on preventing environmental components' destruction but also on preservation of regeneration sources and processes. Understanding all environmental protection measures is extremely important in order to provide conditions for reducing damages to the environment during the implementation process from the construction stage to the utilization stage.

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Since the encompassed area is extremely large as well as the zone that is being impacted because the consequences of the activity can be felt in a large area, the environmental protection measures must be addressed in their entirety and then implemented.

The focus of the measure implementation should be directed towards:

• Supporting found biological diversity and improving it, • Supporting existing hydrological cycle, • Adapting social and ecological systems to altered conditions, • Ensuring good communication with the public, • Efficient maintenance of the system facilities.

During design and construction plans should be developed so as to minimize any negative impacts on adjacent ecosystems resulting from the implementation of proposed works. When preparing the construction of a levee it is necessary to decide on the corridors for machinery movement in advance in order to reduce negative environmental impacts and obtain legal consent on it. The project manager has to take care of the works which are to be performed by adequate machinery for that kind of facilities along with the observance of adopted and approved project documentation and legal regulations. It will be the easiest for the project manager, Croatian Waters, to ensure all of that by establishing adequate construction, geotechnical and water supervision that will insist on prescribed implementation control and quality of the built in material.

The contractor is obliged to use only the machines in working order, that is to say those machines whose emission of exhaust fumes are within legally allowed limits, and the same applies to noise emissions. The project manager, Croatian Waters, has to supervise if the contractor performs construction using adequate machinery and whether it observes all legal regulations concerning water protection (National Water Protection Plan). Besides that, the project manager during the time of construction has to ensure:

- Adequate water management supervision of the performed works, - Supervision of prescribed quality implementation and quality of built in material, - Supervision of machines’ maintenance, - Supervision of storing fuels and lubricants, - Supervision of supply and provision of resources for eventually neutralization of spilt fuel, - Supervision of excavated, stored but not built in material.

Protection of economic and other interests of other space users should be performed in accordance with conditions and restrictions defined at public discussions and by legal regulations. The safety of transport will be solved by appropriate link to local roads. Temporary signs and information will be posted where and when necessary. All potential damages to forests or agricultural lands that will appear during the construction, have to be repaired after the completion of construction works.

Environmental protection measures at the time of construction and utilization of the operation refer to: - visual landscape quality protection measures - flora, vegetation and fauna protection measures - protection measures in forest management

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- water and water courses protection measures - air pollution and excessive noise protection measures - infrastructure protection measures - environmental protection measures in extraordinary situations

Table 2 presents a summary of the plan for the management and minimization of negative impacts. The overall responsibility for monitoring and enforcing the implementation of the plan resides with Croatia Waters the project manager and the agency responsible for the implementation of the proposed project.

Table 2: The plan for avoiding unfavourable environmental impacts Additional Stage Impact Mitigation measures Responsibility costs

execution supervision

Provisions from the Regulations for the maximum allowed noise levels in the environment where people Environmental live and work should be applied, forbid the transport of Costs protection Noise the material for the levee construction through included in Construction Contractor inspector contamination settlements at night. The special attention should be put construction Sanitary on construction near NP Lonjsko Polje where special costs inspection, good practices regarding noise in natural protected Supervising site areas should be agreed with management of NP engineer Civil Regarding the traffic safety there is a legal obligation engineering to mark the part of the road where the works have to be inspection, done, with equivalent traffic signs, and that the traffic Costs supervising site participants are secured with fences. A special included in engineer Work safety permission for movement machineries on designated Contractor construction routes has to be obtained by the local authorities and costs police should be informed (Law on traffic safety, Official Gazette No 105/04).

Environmental protection of air from dust and exhaust fumes pollution protection resulting from machines or vehicles should be inspector performed by regular control of exhaust fumes which Costs Supervising site should be clearly stated in vehicle permit., In order to included in Air pollution Contractor engineer reduce dust emission from the roads when constructing construction overflow levees it is necessary to restrict speed limit to costs 40km/h and all earthen roads should be watered, in dry season if necessary

Nature Prevent all the unnecessary treading on the existing protection Costs vegetation and jamming the ground by machines, inspector, Vegetation included in planting low local vegetation on the fringe of the cut Contractor Supervising site devastation construction off wood belt, forbid disposal of construction and other engineer costs waste, protect water vegetation outside the work area.

Ensure free communication of land fauna across the overflow levee, removal of trees and bushes is to be Nature Costs performed outside the region of birds’ nesting, preserve included in protection Impact on fauna water fauna habitats, ensure undisturbed Contractor inspector, construction communication of fish between backwaters cut off by a Supervising site costs levee and avoid works on water areas during the time engineer of spawning.

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Alternative roads for access to the overflows’ levees should be planned so that they encroach upon woodlots as less as possible, after the constructing the levee the Environmental Costs scope area should be arranged according to the protection Impact on included in landscape design project, the excess of material is to be Contractor inspector, landscape construction taken to the appropriate waste area, the levee Supervising site costs inclination and the crest are to be grass sodden with engineer local grass mixtures, visible concrete facilities are to be covered with natural stone.

Handling fuels and lubricants is to be performed at

decanting site with impenetrable ground, machines in Costs working order are to be used, provide chemical toilets Environmental Water included in Contractor with regular emptying of impenetrable collective pits, protection contamination construction forbid letting of liquid waste and disposal of all inspector costs materials left over after the construction into the ground and water.

Avoid direct damages to the forests by careful work, removing only designated trees, always keep sawdust or sand on site for handling small spills from Costs Contractor Forestry Impact on machinery, after cutting through a levee route all logs included in inspector,

forests and damaged and broken trees should be removed, construction Supervising site careful handling inflammable materials and fire, the costs engineer excess of material, waste and containers are not to be disposed into the forest (not even temporary).

Environmental Costs All damages to woodlots and agricultural lands should protection Impact on included in be compensated, All damages to the roads should be Contractor inspector, population construction repaired Supervising site costs engineer

7. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND SUPERVISION

The main problem regarding the actual monitoring of the Central Sava Basin is discontinuation of some basic observations in flood areas (such as water level). There are many different reasons for that, but the war was definitely the most significant factor for causing the reduction of the size and postponement of setting up of new monitoring. The current state that has been significantly improved in a way that the number of stations has been increased is a confirmation of the thesis.

The data on water quality, as an extremely influential environmental factor, are insufficient in quantity and quality. Therefore, they need to be increased by the scope of observations on a succession of watercourses. The lack of stations in retentions is a specific problem and the focus is on expansion in those areas. Planned stations have already been included in the Danube Pollution Reduction Programme (DPRP).

The existing network of meteorological stations is situated mostly around the retentions so that the inference on the climate status in retentions is connected to those stations’ conclusions.

Forests in the Central Sava Basin are one of the best preserved lowland forest complexes in Europe. They represent an important factor in setting up the protection of the area with the Status of the Nature Park. Therefore, the existing observations are to be continued while the additional ones are to be set up.

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In the area next to the southern levee, the setting up of an experimental flood area of ca 300 ha is planned. It would be ideal for all kinds of researches and “in situ” analysis in flood areas. This area is an ideal one for other space users’ researches, but it is not planned by this project.

The goal of the monitoring suggested facilities is to provide application of the adequate environmental protection standard as well as the measures for mitigating certain environmental impacts, which are foreseen by the effects. In accordance with the Act on environmental protection, the monitoring refers to the measurements of gas emission, air quality, water quality, waste disposal, landscape design, bio-monitoring, hydro-metrical observations and measurements, positioning of piezometers (monitoring wells).

Monitoring stages are divided into monitoring during the construction of certain facilities and monitoring during the utilization of the facilities.

During the construction at each construction site, it is necessary to observe local traffic of the machinery and measure the exhaust fumes and dust concentration, especially during the dry period. Also, the equipment for noise measurement is to be installed. The frequency of noise measurement should be applied according to the existing Croatian legislative regulations which apply to construction sites . The measurements are to be performed by authorized institutions for noise measurements.

At least once a month, water sampling from the construction site close vicinity is to be done and in all water masses regardless of the fact whether the waters are stagnant or running. A constant visual monitoring of the construction site surrounding is required in order to register possible disposal of construction or other waste. The bio-monitoring of the construction site surrounding should be done at least once a month by environmental experts. It also refers to the scope area landscape qualities and its immediate surrounding.

During the utilization, water and ground sampling, is necessary water and ground sampling at least once a year. That also refers to hydrometrical observations and surface waters measuring in the facility environment. Along with the regular control of quality of surface and underground waters, there is a need for the observation of underground waters levels at least once a month using set of piezometres.

The contractor and investor, or the user of a particular operation take the responsibility for the execution of the monitoring plan during the construction and utilization of the facility The implementation of regulating those measures and procedures is executed by contracts which prescribe fines in case of their non-implementation.

It is necessary to keep precise documentation on monitoring data, including values of all parameters, along with the time and place of monitoring, and in accordance with the World Bank procedures. All monitoring data should be available to the World Bank.

Table 3: Monitoring plan Monitori Monitoring Monitoring Additional Stage ng Monitoring time Responsibility parameter methods cost*** location execution supervision

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Environmental Frequency of noise Contractor protection measurements should through Noise inspector, Building be applied according to authorized Construction Noise measurement 3000 EUR Sanitary site the existing rules, company for equipment inspection, authorized company for noise Supervising site noise measurement measurement engineer

Environmental protection Air quality (dust Building visually During the dry period 3000 EUR contractor inspector, emission) site Supervising site engineer Environmental Building protection Contractor site inspector, Water quality Water sampling Once a month 5000 EUR and environm Supervising site laboratory ent engineer

Environmental Costs protection Building Contractor’s included in Waste disposal Once a month contractor inspector, site works control construction Supervising site costs engineer Contractor in Nature cooperation Building protection with site Contractor’s inspector, Bio-monitoring Once a month 5000 EUR environment environm works control Supervising site al expert and ent engineer NP Lonjsko Polje Environmental Building protection site Landscaping visually Once a month 20000 EUR contractor inspector environm Supervising site ent engineer, Environmental Facility Hydrometrical - every day protection Investor's Utilization Surface waters** environm observations and - during the period of Investor inspector, costs ent measurements high waters Supervising site engineer Environmental Facility protection Underground Piezometres Investor's environm Twice a week Investor inspector, waters** network costs ent Supervising site engineer

Environmental Facility protection Investor's Water quality** environm sampling Once a month Investor inspector, costs ent Supervising site engineer

** Already existing monitoring, Investor Croatian waters *** The contractor is responsible for all monitoring-related costs during construction.

8. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

Implementation of the environmental management plan for the Inland Waters Project will be supervised by the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) established within Croatian waters. Croatian Waters will implement the overall project and oversee environmental compliance of the project during design phase, construction and operation phase and ensure that monitoring and mitigation plan of EMP is being implemented. Croatian waters relay on its experiences in previous World Bank financed project like Costal Cities Pollution Control Project as well as related projects

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Along with the PIU, the supervising engineer from the investor’s side, i.e. the site engineer or the head of the utility company from the side of the users will also take part in the monitoring of the Plan’s implementation. In their regular work they will monitor the implementation of measures for the mitigation of environmental impact and monitoring measures as necessary, i.e. as laid down in the monitoring plan, and will report thereon once in every three months both to the PIU and the persons responsible for the project in a municipality. Supervising engineer will also ensure that this EMP is displaced at site and presented to the workers on construction site. The PIU will analyze all the documents and include the results of such analysis into regular reports to be submitted to the World Bank, as laid down in the Environmental Framework. Environmental Inspectors within the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Physical Planning and Construction together with environmental specialist from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and Ministry of Health will provide supervision based on unannounced site visits during construction and operation of subprojects envisaged by Croatian Inland Waters Project related to construction conditions, environmental protection and water quality.

To ensure that contractors pay attention to environmental impact mitigation, the EMP will be included in the Technical Specifications of the contract.

Considering the tasks of the project manager, Croatian Waters, (that are established by the Water Management Act and from which it derives) and presented in this project by Project Implementation Unit, the completion of those tasks is impossible without the communication with public which includes on of the most important stake holders Nature Park Lonjsko Polje, regarding both preparation and realisation of the plans. The public located in the scope area must be familiar with the concept of the Central Posavlje flood protection system through various forms of presentation of the overall plan foreseen by the “Sava River Arrangement and Regulation Study” (1972). This is established within the Regional Planning documents of different levels, from the State to the Community, through public displaying and presentation of the plan, and coordination of the plan on those levels.

The procedure of the adopting the document has also been through all levels so as to gain its official confirmation and become a part of the strategy of managing waters in the Sava River estuary. This has secured the conditions for their implementation, and the public opinion on the plan has been stated through the institutions that have accepted it.

On a national level, these are contacts with various Ministries, Lonjsko Polje Nature Park Administration, Sisako-moslavaka County, County Regional Planning Institute, INA Petrokemija Kutina (regarding disposal of the cast-phosphate).

The international communication has been accomplished with the coordination unit for the Danube Programme (Vienna), WWF International, Programme for Danube and Carpathians (Vienna), in Slovenia with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Planning and the Water Management Institute in Ljubljana.

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Undoubtedly, it may be deduced and thereafter emphasised that regarding this project, a transparent relation between the project manager and the public has been established

The proposed project was already announced to the public through public presentation of Environmental Framework held on January 9th 2007 in the great hall of Hrvatske vode, Zagreb, Ulica grada Vukovara 220. EF is a tool to ensure that the proposed investments implemented through the Inland Waters Project comply with the existing environmental protection laws, regulations and standards in Croatia as well as with the World Bank’s Safeguard Operation Policies and Practices. Based on the EF, EMP for Lonjsko Polje flood protection was prepared. In order to achieve transparency and better communication with the public, this EMP will be available to public for comments, questions and suggestions through the website of Hrvatske vode and website of Nature Park Lonjsko Polje for at least 15 days. All received comments will be attached to this document.

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