Report on Achievements in Flood Protection in the
Danube River Basin
Document number: IC-159 Version: 2010 Date: 22-Nov-2010
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Imprint
Published by: ICPDR – International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River
© ICPDR 2010
Contact ICPDR Secretariat Vienna International Centre / D0412 P.O. Box 500 / 1400 Vienna / Austria T: +43 (1) 26060-5738 / F: +43 (1) 26060-5895 [email protected] / www.icpdr.org
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Table of content
1 Introduction 4
2 Development and Improvement of Flood Forecasting and Early Warning System 6 2.1Danube EFAS 6 2.2Report on Assessment of Flood Monitoring And Forecasting in the Danube River Basin 6
3 Preparation of flood action plans in sub-basins 7
4 Major achievements in flood risk management in Danube countries 7 4.1Existing framework for transboundary cooperation 7 4.2Major developments in flood risk management 9 4.2.1Germany – Bavaria & Baden-Wuerttemberg 9 4.2.2Austria 10 4.2.3Czech Republic 12 4.2.4Slovakia 18 4.2.5Hungary 22 4.2.6Slovenia 24 4.2.7Croatia 26 4.2.8Serbia 29 4.2.9Bosnia and Herzegovina 31 4.2.10Romania 35 4.2.11Bulgaria 37 4.2.12Ukraine 39
5 Creating Forums for Exchange of Expert Knowledge 42 5.1Document on Coordination aspects of EFD implementation in the Danube River Basin 42 5.2Other information sources 43
6 Recommendation for a common approach in assessment of flood-prone areas and evaluation of flood risk 43 6.1Status review and report of flood mapping and flood risk evaluation in the sub-basins and countries of the Danube River Basin 43 6.2Minimum recommendations for flood risk mapping in the Danube River Basin 44 6.3FLOODRISK project 44
7 Other activities 45 7.1Danube 2006 floods report 45 7.2Flood factsheet 2010 46
8 Conclusions 47
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 4
1 Introduction
In response to the danger of flooding and in line with its Joint Action Programme, the ICPDR decided in 2000 to establish the long-term Action Programme for Sustainable Flood Prevention in the Danube River Basin. The whole process was accelerated after disastrous floods in 2002 and resulted in adoption of the Action Programme at the ICPDR Ministerial Meeting on 13 December 2004. This Action Programme is based on the sustainable flood protection programmes developed in the various Danube countries as well as on networking existing structures and using the future-oriented knowledge base accumulated through a wide range of activities over the past decade. The overall goal of the Action Programme is to achieve a long term and sustainable approach for managing the risks of floods to protect human life and property, while encouraging conservation and improvement of water related ecosystems. Given the area, the complexity and the internal differences in the Danube River Basin, the Action Programme represents an overall framework, which needs to be specified in further detail for sub-basins. The Action Programme is based on UN-ECE Guidelines on Sustainable Flood Prevention, EU Best Practices on Flood Prevention, Protection and Mitigation and on EU Communication on flood risk management, COM(2004)472. The major principles advocated are: (i) the shift from defensive action against hazards to management of the risk and living with floods (ii) the river basin approach taking into account the Water Framework Directive, (iii) joint action of government, municipalities and stakeholders towards flood risk management and awareness raising, (iv) reduction of flood risks via natural retention, structural flood protection and hazard reduction, and (v) solidarity. Targets of the Action Programme are set on a basin-wide and a sub-basin level taking into account the above-mentioned principles. There are four major basin-wide targets, which are currently under implementation: (i) Improvement of flood forecasting and early flood warning system Interlinking of the national and/or regional systems aims to improve the overall coordination and transboundary coherence of flood monitoring and forecasting systems. In parallel to interlinking of national systems a Danube Flood Alert System was developed by the EC JRC and was launched in December 2007. (ii) Support for the preparation of and coordination between sub-basin-wide flood action plans The ICPDR is a coordination platform for preparation of flood action plans for the river sub- basins. Steps towards linking of flood risk management with the river basin management have been done in cooperation with the river basin managers in the Danube countries. (iii) Creating forums for exchange of expert knowledge Measures should be taken towards sharing of experience and coordinated development and promotion of best practices on flood risk management. Exchange of relevant information on flood protection, prevention and mitigation with the other international river commissions is foreseen. (iv) Recommendation for a common approach in assessment of flood-prone areas and evaluation of flood risk The overall approach of the EU Directive on the assessment and management of flood risks towards flood risk mapping is coherent with the basic principles described in the ICPDR Action Programme on Sustainable Flood Protection in the Danube River Basin.
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 5
In September 2007 a Directive of the European parliament and of the Council on the assessment and management of flood risks was finally adopted by the European Council. The aim of the Directive is to reduce and manage the risks that floods pose to human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity. The Directive requires Member States to first carry out a preliminary flood risk assessment by 2011 to identify areas at risk of flooding. For such areas they would then need to draw up flood risk maps by 2013 and establish flood risk management plans focused on prevention, protection and preparedness by 2015. The Directive applies to inland waters as well as all coastal waters across the whole territory of the EU. The Directive shall be carried out in coordination with the Water Framework Directive, notably by flood risk management plans and river basin management plans being coordinated, and through coordination of the public participation procedures in the preparation of these plans. All assessments, maps and plans prepared shall be made available to the public. Member States shall furthermore coordinate their flood risk management practices in shared river basins, including with third counties, and shall in solidarity not undertake measures that would increase the flood risk in neighbouring countries. Member States shall take into consideration long term developments, including climate change, as well as sustainable land use practices in the flood risk management cycle addressed in this Directive. The adoption of the EU Directive on the assessment and management of flood risks (EFD) has its impact also on the implementation of the ICPDR Action Programme on Sustainable Flood Protection in the Danube River Basin both in terms of technical content and the implementation time plan, given that the ICPDR Action Programme itself foresees incorporating the future developments of the EU flood policy. In 2009 the ICPDR published 17 sub-basin flood action plans covering the entire Danube catchment. This was a key milestone set in the ICPDR Action Programme for Sustainable Flood Prevention but also an important step in a harmonized implementation of the EFD in the Danube River Basin District. This Report provides the stakeholders and public with an overview of the achievements in implementation of the targets of the ICPDR Action Programme on Sustainable Flood Protection in the Danube River Basin with a particular attention given to the progress made in the sub-basins in implementation of the action plans as well as of the EU Directive on the assessment and management of flood risks. Report on Achievements in Flood Protection in the Danube River Basin is structured according to the four basin-wide targets of the ICPDR Flood Action Programme and it is a living document, which will be updated regularly with a view of demonstrating to the wide target audience the efforts made and the progress achieved in the Danube River Basin in the field of flood risk management.
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 6
2 Development and Improvement of Flood Forecasting and Early Warning System
2.1 Danube EFAS The European Flood Alert System (EFAS) is being developed at the EC Joint Research Centre (JRC) with support of the national meteorological services and national hydrological services (NHS). As to date, around 25 operational authorities across Europe, all together responsible for more than 85% of the major trans-national river basins, are receiving EFAS information as early flood warning reports for floods in the next 3-10 days. As for the Danube countries EFAS Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) have been signed with DE, AT, CZ, SK, HU, SI, RS, RO, BG and MD. Recently HR joined as well. Negotiations on membership are ongoing with UA and BA. EFAS-Danube members have 24/7 access to a protected web-server where the twice-daily EFAS forecasts can be examined and viewed (http://efas-is.jrc.ec.europa.eu/efas-forecasting.html ). In 2010, using further data received from several institutes within the Danube, the calibration of the 5km grid hydrological model version has been redone. Furthermore, EFAS uses now also ensemble weather forecasts from COSMO-LEPS, which enables higher-resolution forecasts until 5 days before a flood event, more focussed towards flash flood forecasting. Also, using near-realtime river discharge data received from Danube water authorities, corrected flood forecasts are currently provided (called realtime hydrographs on EFAS website). At present, these realtime hydrographs are available for selected stations in the Upper Danube in Germany, Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia. Using the realtime discharge data, also an overview is made where actual flooding is in the Danube as well as Europe: http://floods.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ongoing-floods.html Further improvements under development are the use of realtime satellite snow cover data, bias- correction of rainfall forecasts, use of satellite derived rainfall data, and the use of satellite derived soil moisture data. Discussions for the transfer of EFAS to an operational entity are in a final stage with DG ECHO (Humanitarian Aid) and DG ENTR (Enterprise) in Brussels. EFAS is expected to go into full operation in Autumn 2011.
2.2 Report on Assessment of Flood Monitoring And Forecasting in the Danube River Basin
The national flood forecasting and warning systems in the Danube River Basin differ in the frequency, methods and techniques used for monitoring and also in data collection and processing. In some countries the outdated and advanced methodologies are running in parallel. Therefore the ICPDR Action Programme on Sustainable Flood Protection in the Danube River Basin aims to develop the methodology and tools of data collection, processing, forecasting and dissemination where necessary and also to interlink the regional and national agencies on sub-basin and basin level to facilitate and promote the exchange of source data and forecasting and warning in transboundary sub-basins. The first step in this activity was preparation of the Report on Assessment of Flood Monitoring And Forecasting in the Danube river basin, which was finalized in 2009. The report reviews: • Climatic and hydrological conditions in the DRB • Flood monitoring system o Description of the meteorological network o Description of the hydrological monitoring network • Development of the flood information service for the Danube river basin
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 7
• The role of the European Flood Alert System
3 Preparation of flood action plans in sub-basins
In 2009 the ICPDR published 17 sub-basin flood action plans, based on 45 national planning documents, and covering the entire Basin. These action plans provide the first ever comprehensive overview of actions to reduce flood risk in the Danube Basin. In drawing up the plans, measures were first elaborated at the national level in each of the 13 ICPDR states. Joint discussions between countries sharing particular sub-basins then took place to create a harmonized plan for the entire area of each sub-basin. The finalised action plans review the current situation and set targets and respective measures for reducing adverse impacts and the likelihood of floods, increasing awareness and level of preparedness and improving flood forecasting. The targets and measures are based on the regulation of land use and spatial planning; increase of retention and detention capacities; technical flood defences; preventive actions (e.g. flood forecasting and flood warning systems); capacity building; awareness and preparedness raising and prevention and mitigation of water pollution due to floods. The sub-basin action plans detail comprehensive information on hundreds of concrete actions to reduce flooding throughout the region, including re-naturalisation of water bodies, creation of flood polders, upgrading of dykes and improvement of alarm and forecasting systems. As a follow up to the action plans, the development of flood hazard and flood risk maps is crucial. Decisions related to the implementation of the action plans are a task and responsibility of the individual countries, according to their national legislation and bilateral and multilateral agreements.
4 Major achievements in flood risk management in Danube countries
This chapter provides an overview of the developments in flood risk management on the national level.
4.1 Existing framework for transboundary cooperation Bilateral discussions between Germany and Austria are held in a working group under the standing water commission according to the “Regensburger Vertrag” (Regensburg Treaty). The working group agreed to establish the flood action plans for the sub-basins in temporal, organizational and contentwise coordination with the EU flood directive. In the Czech Republic bilateral cooperation framework with Slovakia is based on Treaty between the Government of the Czech Republic and the Government of the Slovak Republic on cooperation on transboundary watercourses from the year 1999. Cooperation with Austria is based on treaty between Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and the Austrian Republic on regulation of water management issues related to border waters from the year 1967.
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 8
There is an ongoing cooperation of experts involved in the Bilateral commissions on the cooperation on the border waters in Slovakia. A cooperation framework is established with the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Ukraine and Poland. Cooperation framework in Hungary was established in the Pannonian Central Danube sub-basin in the frame of HU-AT, HU-SK, HU-HR and HU-RS bilateral commissions and in the Drava-Mura sub- basin in the frame of HU-AT, HU-SI, HU-HR bilateral commissions. In the Tisza River Basin there is a developing cooperation in the frame of the ICPDR Tisza Working Group, also utilising the outcomes of the Tisza Forum. There is an intensive cooperation in the frame of bilateral commissions in place in Slovenia. These include cooperation on Mura and Drava with Austria, cooperation with Croatia on Drava, Mura and Sotla-Sava-Kolpa) and the work of bilateral Commission with Hungary. Transboundary flood protection issues in Croatia are dealt with by the respective sub commissions established under the umbrella of the bilateral commissions with Slovenia, Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serbia has ongoing bilateral cooperation with Romania and Hungary based on the existing bilateral agreements, covering the Danube, the Tisa and the Banat regions. The Permanent Expert Group for Flood Protection (PEG FP) has been established within the International Sava River Basin Commission (ISRBC), and all Sava countries (Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina) participate in its work. This group is now preparing Protocol on Flood Protection, which will be a ground for future cooperation in flood risk management in the Sava River basin.
Since its independence in 1991 Ukraine has signed agreements on water management issues related to transboundary watercourses with Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Moldova. DE AT CZ SK HU SI HR BA RS BG RO MD UA DE x x AT x x x x x CZ x x x SK x x x x HU x x x x x x x SI x x x HR x x x BA x RS x x BG x RO x x x x x MD x x UA x x x x
Table 1: The existing bilateral agreements creating a framework for transboundary cooperation
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 9
4.2 Major developments in flood risk management
4.2.1 Germany – Bavaria & Baden-Wuerttemberg
Improvements in flood forecasting and warning Both in Baden-Wuerttemberg ( www.hvz.baden-wuerttemberg.de/ ) and in Bavaria (www.hnd.bayern.de/ ) flood early warning systems and flood forecast models are in use for all larger river catchment areas.
Structural flood protection projects In Baden-Wuerttemberg and in Bavaria number of projects focussed on building new flood protection structures as well as on the improvement of existing flood protection facilities. Based on the Flood protection action programme 2020 in Bavaria every year approximately 115 million € are invested in flood protection (in the years 2006 - 2008 the annual budget stretched up to 150 million €). Approximately 75% of that budget is invested in the Danube catchment area. As a consequence, in the Danube catchment area in Bavaria, more than 200 000 additional inhabitants were protected sufficiently against floods during 2001-2005. In 2007 the polder “Weidachwiesen” at the river Iller was completed as the first controlled flood polder in Bavaria (retention volume approximately 6,3 millions m3). In addition, the reactivation of natural retention areas was forced. In the Bavarian part of the Danube catchment area between 2001 and at the end of 2005 approximately 16 km of dykes were set back and approximately 5 million m3 retention volume were re-activated. Capacity building, preparedness & flood mitigation Baden-Wuerttemberg: in conjunction with the development of the flood action plan for the Danube in Baden-Wuerttemberg. Bavaria: relevant improvement after floods 2005. At the river Mangfall a new hydraulic model for simulating the impacts of breeched levees during a flood event was established. Progress in implementation of EFD On the 1st of March 2010, the new Federal Water Management Act came into effect. On the same day, the State of Bavaria enacted the Bavarian Water Act. Therefore all necessary legal steps for the implementation of the EFD have been made.
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 10
By May, 26th 2010, the Competent Authorities and the Units of Management had to be reported to the European Commission. Competent Authorities are the Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Transport in Baden-Wurttemberg and the State Ministry for the Environment and Public Health in Bavaria. Due to the commitment of the Danube Declaration (no. 32), adopted at the IPCDR Ministerial Meeting 2010, the same sub-basins were reported as Units of Management to EC which defined for the Flood Action Plans in the ICPDR Action Programme for Sustainable Flood Protection. That means that the Upper Danube and the Inn sub-basins are regarded as separate Units of Management.
The next step will be the preparation of Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) for the areas of potential significant flood risk (APSFR). In Bavaria, this will be finished by the end of 2010, making use of Art. 13 of the EFD. In Baden-Württemberg the same activity will be finished by the end of 2011. The applied method is based on an intersection of stream courses and spatial planning data. Based on the results of the PFRA, flood hazard maps and flood risk maps will be designed up to December 22nd 2013. These maps are the source for the Flood Risk Management Plans which have to be established up to 2015. All steps have to be coordinated between the neighbours in a sub-basin. For this reason, Baden-Wurttemberg and Bavaria are in close contact to ensure a common process.
4.2.2 Austria
Improvements in flood forecasting and warning Austria has a federal structure with nine provincial states. According to this structure the responsibility for the flood forecasting was assigned to the local Hydrological Services. The Hydrological Service in Austria operates a modern hydrometrical network for the quantification of the water cycle in Austria. The network for monitoring water quantity consists of about 600 discharge measuring points, 1000 precipitation measuring points (air temperature) and 3000 groundwater measuring points. All data on the water cycle in Austria are collected, prepared and disseminated by this organisation.
no flood- forcast available be planned in test operation in operation
Overview of flood – forecasting measures in Austria
The 2002 and 2005 flood events triggered activities regarding flood forecast and started any new activities related to flood forecasting in Austria. A new generation of flood - forecast models
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 11
(conceptual water-balance rainfall-runoff models combined with flood routing models) was developed after this flooding. The discharge forecast results for the river Danube in Austria are published on the internet. The precipitation forecasts come exclusively from the Meteorological Service in Austria – ZAMG (http://www.zamg.ac.at).
Discharge forecasting gauges on the river Danube in Lower Austria (http://www.noel.gv.at)
Links for further information: 1. http://www.noel.gv.at/Externeseiten/wasserstand/htm/wndcms.htm (discharge-forecast information for the Danube and for other gauges in the Danube river basin in Lower Austria) 2. http://gis.lebensministerium.at/ehyd (historical hydrographical data, available for download) 3. http://pegel-aktuell.lfrz.at/ (Overview about the online discharge and water level gauges in Austria)
Structural flood protection projects In Austria the “Flood programme 2016” was adopted. Main goals are to improve the existing or to build new flood protection measures (structural as well as non-structural) and to accelerate the making of hazards maps. Based on the programme Austria invests approximately about 400 million € per year in flood protection measures (financed by the Federal State, the Provinces and the communities with an average percentage of 50 : 35 : 15). There is a clear hierarchy in the implementation of flood protection measures (laid down in the Austrian water act and the hydraulic engineering assistance act) as followed: o Non-structural measures have priority over structural measures o Measures in the catchment area have priority over measures at the main channel o Retention measures have priority over linear structural measures o (Near) natural methods of building have priority over methods that are less so o Area used for agriculture and forestry are not be specifically protected
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 12
o Avoidance of those measures that would increase erosion and the discharge of drain water
Capacity building, preparedness & flood mitigation To increase preparedness and awareness the Ministry published a series of brochures (e.g. for house owners) and updated the public appearance on the internet constantly. An Austria-wide internet platform for natural hazards with the focus on floods has been developed, (www.hochwasserrisiko.at), in which all inundation areas (flood affected areas) and the hazard maps (if available) are shown.
Progress in implementation of EFD The first intended step for the implementation of the Flood Directive, the Preliminary Floodrisk Assessment (PFRA), will be finalized in mid 2011 and presented to the public probably in October 2011. A technical guideline from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management (BMLFUW), coordinated with the Provinces about the technical requirements and contents of the following flood hazard and flood risk maps is finalized.
4.2.3 Czech Republic
Improvements in flood forecasting and warning In the Czech part of the Morava river basin the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI) is responsible for the both meteorological and hydrological forecasting and warning. In the Czech Republic, Central Forecasting Office (CFO) and six Regional Forecasting Offices (RFO) have meteorological and hydrological departments cooperating closely together. Forecasting methodology
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 13
has been improved by introducing hydrological models into the forecasting service mainly after the extreme flood in 1997. The hydrological forecasting system is connected to the meteorological forecasting system. The flood forecasting system regularly provides hydrological forecast to the River Basin Authorities and other stakeholders and public them on the CHMI web site. In case of flood it informs the flood protection authorities and other participants involved in the flood protection about actual flood danger and flood development. Warning messages are disseminated if extreme meteorological or hydrological conditions are being forecasted and during floods are accompanied by information on the flood evolution and its further prediction. The forecasting system HYDROG has been set up for the whole Morava river basin containing 25 forecasting profiles. The lead time of the forecast is 24 and 48 hours. It includes also reservoir operation routines for optimalization of the possible future operations. The model is running every day. There is a close cooperation with Austria in place: in the regional Brno office of the Czech Hydrometerological Institute every day a discharge forecast for the Austrian gauge stations Raabs and Schwarzenau in the Dyje river basin is computed. In return Austria provides extended meteorological data for Austrian part of the Dyje/Thaya river basin. Continuous data on water courses and reservoirs are available at following web services partly provided in English and other languages: http://www.pmo.cz/portal/sap/en/index.htm (partly provided in English, Slovak, German, Hungarian, Polish language)
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 14
Within the frame of the European Territorial Co-operation 2007 – 2013 (AT, CZ) a project on Flood forecasting in the confluence area of the rivers Morava and Dyje has been launched. As a result of this project the extended upgrade of the forecasting model HYDROG for the Morava river basin has been prepared. Since February 2010 the upgraded model is in test operation and the forecasts for the profile Hohenau (A) and Moravský Sv. Ján (SK) on the Morava River have been disseminated daily. Work on this project will continue also in 2011. Following improvements of flood forecasting and early warning system have been recorded: - interlinking regional and national agencies to facilitate and promote the exchange of source data; - routing of the information downstream as the basis of improving efficiency and lead time of flood forecasting and warning ; - improving the methodology and tools for data collection, processing, forecasting and dissemination - nowcasting and flash flood forecasting is in place; - end-users training accomplished and feedback collected. Thanks to the European Structural and Cohesion funds the Ministry of the Environment provides subsidies for elimination of the flood risk thorough the Operational Programme Environment (www.opzp.cz). One of the objectives is support of building local flood alert systems for municipalities and regional authorities. In line with this simple local systems are built in Morava river basin having a simple design for obtaining the data from ultrasonic water stage indicators and pluviometers connected with modern wireless public address system and with regional web pages.
Structural flood protection projects: The new flood protection measures have been prepared since the extreme flood in 1997. They include the construction of new retention storages as dry polders with the aim to reduce and delay the flood wave, to further protect the local settlement areas and to revitalize the floodplains. Preventive measures focus primarily on technical proposals where their realization provides tangible benefits as
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 15
well as the opportunities for the land-use changes. In 1999 – 2001, 14 flood protection measures were built with total costs of about 177 mill. of CZK. In the years 2002 – 2007 the Ministry of Agriculture started the programme “Flood Prevention” and during this programme about 75 structural flood protection measures were built in the Morava river basin by all river administrators (Morava River Board, s.e., Agricultural Water Management Authority and the Forests of the Czech Republic, s.e.). The total costs for these measures were about 1518 mill. of CZK. The preparation of flood protection measures continues in the Czech Republic with the programme “Flood prevention II” in the years 2008 – 2013, where about 10 bill. of CZK is allocated for the flood prevention measures. The flood protection measures finished till the end of 2009 in the Morava river basin: Period Programme No. of flood protection Total costs measures (mill. of CZK) 1999 - 2001 - 14 177 2002 - 2007 Flood Prevention 75 1 518 2008 - 20013 Flood Prevention II 47 487
Thanks to the Structural and Cohesion funds of EU the Ministry of the Environment provides subsidies for elimination of the flood risk through the Operational Programme Environment (www.opzp.cz) allocating about 100 mil. EUR for projects in 2007-2013.
Capacity building, preparedness & flood mitigation Water Management Information Portal “Water” was established by the Ministry of the Agriculture and Ministry of the Environment where the latest information about water in the Czech Republic, including floods, is available to the public.
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 16
Information about available flood zones is also available to the public through the web service HEIS VÚV and by POVIS – Flood information service: Examples of the flood zones at Morava and Drevnice rivers junction:
Ministry of the Environment organizes training for the members of the flood committees and state administrations in the Morava river basin. Flood information system POVIS together with Digital flood management plan of the Czech Republic was established by Ministry of the Environment. This information platform has been developing since 2006 and provides now important information to flood committees and to public, runs shared databases of contacts, digital flood management plans, hydrological characteristics, flood plains, objects in flood risk and object of flood risk and so on. Development of information system is funded by the Operational Programme Environment as well as by local alert systems. About hundred of municipal or regional projects have been launched since 2008. The adopted projects will primarily address the vulnerability of small catchments and local floods. River Basin Authorities together with the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute re-established the “dispatcher games”, where teams from dispatching centres for dam and hydraulic structure manipulation come together to compete with flood simulations in the real catchment.
New transnational initiative to tackle flooding in transboundary area shared by Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia is project CEframe - Central European Flood Risk Assessment and Management, supported from the European programme Central Europe 2013. The scope of the project is: • Sustainable integrated flood risk management • Joint Assessment of Flood Management • Harmonization of methodologies for flood protection, keeping compliance to EU Flood Directive Ceframe results will increase protection capacities of areas particularly affected by danger of flooding. In these areas flood damages have had significant negative impacts on settlement and economy. The reduction of risk will lead to higher safety for people living there and to investments in new enterprises. CEframe will strongly consider the common interests and goals of project partners
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 17
following their national regulations in the respective countries and their will to seek a balanced and constructive approach to existing problems.
Starting with setup of the basic data bases, the current state of flood protection and flood risk will be assessed. A comprehensive inventory of all currently applied strategies completes the basic analysis, with objective of building the ground for future-oriented activities and for gathering best practices out of the partner pool. Further influencing factors - land use activities - are identified. Interactions between land uses and flooding are assessed. The driving forces and different influences will be merged, and their impacts on danger of flooding will be analyzed.
The concluding step is development of appropriate measures and exclusion of their possible negative effects, together with a web-based information and communication site, to reach a sustainable flood protection management. All measures concerning flood prevention and protection will be compiled in an action plan. The contributions of the partners, cooperating in the activities by using jointly developed methodologies, will be processed in form of reports, maps, guidelines, common tools and management proposals. One of the project aim is also harmonization flood risk management in frame of the Directive 2007/60/ES.
Progress in implementation of EFD Transposition and implementation of floods directive is under the competences of Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Agriculture. Transposition into Water Act and related legislation is supposed to be finished in 2010. The Act No. 150/2010 Coll. updates the Czech Water Act according to the requirements of European Flood Directive since August 2010. The EFD implementation is coordinated by the national expert group “Implementation of EFD”. In 2009 the suitable methodology for preparation of flood hazard maps and flood risks maps was developed based on available data sources in the Czech Republic. The preparation of the preliminary flood risk assessment is underway and it is expected to be finished in 2010. A methodology for identification of the areas with potential significant flood risk, which covers risk of fluvial floods, has been finished this year. First outcomes of identification of the areas with potential significant flood risk in 2009 are shown in the figure below (river stretches in red color are those identified as having significant risk from fluvial floods). Work is still ongoing on methodology covering flash and pluvial floods.
The projects of flood mapping were launched in 2009 with co-financing from the Operational Programme Environment and are expected to be finished by the deadline given by EFD. Flood hazard and flood risk maps will be prepared for about 2500 kilometers of river stretches.
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 18
In the Czech Republic the flood protection is also an integral part of the first River Basin Management Plan. The Morava and Dyje river basin management plans were finished in 2009 and the plans were adopted by the regional authorities. The WFD programme of measures includes flood protection measures as well. Ministry of the Environment allocated 2 bil. CZK in the Operational Programme Environment to support realization of some structural measures planned in RBMPs.
4.2.4 Slovakia
Improvements in flood forecasting and warning A key issue is the implementation of a national project POVAPSYS – Flood warning and forecasting system of the Slovak Republic. The system consists of 12 main subsystems – Integrated system of operation, Network of terrestrial meteorological stations, Network of terrestrial hydrological stations, Telecommunication technologies and telecommunication computer, Transmission and processing of meteorological satellite data, Network of meteorological radio locators, Other appliances of remote sensing, Information technologies, data processing and storage, Meteorological forecasting methods and models, Hydrological forecasting methods and models, Information dissemination to users,. Existing networks, instruments and appliances were in the frame of the project upgraded, modernized and extended. Trilateral cooperation (Czech Republic – Austria – Slovakia) which focuses on the improvement of flood forecasting in the whole Morava river basin is under testing. On-line information on the actual development of hydrological situation is available at http://www.shmu.sk/sk/?page=1&id=hydro_vod_all#tab
Structural flood protection projects: The relevant projects are listed in the following table:
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 19
reporting unit river basin river project timeplan funding description Pannonian Danube Danube Bratislava - Flood Protection 2007 - 2010 85 % Cohesion Fund, 15 % Construction of a new and reconstruction of existing flood Central Danube national sources protection lines and measures at 8 partial localities between Devin and Sap, pumping stations, mobile flood protection elements, flood protection walls and dykes, sealing of underground Reconstruction of left-side flood protection 2003 - 2005 80 % Structural Funds, 20 % Sealing of flood protection dyke underground by means of dyke of the Danube river and its underground national sources cut-off walls and the Kosihy pumping station Reconstruction of flood protection line in 2007 - 2008 80 % Structural Funds, 20 % Construction of a new flood protection wall in combination Sturovo national sources with mobile elements, sealing of underground
Morava Morava Morava Dykes and flood lines reconstruction, Morava 2007 - 2008 national sources Raised crest of dykes at several sections, sealing of dykes River rkm 89,5 – 97,05 underground by means of cut-off walls, construction of flood protection walls in selected sites Suchohrad - Reconstruction of flood protection 2009 - 2010 80,75 % Cohesion Fund, line 19,25 % national sources
Malina Malina River training, rkm 4,453 – 11,5 , and 2006 - 2008 national sources its tributary Zohorsky creek
Vah – Hron - Vah several rivers Floods at the territory of Slovakia in the period 2000 - 2005 national sources Reconstruction of flood protection dykes in the section Ipel 1997-1999, removal of consequences and Piestany-Horna Streda, river training works Suciansky preventive measures potok Swiss Aid – DEZA Directorate for 2004 - 2005 majority from Swiss funds Polders in Lehota pod Vtacnikom, Sučany – flood Development and Cooperation, Ministry of protection, Foreign Affairs Vah Kralova hydraulic structure - removal of 1997 2005 - 2007 80 % Structural Funds, 20 % removal of 1997 flood consequences, protection dyke flood consequences national sources stabilization Kralova hydraulic structure - left-side flood 2001 - 2009 national sources protection dyke stabilization Rieka Čadca – Rieka river regulation 2007 - 2009 national sources Nitra Nové Zámky town – left-side flood protection 2005 - 2009 national sources dyke increasing, rkm 6,466 – 7,795
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 20
Komjatna Komjatna – Komjatna river training 2005 - 2009 national sources Trnovka Žilina – Trnove - river training of Trnovka 2007 - 2009 national sources water course Maly Dunaj Trstice – Cierna voda, Maly Dunaj, flood 2006 - 2009 national sources (Small Danube) protection I. phase, Cierna voda river right- side flood protection dyke Hron Podluzianka Floods at the territory of Slovakia in the period 2000 - 2005 national sources Flood protection lines reconstruction in Levice 1997-1999, removal of consequences and preventive measures several streams Swiss Aid – DEZA Directorate for 2004 - 2005 majority from Swiss funds Polders in Brezno, Lubietova Development and Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kabatovsky creek Brezno – modification of outflow regime of 2008 - 2009 national sources Kabátovský creek, rkm 1,182 – 1,583 Ipel Ipel, Stiavnica Floods at the territory of Slovakia in the period 2000 - 2005 national sources River training works at the rivers Ipel, Stiavnica, 1997-1999, removal of consequences and
preventive measures Ipel Kalinovo – Ipel river training, rkm 174,854 – 2009 - 2010 80,75 % Cohesion Fund, 175,325 19,25 % national sources Krupinica Krupina – Krupinica river training, rkm 43,009 2005 - 2007 80 % Structural Funds, 20 % River training works at partial sections – 43,690 national sources Tisa Bodrog several rivers Floods at the territory of Slovakia in the period 2000 - 2005 national sources 35 partial structures – 12 pumping stations, 7 1997-1999, removal of consequences and reconstructions of flood protection dykes, 2 canal training preventive measures works, 12 river training works, reconstruction of hydraulic structures at Laborec river in Petrovce Kamenec, Swiss Aid – DEZA Directorate for 2004 - 2006 majority from Swiss funds Polders in Fricka – on Kamenec stream, in Vysny Tvarozec Sverzovka Development and Cooperation, Ministry of on Sverzovka stream Foreign Affairs Sibska voda Bardejov - river training of Sibska voda 2005 - 2006 80 % Structural Funds, 20 % River training of Sibska voda channel, which endangered national sources during floods town of Bardejov and its valuable cultural- historical monuments Stary jarok Bystre – reconstruction of Stary jarok stream, 2005 - 2006 80 % Structural Funds, 20 % Construction of a new flood channel II. phase national sources Laborec Koskovce - right-side flood protection dyke 2008 - 2009 national sources Reconstruction of flood protection dyke
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 21
reconstruction Ondava Velka Domasa hydraulic structure 2007 - 2008 80 % Structural Funds, 20 % Raise of the level of dam sealing core national sources Hornad Nr. 309 stream Dacov – Nr. 309 stream training 2005 - 2007 national sources Velky potok Sarisske Sokolovce – Velky potok stream 2008 - 2008 national sources training Niznoklatoviansk Nizny Klatov – Niznoklatoviansky stream 2005 - 2008 national sources y training potok Slana Stankovicka Rudna – flood protection measures 2008 - 2008 national sources Rimavica Kokava nad Rimavicou – river training of 2007 - 2008 80 % Structural Funds, 20 % River training works at partial sections Rimavica river national sources
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 22
Capacity building, preparedness & flood protection • Development of numerical models and GIS applications for the purposes of flood forecasting and warning systems, operation of hydraulic structures, design of flood protection measures, flood hazard and flood risk mapping, crisis management (long river sections and parts of river basins); • Improvement of public involvement in the processes of flood risk awareness and preparedness raising; • Coordination of spatial planning with flood management.
Progress in implementation of EFD • The EU Directive on the assessment and management of flood risks was transposed into legislation of the Slovak Republic (new Flood Protection Act Nr. 07/2010). • The Slovak Water Management Enterprise, state owned enterprise has prepared project which will ensure execution of all EFD goals on the territory of the Slovak Republic. It should be co- financed by EU Cohesion Fund. • The objectives of EFD were fulfilled (completely or partially) in following locations: • Danube, Morava Rivers – produced flooding lines in Bratislava, its centre, parts and suburbs Devin, Devinska Nova Ves, Petrzalka, Zitny ostrov. • Within the framework of “Danube FLOODRISK” international project, managed by Romania, will be produced the flood risk maps of Danube River (up to 2012), • Pilot project on flood risk assessment in the Myjava river basin – project approved, financing secured, project in implementation, • Within the framework of “CEframe” international project will be produced the flood risk maps of Morava and Myjava Rivers (up to 2013), • Vah River (hydrodynamic modelling, flood maps) in section Trencin- Kralova (project in implementation), sections of Kysuca and Domanizanka Rivers (hydrodynamic modelling, flood maps), • Hron River (hydrodynamic modelling, flood maps) in section Rudno nad Hronom-Velke Kozmalovce and in town residential area of Banska Bystrica, • Ipel River (hydrodynamic modelling, flood maps) in section Trenc-Sahy, Podlužianka River in town residential area of Levice (project in implementation), • The sections of Bodrog River, Latorica, Uh, Ondava and Laborec Rivers (hydrodynamic models), • The sections of Hornad River, Torysa, Svinka, Mala Svinka, Lutinka and Sekcov Rivers (hydrodynamic modelling, flood maps) - project in implementation
4.2.5 Hungary
Improvements in flood forecasting and warning Before 2004, using a € 2 million aid of the Hungarian government, an automated hydrometeorological and hydrological monitoring system has been established in Transcarpathia, UA, including USW data transmission system, extending to the whole territory of Transcarpathia, data procession centre in Uzhgorod, 15 automated stations, microwave connection between Uzhgorod and Nyíregyháza, HU. Maintenance of the system is undertaken by Hungary.
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 23
Extension and upgrade of the Hungarian automated monitoring network is continuously going on, there are 15 regional hydrographical remote monitoring networks with more than 200 stations in operation. These stations regularly measure 15 parameters including those of water quality. A new Doppler S-band radar station near Nyíregyháza has been put into operation, aim of which is detecting the Upper-Tisza catchment. A new WEB site (http://www.hydroinfo.hu/) has been launched to replace the former HYDROINFO. It is in Hungarian at this moment but the translation is in progress. Water level time series of the last 30 days can be seen from the Danube and Tisza valley upstream of their confluence (http://www.hydroinfo.hu/Html/hidinfo/hidinfo_map.html#). Hydrological forecasts are available at http://www.hydroinfo.hu/Html/hidelo/hidelo_graf_duna.html for the Hungarian Danube and at http://www.hydroinfo.hu/Html/hidelo/hidelo_graf_tisza.html for the Hungarian Tisza stretches. Further information on gauges and water levels of Hungary and the Danube Basin can be found at http://www.ovisz.hu/index.php?module=map.
Structural flood protection projects: Reinforcement of existing flood embankments: 94.8 km (91.6 km in the Tisza Valley and 3.2 km along the Danube and tributaries); New flood embankments: 8.2 km (3.4 km in the Tisza Valley and 4.8 km along the Danube and tributaries); Repair and reconstruction of flood defences damaged during the extreme floods: 44.9 km (all in the Tisza Valley); In the frame of the ‘Upgrade of the Vásárhelyi Plan’ (Tisza) project (information in Hungarian at http://www.vizugy.hu/vtt/index.html# ): • improvement of the flood conveyance capacity in the vicinity of the Tivadar bridge on the Upper-Tisza. Along the Middle-Tisza between Kisköre and Szolnok similar project will start in the next year, with the help of the EU Structural Funds; • construction of two flood retention basins (Cigánd-Tiszakarádi and Tiszaroffi) with a total volume of 191millions m3 has been finished by the end of 2008 and 2009; • experimental operation of the Tiszaroff flood retention reservoir has proved the efficiency of it, during the 2010 spring flood. • construction of flood gate at the mouth of the Lónyay principal canal was finished in 2007 (substituting the reinforcement of the dikes of the Lónyay principal in a total length of 100 km); • dike relocation and 600 ha floodplain restoration at the Bivalytó bottleneck upstream the Vezseny bend ; (finished in 2008, but the final removal of the old dike happened only during the 2010 spring flood); • The construction of two new flood retention basins has started in 2009. The Hany-Tiszasüly (247 million m3) and the Nagykunsági (99 million m3). The deadline for them is in the first half of 2012.
Capacity building, preparedness & flood mitigation Continuous development of the Lotus Notes based flood emergency information system, digitisation and upgrade of the contingency and confinement plans.
Progress in implementation of EFD At present the maps showing flood extent of 1% and 0,1% probability flood are available. This will be one of the bases for the preliminary flood risk assessment. The methodological project was finished in
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 24
2010. National guideline on this issue has been prepared and is subject to upgrading. GIS based digital flood hazard maps are being developed for several smaller flood areas, covering approx. 5% of the total floodplains. A budget for the implementation of the EU Flood Directive has been allocated for 2007-2013 in the Energy and Environment Operative Programme of the National Development Plan. The data collection for the flood risk and flood hazard maps will start this year.
4.2.6 Slovenia
Improvements in flood forecasting and warning The Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, Hydrology Forecasting Department is responsible for forecasting hydrological events on the national level and launching flood warnings to the Notification Centre of the Republic of Slovenia. The Agency's mission is to monitor, analyse and forecast natural phenomena and processes in the environment, and to reduce natural threats to people and property. Since 2005 the operative practises in national forecasting department improved with forecasting tools based on international cooperation. In the time period from 2005 to 2007 The National hydrological forecasting service has become a full member of EFAS (European Flood Alert System) and MAP D- Phase (Mesocsale Alpine Program), covering forecasts up to 10 days ahead. Within bilateral cooperation between Land Steiermark (Austria) and Slovenia in 2006 a common operative Flood Forecasting System for the river Mura was established. In 2009 the most extensive project titled "Upgrading the system for monitoring and analysing the state of the water environment in Slovenia" has launched. The project is financed by the EU Cohesion Fund and the share of Slovenia’s co-funding. The purpose of the project is to increase the capacity of the Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia to monitor, examine and forecast water cycle factors. The particular important is balanced spatial planning and thus improved water management and the setting up of representative grids of measuring points for evaluating the state of water bodies. The protection of human health and life against the consequences of natural disasters (protection against floods and droughts) is another very important aspect, which should be based on correct and timely meteorological and hydrological forecasts and the provision of data in real time. The expected results of the project by 2015: • 248 upgraded and new measuring points throughout Slovenia; • replacement of equipment at 33 measuring points; • installation of an additional weather radar; • new equipment for periodic hydrological measurements and sea dynamics measurements; • provision of conditions for the operation of the Maritime Meteorological and Oceanographic Service; • upgrading the computer infrastructure in the Computer Centre; • upgrading and enlarging chemical, analytical, biological and calibration laboratories; • setting up systems to forecast the hydrological state of the Sava and the Soča rivers, sea dynamics, state of the underground water in alluvial aquifers and drought monitoring.
Structural flood protection projects: Repair and reconstruction of water infrastructure, damaged during the extreme (flash) floods 2007, is continued.
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 25
Spatial planning of flood protection measures in two significant flood risk areas are finishing in 2010/2011 and construction starting are planed for 2012/2013. Spatial planning of flood protection measures for at least two significant flood risk areas planed to be started at 2011. Ongoing project of construction of hydropower stations on lower section of river Sava involved maintenance, restoration, improvement and the construction of new structural flood defences (dikes, detention reservoirs) for flood protection of existing settlements.
Capacity building, preparedness & flood mitigation New legislation was adopted, which defined the national methodology for flood hazard and flood risk mapping, and also the legislation which sets the preventive rules for urban planning and construction of buildings in flood hazard areas. The preparation of hazard maps started on local scale and the local administration, investors and general public in local communities are participating in process of spatial planning with grater awareness of flood danger.
Progress in implementation of EFD In connection to Flood Directive Slovenia started an important changes in flood risk prevention practices. New legislation was adopted, which defined the national methodology for flood hazard and flood risk mapping, and also the legislation which sets the preventive rules for urban planning and construction of buildings in flood hazard areas. Transposition of EFD to Slovenian legal system was concluded on time and National Work Programme for preparation of flood risk management plans was signed in May 2009. A first hazard indication map (HIM) was published in 2007 and is now under review. This map will also be a basis for Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment, finalization of which is planed for 2010/11. The indicative flood map, which is a subject of updating, is public available: http://gis.arso.gov.si/atlasokolja/profile.aspx?id=Atlas_Okolja_AXL@Arso .
Based on the new legislation new principles were introduced in flood risk reduction planning: • precautionary principle (information on flood hazard, awareness of direct and indirect flood risks);
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 26
• high priority on non-structural measures (protection of non urbanized flood plains, limitations for urban planning in flood areas, intervention and preparedness planning, early warning systems, building standards for flood areas); • structural measures: measures for flood management in the catchment (retention) should have priority over structural changes of main river morphology and should take into account other objectives (water ecology, biodiversity); • planning priorities for risk reduction measures are focused on existing risks to human health, important economic activities, environment and cultural heritage; • level of protection should be based on cost-benefit analysis.
4.2.7 Croatia
Improvements in flood forecasting and warning Currently, a national-wide hydrological monitoring network consolidation project is under way, aiming at further standardization, improvement and optimisation of data collection and dissemination. At present, 142 hydrological stations are available on line. Number of automatic hydrologic stations is shown in the following table: NUMBER OF AUTOMATIC HYDROLOGICAL STATIONS DANUBE SUB BASINS 142 SAVA RIVER BASIN 116 DANUBE AND DRAVA RIVER BASINS 26 Basic information on water levels and flood warnings is available for public on a redesigned webpage of Hrvatske vode (http://isite.voda.int/Default.aspx?sec=191 ), webpage of State Hydrometeorological Service (http://hidro.hr/hidro.php?id=hidro¶m=Podaci ), on WAP mobile phones and on teletext of Croatian Radio Television. For an internal use by Hrvatske vode a more comprehensive hydrologic data collection and dissemination system is being built taking in consideration not only flood monitoring and warnings but other requirements of water management as well.
Hydrologic data collection and dissemination system of Hrvatske vode In cooperation with State Hydrometeorological Service, online meteorological data as well as weather forecasts (Aladin and ECMWF models) are integrated in it.
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 27
Precipitation forecast (ECMWF model) and comparison of results of Aladin and ECMWF models aggregated on the level of watershed.
In the next phases, an improvement of existing flood forecasting models and integration of their results is expected. After the test phase, selected products will be available for other users (National Protection And Rescue Directorate) and for public.
Progress in implementation of EFD The principles of EFD and Action Programme for Sustainable Flood Protection in the Danube River Basin are included in the National water management strategy which was adopted in the Croatian Parliament in 2009. As a consequence, a new Water Act, fully in compliance with WFD and EFD, which sets the legal basis for the implementation of EFD was adopted in the beginning of 2010. Flood protection related bylaws of the new Water Act are being prepared and most of them have been already adopted. Three flood risk mapping pilot projects have been finished for Krapina (1.240 km2), Karašica - Vučica (2.350 km2) and Orljava (1.620 km2) Česma (3.100 km2),and Ilova (1.816 km 2) basins. Additional projects aiming to methodology testing, but also to data collection and preliminary flood risk analysis are under way (Kupa River Basin -8.412 km 2). In 2007, a project to improve spatial planning data interpretation for RBM and flood risk management purposes was launched. It has been extended with an additional project starting in 2010, which will deliver more detailed data required for flood risk mapping. For IPA funding, a Twinning project on “Development of flood hazard maps and flood risk maps” is nominated. Some of expected results of this project are definition and testing of methodologies for flood risk mapping, development of guidances for flood risk management planning and capacity building. Large alluvial wetlands have been preserved until today in the Central Sava Basin, in order to reduce the maximum peaks of the Sava and Kupa rivers during high water. This concept has proved very effective and it is an excellent model for flood-control systems: not only are retention areas preserved as safety-features, they also maintain a high biological diversity in the region. The system, only partly- completed so far, has proved to be very effective in recent years, protecting important towns such as Zagreb, Karlovac and Sisak, and large agricultural areas, against flooding.. With 109 000 hectares extent, it is the largest floodplain ecosystem in the Danube River Basin and an important nutrient-sink for the Upper and Central Sava Basin. Further development of established flood retention vs. protection strategy will be an outcome of the ongoing activities in the Middle Posavina project.
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 28
Česma River Basin –– Land use andf lood extent map for RP of 100 years
Česma River Basin - potential damages for RP of 100 years
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 29
Central Sava flood protection system
Lonjsko polje during dry and wet season
4.2.8 Serbia
Improvements in flood forecasting and warning Automatization of a national real-time hydrological information and forecasting system is ongoing. The upgrade of the system will include adding of 25 new automatic acquisition stations and digital registering of water levels with the GSM connection.
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 30
Structural flood protection projects Flood in spring 2006 tested the sufficiency of the flood defense by structural measures along the Danube and the Tisa in Serbia, which was proved to be successful in most of the locations. However, it revealed that protection of several towns along the Danube River (Novi Sad, Belgrade, Smederevo, Veliko Gradište and Golubac) is not adequate, because flood protection structures have insufficient freeboard above the 100-year flood level. After 2006 flood, preparation of construction/reconstruction projects started, both for the Danube and the Tisza rivers. Also, protection of the Macva region from the Sava and the Drina floods will be improved within the large infrastructural project partially financed by World bank. There are many structural flood protection projects on other large rivers in Serbia. These projects are mostly of local significance, and aimed at reconstruction/rehabilitation of existing structures. Nevertheless, repeated severe floods in 2009 and 2010 revealed that some urgent new flood protection structures and measures should be introduced in the following period.
Capacity building, preparedness & flood mitigation State Hydro-meteorological Service provides actual water stage and discharge data and 2-4 days hydrological forecasts for Danube, Tisa, Sava, Morava and other rivers in Serbia (http://www.hidmet.sr.gov.yu/eng/hidrologija).
Once a year, the Serbian Directorate for Water issues the Annual plan for flood defense (presently it is the 2008 plan). It is a public document (http://www.minpolj.sr.gov.yu), which contains data on flood managers, control water gauges, and criteria for proclaiming regular and emergency flood defense – for all rivers and flood cells. Local communities have to produce the Action plans for flood protection on their territories, and distribute them publicly. After the adoption of Law in 2009, the Sector for Emergency Situations within the Ministry of Interior was created with the following five departments as part of the new organization: fire and rescue units, risk management, civil protection, and the National Training Centre for Emergency Situations. It had a very important role in rescue operations during torrent floods, and involved mass media and wider public in flood risk management problems.
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 31
Progress in implementation of EFD New Water law adopted in May 2010 includes provisions of Floods directive i.e. obligations to undertake PFRA, prepare flood maps and FRMPs. Preliminary flood risk assessment for the territory of Republic of Serbia started in 2009, and will be finished in 2011. All available national GIS databases are used for PFRA, as well as a database of indicative flood maps, made in 2006. Two types of floods are recognized: external (river and torrent floods) and internal (pluvial and groundwater floods). 1st PFRA (2011) will deal only with floods on large and smaller rivers, while torrents and internal floods will be left for the 2nd PFRA (2017). The project between the Serbian Directorate for Water and the Swedish Rescue Services Agency (financed by Swedish EPA) ”Development of a first draft Flood Risk Management Plan for Tamnava River Basin, Serbia” was finished in June 2010. All phases of Flood risk management planning were successfully accomplished, involving many stakeholders at national and local level. Flood hazard and flood risk maps are being produced within a few international projects. The EU financed Study of flood prone areas in Serbia – phase 1 will produce maps for the Velika Morava river basin and the Danube downstream of Belgrade, while within the Danube Floodrisk maps are prepared for the upstream reach of the Danube in Serbia. Production of maps for the Sava river corridor (coordinated by Sava Commission) started with preparation of a HEC RAS hydraulic model.
Flood hazard map for the Tamnava river
4.2.9 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Improvements in flood forecasting and warning Improvement of early warning system against accidental pollution together with continuous water level monitoring is completed (13 automatic monitoring stations on Sava River, and its tributaries, are in final phase of installation). There are two automatic hydrological monitoring stations in operation on the Sava River and 15 hydrological, hydro meteorological and meteorological automatic monitoring stations on the main Sava tributaries.
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 32
Capacity building, preparedness & flood mitigation Following achievements have been reported during last two years: • Framework Plan of Water Sector Development in Republika Srpska has been adopted (October 2006) • Action Plan for Implementation of Water Sector Development in Republika Srpska has been adopted (June 2007) • Improvement of Erosion Map for Republika Srpska. Project started in 2004, end of project is planed for 2010. Beginning of site testing for erosion processes is planed for 2008-2009. • Preparation of Study for Sustainable Development of Irrigation Systems in Republika Srpska for 50.000 ha (end of activity 2007) • Preparation of activities for Water Balance Analyse in BiH - Republika Srpska • Flood Protection Plan for Odžak and Orašje Posavina (in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina) • Regulation on Flood Protection plans (in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina) • Decision on Flood Protection Operational Plan (in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina) • Flood Protection Main Prevention Plan (in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Progress in implementation of EFD - Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to the provisions of Water Law ("Official Gazette of Federation BiH", No. 70/06), the government of Federation BiH upon the proposal of Minister of Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry has passed the Regulation on types and content of plans for protection against the harmful impacts of water ("Official Gazette of Federation BiH ", No. 26/09). The regulation is completely harmonized with EFD (Directive 2007/60/EC). Since Bosnia and Herzegovina still is not the member of the European Union, deadlines for performing of the activities defined by Directive 2007/60/EC are postponed according to the implementation of provisions of the Water Law and international obligations from Water Sector, as follows: • Preliminary assessment of flood risk will be done within 5 years from coming into force of the Regulation (2014). • Maps of flood danger and flood risk will be prepared within 6 years from coming into force of the Regulation (2015). • First Flood risk management plans will be adopted not later than 8 years from coming into force of the Regulation (2017). By Article 5 of the Regulation it was envisaged that for each watershed which lies within the territory of Federation the preliminary flood risk assessment will be done. "Agency for Watershed of Sava River" Sarajevo (AVP Sava) developed the map of watershed of the Sava River in a digital form, with delineated boundaries of river basins and sub-basins and with presented topography and land use. All mentioned data are available in a GIS format in the Water Information System of BiH. In order to make the preliminary assessment of flood risk in watershed of the River Sava in Federation BiH, AVP Sava has started, by the end of 2009, activities on preparation of methodology for watercourses of first category which belong to the competence of the Federation. In order to collect the data on floods, which occurred in the past and which have caused significant impacts to human health, environment, cultural heritage and economic activities, and for which the probability of similar future occurrences is still high, the questionnaire was prepared which was delivered to all municipalities in FBiH which are located along watercourses of the first category. Based on the
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 33
preliminary assessment of flood risk the areas will be identified for which the existence of significant flood risks is assumed (flooding areas). It is necessary to mention that already in 2000 the study on “Assessment of the present level of flood protection in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and making of improvement program” was produced. The tasks of the Study were: • Identification of areas subject to floods, • Preparation of maps of areas endangered by floods, • Development of topographic layers for hydrological and hydraulic analyses and implementation of these analyses, • Preparation of cadastre of existing systems for flood protection, • Assessment of the present risk in flooding areas, • Selection of technical alternatives for each area, • Economic and financial analyses. Based on the collected data from the available project documentation, site visits and terrain recognition as well as the analysis of hydrological data, the following areas in the watershed of Sava river in FBiH were identified as being endangered by floods: No. Watercourse Area 1. Sava Wider area of Odžak (from Šamac to Svilaj) 2. Sava Wider area of Orašje (from Domaljevac to Vučilovac) 3. Una Area of town Kulen Vakuf 4. Una Wider area of Bihać (from Ripače to Pokoj) 5. Una Area of town Bosanska Krupa 6. Una Area of place Bosanska Otoka 7. Vrbas Area of town Gornji Vakuf 8. Vrbas Area of town Donji Vakuf 9. Bosna Part of Sarajevsko polje from Plandište to Reljevo 10. Bosna Coastal area of lower part of river Bosna downstream from Modriča – to Šamac 11. Drina Area of town Goražde 12. Glina Coastal area of Glina in FBiH and lower parts of Glinica and Kladušnica 13. Korana Coastal area of Korana in FBiH and lower part of Mutnica 14. Spreča Valley downstream from reservoir Modrac (from Lukavac to Brijesnica) 15. Spreča Valley upstream from reservoir Modrac (from Osmaci to mouth of Spreča into reservoir) 16. Tinja Wider area of town Srebrenik 17. Tinja Wider area of settlement Tinja 18. Usora Valley of Usora in FBiH from Kaloševići to the inflow in river Bosna 19. Sana Wider area of town Sanski Most 20. Lašva Town Travnik and area of Dolac 21. Lašva Vitez area
As it can be seen in the table, the areas most endangered by floods are the valleys of significant watercourses.
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 34
Hydraulic models were prepared for the relevant parts of the watercourses. Geodetic and hydrological elements were used as input data. The modeling provided the relevant flows and levels for occurrence of characteristic return periods (20-years, 100-years and 500-years). The calculated levels helped to define three flooding lines which were presented on the maps with scale of 1:25000. In order to fulfill the EFD obligations the activities were conducted on surveying of different watercourses in Federation BiH in the watershed of Sava River. The survey is mainly conducted by combination of ortho-photo shots of the terrain, DTM and classic geodetic recording of beds of watercourses and it will lead to development of hydraulic models of watercourses which will, with use of adequate software (Mike 11, Hec-Ras), enable the making of flood hazard maps and flood risk maps and simulation of occurrence of flooding waves.
Progress in implementation of EFD - Republika Srpska According to the provisions of the Water Law (Official Journal of Republika Srpska, No. 50/06, from May 31, 2006), the Government of Republika Srpska adopted the Action Plan on sustainable management of flood risk in the basin of the river Danube with an application to the sub-basin of the river Sava for the area of Republika Srpska – planning period 2010-2021 (163rd session of the Government of Republika Srpska from March 04, 2010). The Action Plan identified the following deadlines for the realization of activities according to the European Floods Directive: Preliminary flood risk assessment Deadline: Dec. 22, 2012, updating by Dec. 22, 2018 and every six years after that. Maps of flood damages and flood risks Deadline: Dec. 22, 2013, updating by Dec. 22, 2019 and every six years after that. Flood risk management plans Deadline: Dec. 22, 2015, updating by Dec. 22, 2021 and every six years after that.
In Republika Srpska the strategic document „Framework plan for development of water management of Republika Srpska for the planning period 2007-2016 “ was prepared. By the decision of the Government of RS, on the session held on October 20, 2006, No. 04/1-012-2258/06, the Framework Plan of development of water management of Republika Srpska was adopted. Its implementation is managed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management RS aiming to prepare the Action Plan for realization of the Framework Plan. The Government of RS adopted the Action Plan for the realization of Framework Plan of development of water management of Republika Srpska on June 14, 2007. According to the Water Law RS and Framework Plan RS for Sava River basin district and Water protection the following activities are planned to be realized: • Protection form flooding from watercourses: o Revitalization of the existing systems in the Sava basin in the length of 204 km, o Construction of new systems in the length of 30.60 km. • Protection from flooding by internal waters: o Revitalization of the existing systems: 21 pumping stations, Qmin= 124 m3/s, 1150 km drainage canals. o Construction of new systems: 2 pumping stations, Qmin= 12.40 m3/s,
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 35
115 km of drainage canals. • Protection from flooding by inflowing waters, Edge canals: o Revitalization of the existing systems in the length of 192 km, o Construction of new systems in the length of 35 km. • Regulation of river flows/rivers: o Revitalization of the existing systems (partial regulations 26 km, bank fortifications 38 km) o Construction of new systems (River Una, 20 km, River Vrbas, 50 km, River Bosna, 75 km, River Drina, 40 km.) • Protection from erosion and torrents: o Revitalization of the existing torrent partitions and regulation of the significant torrents, o Implementation of protection measures (biological, bio-technical and technical measures).
The following catchment areas were identified for which the Flood Risk Management Plans according to EFD will be prepared:
SURFACE (km2) PERCENTAGE DANUBE TRIBUTARIES LENGTH OF SURFACES BASIN IN BiH (km) OF TRIBUTARIES RS FBiH BiH OF r. SAVA (%)
UNA 507 3.698 5.432 9.130 23.58
VRBAS 419 3.989 2.397 6.386 16.49
UKRINA 373 1.500 0.00 1.500 3.88
BOSNA 306 2.872 7.585 10.457 27.00 RIVER SAVA TINJA 93 321 644 965 2.49
DRINA 175 6.415 825 7.240 18.70
DIRECT SAVA 332 2.108 933 3.041 7.86 CATCHMENT
TOTAL: 2.205 20.903 17.816 38.719 100
4.2.10 Romania
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 36
Improvements in flood forecasting and warning Ongoing projects: • Hydrologic information-decision system (DESWAT). Goals: construction at the national level of an integrated information-decision system for prevention and mitigation of disaster effects caused by floods. Project is supported by the Programme of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); • Information System for Integrated Water Management (WATMAN). Goals: increase of reaction and preparedness by the central public administration in case of floods, accidents at hydraulic structures and accidental pollution; development of a system for evaluation of flood damages. Project is supported by USAID. • Flood-Wise - a project in which the European water managers exchange experiences with flood risk management. The objective is to improve the cross border flood risk management in European river basins (in Someş-Tisa area in Romania). • Improving flood-defense and environmental sanitation on the Tisa River border between Romania and Ukraine.
Recently finalized projects • FLIWAS – FLood Information and WArning System (in Banat area), finalized in February 2010; • Flood Prevention and Mitigation through an integrated information- decision system (Hajdu- Bihar county in Hungary and Bihor county in Romania, in Crişuri basin), finalized in February 2010; • Hydrometeorological data resources and technologies for effective flash flood forecasting HYDRATE, finalized in August 2009; • Improving of capacity management and reaction of the transboundary region in case of natural calamities (in Jiu basin); • Assistance to develop a flood damage prevention strategy for Romania’s transport, finalized in March 2009; • WIMS - Investment supporting the information system and database for water management (in all basins) finalized in November 2008.
Structural flood protection projects. In November 2009 the PHARE project “Trotuş and Tazlău river and tributaries improvement (Harghita and Bacău county)” was finalized in the Siret basin. The Annual National Investment Programme of Romanian Waters includes structural flood protection projects for rehabilitation after flooding events and for improving the protection degree of the existing hydraulic works in each major river basin.
Capacity building, preparedness & flood mitigation Each four years the flood protection plans and records on hazardous weather, accidents at hydraulic structures and pollution incidents are updated. These plans are prepared at the local, hydrotechnical system, basin and county levels. In March 2010 the plans have been finalized for the period 2010- 2013. The flood protection plans at the county level include for the first time the inundation areas presented in GIS format They use the historical data and show floods with different probabilities. Public consultation and information The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development initiated public information/consultation campaign regarding status of elaboration of a guidance on hydrographic basin improvement and management. The guidance is developed at the basin level with the support of Romanian Waters National Administration.
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 37
Progress in implementation of EFD
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure develops a project for “Identification and delimitation of natural hazards (earthquakes, landslides and floods) having following objectives: localization and delimitation of zones exposed to natural hazards, earthquakes, landslides and floods; elaboration of hazard maps for these areas, phenomena description at the county level and establishment of programme of measures for prevention and mitigation of consequences of natural hazards. It will include the first assessment of natural hazards in Romania (earthquakes, landslides and floods). The study will be finished by the end of 2010.
The Government Ordinance 1309/2005 established the National Programme for prevention, protection and mitigation of flood effects. The National Strategy for Flood Risk Management on mid and long- term basis was adopted by the Romanian Government in August 2010. The necessity for a long-term national strategy is considered as a top priority given the recent flood events in the country. There is a need to move from the defensive actions to the flood risk management focusing on the implementation of the EFD. In 2010, a Master Plan for Prut-Bârlad hydrographic space was elaborated. In February 2010 a new and fully revised Water Law was approved. A new institution was established in July 2010 under the Ministry of Environment and Forests named The National Authority for Inundation and Water Management. The main objective is the National Strategy for Flood Risk Management implementation.
4.2.11 Bulgaria
Improvements in flood forecasting and warning Assessment and forecasts of water quantity are carried out on a national level by the Ministry of Environment and Water. The main provider of the data, scientific research and operational activities in the field of meteorology and hydrology is the National Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology at BAS (Bulgarian Academy of Science). Thе institute performs monitoring of rainfall, groundwater and surface water. National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology is a member of EFAS (European Flood Alert System), covering forecasts up to 10 days ahead. The Executive Agency for Exploration and Maintenance of the Danube River performs the monitoring of water quantity the of the Danube River. A PHARE project on automatization of monitoring stations with the view of improving a national real-time hydrological information and forecasting system is finalized. The supply component included an upgrade of the surface monitoring system i.e. new automatic acquisition stations and digital registering of water levels with the GSM connection. By the end of 2009 eight automatic monitoring stations on the major tributaries and the Danube River in Bulgaria are in place. Six of them have the capacity to register water level. Two of the automatic stations are on the Danube stretch – near Novo selo and Silistra. Currently the available data needs to be further verified and validated and has a low level of confidence.
Structural flood protection projects In reaction to the flood events 2005-2006, a large number of structural projects were initiated. Most of them are at the local level and are focused on the improvement of the existing or building of new flood protection structures. In 2009, а project on „Rehabilitation And Strengthening of River and Coastal Banks on the Black Sea and the Danube” was completed, financed through government investment loan from the European
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 38
Investment Bank (EIB) and Development Bank Council Europe, and co-financed by the Bulgarian government. Part of this project was a Component on Protection of the Danube banks against erosion, which main purpose is to stop the river erosion on the Bulgarian bank of the river and prevent areas from possible flood risk. In 2008 a project on Construction of a protective device in the Danube reach between rkm 702 to rkm 699.5 was started.
Capacity building, preparedness & flood mitigation To increase preparedness public information meetings, training courses and risk studies describing different flood scenarios were organized for certain pilot areas. In addition, two projects are implemented in Bulgaria aiming to strengthen the administrative capacity, to improve the information dissemination and to support the improvement of flood management. BulgaRisk is a Bulgarian-French project aiming at the integration of satellite imageries in the operational procedures of risk management in Bulgaria. The specific objectives of the project are to prepare a report on the status and the needs of the governmental institutions in Bulgaria and on the needs of geographic data during all stages of disaster management - prior, during and after their occurrence. The project also aims to demonstrate to the decision makers and to other interested parties the usefulness of satellite imageries as a source for natural hazards information and as a key instrument for their management. The project will create three data base prototypes for three pilot regions considering three types of disasters (floods, forest fires and water pollution). Experts from Danube River Basin Directorate take part in the training programme of the project.
The main goal of the SAFER project is to provide a rapid mapping capacity in response to disastrous events. Such information is based on satellite images of the affected area and on reference maps, which SAFER prepares in advance for areas facing an elevated risk of emergencies. From 2008, SAFER delivers services at full scale in response to real events as well as during specific exercises. The project's main performance criterion is the response time: with SAFER, reference mapping will be made available to users within just six hours after an emergency situation arises. Assessment maps of the disaster area will be available within 24 hours. 55 companies and institutions are from all over the Europe, including the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology are part of the project's consortium. Pilot areas are chosen within the Danube river basin in Bulgaria and the Danube River Basin Directorate is identified as beneficiary of the project results in connection with flood management.
Progress in implementation of EFD European Floods Directive is transposed into national law by the Water Act. Introducing the requirements of the Directive provides legal adoption of the principles embodied in it, and long-term planning approach to reduce flood risk. The adopted amendment to the Water Act, established the competent authority for implementing the requirements of the Directive – the Ministry of Environment and Water. For the operating protection in case of flooding the competent authority is the Ministry of Interior. For the implementation of specific stages of implementation of the Directive a schedule for implementation has been approved based on which a roadmap for specific actions, responsibilities and deadlines for implementation of the Schedule is being prepared.
Preparation of preliminary flood risk assessment, flood hazard maps and flood risk maps and flood risk management plans of areas at risk of flooding is a very complex task. Bulgaria does not have available methods and procedures for assessing the risk of flooding, and for establishing the criteria for significant adverse consequences of flooding. For these reasons, the needs of development of the respective methodologies were defined addressing all reporting requirements of EFD and taking into account the opportunities and resources available. These methodologies will have to reflect the
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 39
generally accepted scientific and computational methods as well as the technical means for carrying out basic research, computing and other activities to assess the risk of flooding. A common methodology for assessing the flood risk will enable the implementation of a common approach in performing preliminary risk assessment for each river basin and the outcomes are expected to meet the same criteria across the country.
4.2.12 Ukraine
Improvements in flood forecasting and warning Tisza sub-basin Since 2000 an Automated Information Measuring System for flood forecasting and water resources management in the Tisza River basin (AIMS-Tisza) was established and is being further developed. The main aims of AIMS-Tisza are: • forecasting online flood hydrographs; • preparing reliable forecasting information about flood parameters and transmitting the information in the automatic mode to the corresponding warning services and flood protection divisions; • making recommendations for taking management decisions. At present AIMS Tisza consists of the following elements: • Data collection center in Uzhgorod with modern hardware and software; • System of digital ultra-short wave radio connection for data transmission, covering majority of Zakarpattya; • Satellite Data Collection Platform (DCP) and GIS-database; • Automatic hydrological monitoring network with 43 stations; • Line of microwave radio connection with the Data collection center in Uzhgorod and Nyirigyhaza (Hungary), providing one Internet channel and two telephone channels; • Crisis Center in TIAWM office that is equipped with modern technique and can provide necessary information and support specialists during flood periods.
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 40
On-line data on water levels and precipitation at automatic gauging stations in the Upper Tisza river basin are available on the web site http://vodhosp.uzhgorod.ua/ and updated every 2 hours. Prut and Siret sub-basins Until present there is no modern digital river water level forecast model. The hydrometerological observations are done using the network of State Hydrometerological Service manually. Complex Flood Protection Scheme for Dnister, Prut and Siret river basin (2008) envisaged the improvement and automatization of monitoring network as well as the development of river water level and precipitation forecast model. Danube delta sub-basin The Centre for Analysis of Flood Situation in the Danube Area, Flood Warning and Information was established in November 2006 in Izmail. It is a platform for a better emergency planning, improvement of early flood warning and public access to information on flood situation in the Ukrainian Danube Region. The centre is closely cooperating with Local Authorities and the Danube Hydrometeorological Observatory responsible for flood forecasting in the Ukrainian Danube Region.
In 2009 three OTT Orpheus Mini automatic hydrological stations were installed along the Ukrainian bank of the Danube at the Danube Hydrometeorological Observatory’s (DHMO) hydrological stations of Izmail, Vilkovo and Bystriy. These automatic stations consist of a combined sensor measuring water level and temperature and a data-logger. The results of observations automatically transmit via SMS with a pre-set frequency. OTT Hydras3 Rx software in installed at the DHMO’s server in order to automatically receive the data. Data quality is controlled with OTT Hydras3 Basic software. The network of these 3 stations was successfully integrated into the existing system of hydrological monitoring and is intensively used in DHMO’s regular observations. A system of Ukrainian- Romanian communication and cooperation to respond to emergency situations and extreme events (flood) in the Lower Danube EuroRegion is under preparation.
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 41
Structural flood protection projects The flood protection programmes were prepared for all sub-basins of the Ukrainian Danube catchment and they include diverse structural measures for flood protection. Tisza sub-basin In 2006-2009 in the framework of the Complex Program on Flood Protection in the Tysa River Basin in Transcarpathia until 2015 431 mln. UAH. was spent to implement measures: 104,8 km of protective dikes were reconstructed and 44,8 km of bank protection structures were constructed. This has enable the protection of 73 settlements and 52,3 thous. ha of agricultural lands. Prut and Siret sub-basins The flood protection system on the rivers Prut and Siret includes 70 km of protective dikes, 60 km of bank protection and 135 hydrotechnical objects. They protect against flooding and damaging about 11 600 households in 60 settlements, more than 20 000 hectares of agricultural lands, 13,5 km engineering structures of the state border with Romania and other objects. Existing complex of the flood protection constructions are insufficient and need to be reconstructed. In 2006-2009 177,773 mln UaH was spent to reinforce and construct 11,773 km of flood protection dykes, 6,07 km bank protection structures and 79 dike dams. Danube delta sub-basin The existing flood protection complex along the Ukrainian part the Danube includes 255 km of flood protection dykes and 13 sluices. The complex is protecting 12 settlements with a total of 12.000 inhabitants as well as the ports of Reni and Izmail, fishing farms, agricultural areas, drinking water inlets; highways of international importance; boundary check-points; and international transit gas pipelines Russia-Romania-Turkey. Existing complex do not guarantee protection of territories against flooding in case of high and catastrophic floods. More than 30 km of the dykes and 8 sluices need urgent reparation and reconstruction. In 2006-2009 6 mln. UAH for reinforcement of the most endangered parts of the flood protection dykes and reconstruction of a sluice. It is planned that 67 mln UAH will be spent by the end of 2010 to reinforce 25 km flood protection dykes near Reni town and 3 sluices.
Capacity building, preparedness & flood mitigation A number of international projects on capacity building have been implemented such as an INTERREG Neighbourhood project on transboundary waters with Hungary and Romania (2008) or EU-funded project on “Flood Risk Assessment and Management in Zakarpatska Oblast” (2003-2006). A number of brochures and videos were prepared and disseminated. To increase preparedness and awareness, the local branches of the State Committee of Ukraine for Water Management constantly update flood-related information at their internet pages (http://www.scwm.gov.ua/). To increase public preparedness and awareness the Odessa Regional Water Management Department in cooperation with Regional Department of the Ministry of Emergency Management of Ukraine and the Centre for Regional Studies issued an information booklet “Attention: flood! What you have to do when get a flood warning”. The Recommendations on Wetland Restoration in the Ukrainian part of the Danube Floodplain were developed as a tool for flood mitigation an assessment of the Ukrainian Danube Delta wetlands’ flood-storage. In 2010 in the frame of the Ukrainian-Flemish project “Building capacities for effective flood risk management in the Ukrainian part of the Danube Delta” an information brochure for local people “What you have to do in flood risk” was prepared, published and disseminated in the region.
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 42
Progress in implementation of EFDPreliminary Flood Risk Assessment has been prepared for the Tisza and Danube delta; but its complete approaching to the requirements of EU Flood Directive is still needed. Flood hazard maps of the scale 1:10 000 for the floods of 1, 5 and 10 % probability were prepared for the part of Tisza basin (596 km) within the national program of Complex Flood Protection in Tysa River Basin in 2009. The Complex Flood Protection scheme for Dnister, Prut and Siret envisages automatization of the monitoring network and creation of flood hazard maps in 2009. Based upon the results of Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment the GIS for flood risk management in the Ukrainian part of the Lower Danube Area has been developed. It includes 10 layers at present. The following maps have been created: 1) flood zone map; 2) the map of potentially dangerous objects lying within the flood zone; 3) the map of dyke sections in critical condition (including those arising after the 2006 flood). In 2010 hydrological modeling and flesh flood risk mapping of the Reni Town has been done in line with the EU Flood Risk Directive as a step to an integrated flood risk management plan for the Danube-Liman Sub-basin. The study was prepared in the framework of the Ukrainian-Flemish project “Building capacities for effective flood risk management in the Ukrainian part of the Danube Delta” (http://crs.org.ua/en/projects/current/114.html).
Reni flash flood 2005
5 Creating Forums for Exchange of Expert Knowledge
5.1 Document on Coordination aspects of EFD implementation in the Danube River Basin
The ICPDR has commenced the work on preparation of a Concept paper in support of the implementation of the Directive 2007/60/EC in the Danube River Basin. The aim of this document is to address the fundamental tasks of the implementation of EFD at the Danube River Basin-wide level
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 43
(level A) and to describe the key aspects of a coordinated approach to be applied during this joint implementation exercise. The ICPDR Contracting Parties will follow the principles and methodologies described in the concept paper to make sure that a harmonized reporting is provided at the level A. The Concept Paper is a living document to be regularly updated based on the experience of the Danube countries in EFD implementation and also using the outcomes from the WFD CIS Working Group on Floods of the European Commission.
5.2 Other information sources A web-based info exchange platform has been developed on DANUBIS, covering • thematic collection of information related to DRB FAP targets • links to Rhine, Elbe/Labe and Oder/Odra Commission web-site • links to EU flood related R&D projects websites • links to national websites – given in the Floods fact sheet • DRB List of the online discharge/stage gauging stations’ web-pages
The EU flood related R&D projects websites can serve as an additional information source. The 6th EU Framework project FLOODSITE on Integrated Flood Risk Analysis and Management Methodologies (http://www.floodsite.net) provides interdisciplinary integrating expertise from across the physical, environmental and social sciences, as well as spatial planning and management related to flood protection and mitigation. The hydrological co-operation of the countries sharing the Danube Catchment under the auspices of the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) of UNESCO resulted in 1986 in issuing the Danube Monograph and additional eleven thematic follow-up volumes have been compiled and issued until 2005. All these published documents contain valuable hydrological data that can be used in planning, drafting and designing the structural and non-structural flood protection measures.
6 Recommendation for a common approach in assessment of flood-prone areas and evaluation of flood risk
6.1 Status review and report of flood mapping and flood risk evaluation in the sub-basins and countries of the Danube River Basin
In 2005 the ICPDR cooperated with the EEA in frame of the Neighbourhood project developing a questionnaire on flood mapping methodologies in the Danube River Basin. The questionnaires were completed by the FP EG members and using these results Hungary prepared a summary/status review on flood mapping and flood risk evaluation in the sub-basins and countries of the Danube River Basin, which is available on the ICPDR website.
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 44
6.2 Minimum recommendations for flood risk mapping in the Danube River Basin
Development of flood risk maps is one of key prerequisites to an efficient flood risk management. Risk maps provide essential information to the public but are also important tools for planning authorities and the insurance industry. The flood risk maps should increase public awareness of the areas at risk of flooding, should provide information of areas at risk by defining flood risk zones to give input to spatial planning and should support the processes of prioritising, justifying and targeting investments in order to manage and reduce the risk to people, property and the environment. That is why the ICPDR decided to organize a Flood Risk Mapping Workshop on 12-13 September 2007 in Budapest, which provided an overview of the flood risk mapping methodologies currently in use in the Danube River Basin and formulated the minimum recommendations for flood risk mapping in the Danube River Basin. The objectives of the workshop were to: • receive a substantial input to the process of achieving a common approach on flood hazard and risk assessment and mapping in the Danube River Basin with due regard to Flood Directive requirements: preliminary flood risk assessment – flood hazard mapping – flood risk mapping. • focus on a comparative overview of available methodologies, harmonisation of the outcomes and provision of a kind of guide for preparation of terms of references to support elaboration of tender documents which will be needed in the public procurement processes at the national/regional level. • bring an information on survey and mapping techniques providing digital maps and elevation models, on the individual and combined impact of uncertainties of mapping methodologies, river and overland flow modelling in flood hazard mapping as well as in modelling the elements of flood risks (population, land uses and economic activities, ecologic and cultural values and the vulnerability of all these elements, etc.) Participants of the Workshop highly appreciated the quality of the workshop that has substantially contributed even to the finalization of the EXCIMAP Guide of good practices in flood mapping as well. Based on the discussion at the workshop the FP EG formulated the minimum recommendations for flood risk mapping in the Danube River Basin, which were adopted by the ICPDR in December 2007 and are available on the ICPDR website.
6.3 FLOODRISK project
The Danube FLOODRISK is a three-year project focusing on the most cost-effective measures for flood risk reduction: risk assessment, risk mapping, involvement of stakeholders, risk reduction by adequate spatial planning. The project brings together scientists, public servants, NGOs and stakeholders who develop jointly a scalable system of flood risk maps for the Danube River floodplains. Transnational methodology and models will be defined and implemented for flood risk assessment and mapping. This results in proposals for flood mitigation measures, adjustments of spatial development plans, assessment tools for economic development in flood plains and raised awareness of flood risk of stakeholders, politicians, planners and the public. Infrastructures at risk like industry, power stations and supply infrastructure will be considered in the project. The overall objective of the FLOODRISK project is to develop and produce high quality, stakeholder oriented flood risk maps for the transnational Danube river floodplains to provide adequate risk information for spatial planning and economic requests. Risk information is the basis for sustainable development along the Danube River. The key objective will only be reached by intensive transnational cooperation and stakeholder integration. The goal is to link scientific progress in harmonization of approaches and data with practically oriented stakeholder and end user involvement.
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 45
Vertical and horizontal cooperation are the two pillars of the project. The project’s single objectives are: • Development of a joint mapping method for flood risk and harmonization of data sources. • Production and provision of risk maps and risk information. • Integration of relevant stakeholders and users on different levels into the definition and realization processes. • Involvement of different economic aspects of land use in the river basin like spatial planning, recreation and agriculture as well as energy supply or health service. • Linkage of flood risk mapping and provision of maps as basis for planning, e.g. within the EU Floods Directive. • Development and distribution of exemplary procedures within the Danube countries and beyond. • Reflection of the EU Directives, e.g. WFD, Floods Directive, providing feedback based on the experiences of the project cooperation by using the platform of the ICPDR Flood Protection Expert Group. The project contributes with these objectives to the improvement of the institutional cooperation of the ICPDR and further towards the realization of measures within the existing international cooperation structure. It supports decisions for investments on political and administrative levels by allowing the assessment of investments and land use decisions taking into account the Joint Program of Measures, based on the risk reduction aspects.
7 Other activities
7.1 Danube 2006 floods report
The winter 2005/2006 in the Danube River Basin was exceptional with the temperatures from November to March being below a multiannual average. In addition, large water amounts had been accumulated in the snow cover in the Danube region as a result of several cycles of an intense snowfall. A rapid increase of daily air temperatures in the end of March 2006 caused snowmelt, which along with an intensive rainfall and still frozen soil cover caused a fast surface runoff. In consequence, massive springtime floods occurred in a large area of the Danube River basin including certain parts of the Upper Danube (e.g. Morava river basin) and, primarily, the Central (Tisza, Sava) and Lower Danube. A very rare coincidence of relatively large floods in the sub-basins of Upper Danube as well as those of Tisza, Sava and Velika Morava caused a very serious 100-year flood situation along more than thousand kilometers of the Danube River starting from the Morava mouth to the southern tip of the Csepel Island in Hungary, downstream the Tisza mouth in Serbia and on the whole Romanian part of the Danube, where historical flows and water levels were registered. The extent of floods in Romania was the largest in the last hundred years. During the period of April 12-25 the registered flows in Romania recorded maximum values of 15,600-15,800 m3/s, similar to those in the year 1895. Rather unusual was a long duration of a high flood alert on the Danube downstream of the Iron Gate lasting more than 6 weeks.
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 46
The following sub basins were very seriously affected by the floods: Paar (Bavaria), Morava (Austria, Czech Republic), Vah (Slovakia), Tisza (Hungary, Romania, Serbia), Jiu (Romania) and Danube in Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria. Spring floods in 2006 caused minimum casualties mostly thank to efficient flood protection, preparedness and mitigation. Thousands of people were involved in the emergency operations. Flood warning and forecasting proved to be one of the key factors of an integral flood protection and provided valuable information both on the national level as well as on the basin-wide scale (Danube EFAS). The estimated total costs of damages and related emergency operations exceeded 600 millions EUR. The 2006 flood defence actions however revealed also a number of general and operational deficiencies and served as a good test of warning, protection, preparedness and mitigation actions. Therefore, the ICPDR agreed to evaluate this flood event not only with the aim to assess its specific hydrological characteristics, but also to analyze the overall preparedness and the measures taken at the national level with the view of highlighting the lessons that could be learned to prevent or minimize the extent of damages in future. A result of this evaluation is a report providing an overview of different aspects of the spring 2006 flood event including the lessons learned, which are a good and useful source of hints for improvement of flood risk management in the Danube River Basin. The report has been published in 2008.
7.2 Flood factsheet 2010
A fact sheet for public informing on publishing of the action plans for 17 sub-basins of the Danube was published by the Secretariat. The document highlights the importance of the plans in the context of the ICPDR activities concerning the implementation of the ICPDR Action Programme on Sustainable Flood Protection in the Danube River Basin as well as of the European Floods Directive.
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org
Report on Achievements in FP 47
8 Conclusions
The implementation of ICPDR Action Programme on Sustainable Flood Protection in the Danube River Basin reached the key milestone – publishing of flood action plans for 17 sub-basins of the Danube. The set of 17 plans represents a unique technical planning document that provides, for the first time, a broad overview of the measures all Danube countries will be taking to keep their citizens safe against the danger of floods. They are a major contribution to the finalising of flood risk management plans by 2015 as required by the EFD and signify the excellent basin-wide cooperation that exists in flood protection, prevention and mitigation. The Danube part of the European Flood Alert System (EFAS) has been developed at the EC Joint Research Centre (JRC) with support of the national meteorological services and national hydrological services. The Danube EFAS was launched into operation in December 2007. Operation of the system enables the Danube countries receiving EFAS information in form of early flood warning reports for floods in the next 3-10 days. This tool complements the national forecasting systems and provides the forecasters with an additional information helpful for decision-making on issuing a flood warning. EFAS-Danube members have 24/7 access to a protected web-server where the twice-daily EFAS forecasts can be examined and viewed. Development of flood risk maps is one of key prerequisites to an efficient flood risk management. Risk maps provide essential information to the public but are also important tools for planning authorities and the insurance industry. In 2007 the ICPDR formulated the minimum recommendations for flood risk mapping in the Danube River Basin. At present, the EU funded project “Danube FLOODRISK” aims to develop uniform flood risk maps that define flood hazards and vulnerability will form the basis for targeting measures and reducing flood damage in the Danube Basin. Begun as an initiative of the Romanian ICPDR Presidency in 2007, the project will meet requirements of the EU European Flood Risk Directive to draw up flood risk maps for areas at risk by 2013. The FLOODRISK project will be completed by the end of 2012 under the leadership of the Romanian Environment Ministry, with the involvement of all Danube countries. Having completed the flood action plans in sub-basins the ICPDR now concentrates fully on the concerted implementation of the European Floods Directive on the basin-wide level. The next step will be reporting on the preliminary flood risk assessment according to the Article 4 EFD in 2011- 2012. The efforts taken by the ICPDR in the sector of flood protection are an efficient response to the flood events frequently occurring in the Danube River Basin in recent years. Taking into account the expected impacts of the climate change in future the need for a close cooperation of the ICPDR Contracting Parties in flood protection, prevention and mitigation is essential for ensuring the safety for human health and property and for the sustainable development in the Danube River Basin in line with the Danube Strategy.
ICPDR / International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River / www.icpdr.org