Towards joint flood risk management in transboundary basins

During the workshop on adaptation to climate change of UNECE I presented the preliminary results of the project FLOOD-WISE, in which Play-Time is involved as advisor. The title of the presentation was: “Towards joint flood risk management in transboundary basins”. Here you can read a summary and take a look at the presentation:

What is FLOOD-WISE?

FLOOD-WISE is an INTERREG IV-C funded project that deals with integrated flood risk management in a transboundary setting. In six international rivers, the FLOOD-WISE partners develop cross border approaches for dealing with extreme flood events, following the principles of the EU Flood Risk Management Directive (FRMD). These rivers are the Bug, Elbe, Meuse, Rur, Somes and Sotla. From every river 2 or 3 riparian countries are involved.

Why a cross border approach?

In FLOOD-WISE we distinguished three tools for flood risk management that are addressed in the FRMD: 1) preliminary flood risk assessment; 2) flood risk maps, and; 3) flood risk management plans. FLOOD-WISE chooses a cross border approach in order to:

• Increase the availability of data and information.
• Extend the room for and effectiveness of possible solutions.
• Extend the transboundary network of responsible authorities in the river basins.

Achievements towards cross border flood risk management

The partners of the river Elbe developed a joint catalogue of objectives and possible measures for flood risk management, addressing the themes hazard prevention, hazard defence, hazard response, recovery and preparedness. The catalogue contains a variety of possible measures and provides a basis for prioritization of measures. In the transboundary practice of the Elbe it appears to be difficult to realize hydraulic interventions, because of a lack of a common model for the river. The partners however, agreed upon more generic cross border measures, like data exchange, early warning, transboundary communication and information. In addition joint measures for disaster management however have been agreed upon on state level.

At the project start, data, models and detailed maps were absent in the river Bug that is shared by Belarus, Poland and Ukraine. The main focus therefore is on information exchange, building relations and cross border contacts. Now, the partners developed a common hydraulic and hydrologic model for the whole river. For defining a combination of climate change adaptation measures with flood protection measures and restoration measures, a common approach will be followed, based on the Polish practice of flood risk management.

In all rivers involved in the project, partners made an effort to harmonize data, models and objectives. This resulted in the development of joint transboundary flood risk and flood hazard maps for various scenarios. Attention has been paid to economic, ecologic and social/cultural values in de areas involved. In the last phase of the project transboundary measures and plans for flood risk management and adaptation strategies will be defined. In for example the Somes region, the partners agreed on transboundary inspections and measurements and mutual assistance during calamities.

Intermediate results of FLOOD-WISE

From 22 – 24 October 2012, the results of FLOOD-WISE will be presented during a final conference in Maastricht, The Netherlands. At the moment, the following intermediate results are available:

• A project statement with recommendations for dealing with transboundary flood risk management (available on www.flood-wise.eu).
• A collection of good practices of transboundary flood risk management (available through www.wise-rtd.info).
• A serious game in which participants can experience and practice, what working in a transboundary setting means. The game will be freely available soon.

Take a look at the presentation here: