Polski
In 2010. Sandomierz experienced dramatic flooding, during which a levee on the Vistula broke and submerged the right bank of the city. So it is for good reason that it was here on May 14 this year. A conference was held as part of the Safe Vistula program – ecologically into the future. The meeting presented the results of the analysis to date and proposed solutions to ensure the safety of the region’s residents now and in the future.
Climate change increases risk of flooding
The catastrophic floods that hit Poland in 1997 and 2010 are part of a disturbing meteorological trend closely linked to a warming climate. According to many experts, the problem will worsen in the coming years. This year alone, the media reported gigantic floods in, among other places. Russia and Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Argentina, Indonesia or most recently in Brazil.
Recall that in early June 2010. Heavy rains have caused water levels to rise sharply in the upper Vistula and Oder river basins. In addition to Sandomierz, flooded areas included. Krakow, Czechowice-Dziedzice, Chelm Slaski and Oswiecim – combined 554 thousand. ha in 2157 localities.
To prevent a repeat of this black scenario in the Oder River basin, preventive hydrological solutions have been introduced, i.e. The Racibórz Dolny dry flood control reservoir was prepared, and the Wroclaw Water Junction was modernized. The Safe Vistula Program – Ecologically into the Future is a continuation of hydrological investments, this time on the Upper Vistula.
Protection of the Vistula River Basin
During the Sandomierz conference, Przemyslaw Koperski, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, stressed how multifaceted the phenomenon of flooding is and the losses it entails. Thus, he justified the need for remedial action on the Vistula. Their first stage was A program of non-technical and retention measures that are part of flood risk management in the water regions of the Little Vistula and Upper Vistula (catchment area above Krakow), including protection against flooding of the city of Krakow classified as Task 5.7.1 of the Oder and Vistula River Basin Flood Protection Project (POPDOiW), implemented with the support of the World Bank.
The above program, scheduled for implementation between 2021 and 2026, calls for the construction of 10 retention facilities and two multipurpose flood control reservoirs. Watersheds 2021. conducted public consultations on the implementation of the program and prepared a feasibility study and an environmental impact assessment.
Safe Vistula – Ecologically into the future is task 5.7.2 under the POPDOiW project – its official name is Program of retention measures as part of flood risk management in the Upper Western Vistula and Upper Eastern Vistula water region between Krakow and Zawichost. The program is a continuation of activities previously undertaken with a total value of PLN 700 million – these included. The construction of a flood gate in the Sandomierz harbor channel and the expansion of the flood barrier there.
Safe Vistula – ecologically into the future – goals and objectives of the program
The goal of the program, which was developed by Wody Polskie in cooperation with hydrotechnical infrastructure experts, is to increase protection against flooding within the so-called “flood zone. The Sandomierz Vistula, that is, from the mouth of the Nida River to the mouth of the San River. It provides for studies and research that will enable effective implementation of measures to prevent the effects of flooding and drought. Implementation of the Safe Vistula project – ecologically into the future is to be based on the highest environmental standards. Representatives of local governments and local communities will be involved in the work.
Wojciech Kozak, the director of RZGW Kraków, who is overseeing the project, listed the construction of more polders and the renaturalization of floodplains among the necessary measures. The planned retention infrastructure will have a capacity of ok. 230 mlncubic meters and will also protect the region from drought. New hydraulic models of selected watercourses will also be created, and existing ones will be evaluated. The program also includes an analysis of the technical condition of infrastructure and land use in conjunction with the identification of protected areas and cultural heritage sites.
So far, it has been possible to carry out a study on raising retention capacities in the Raba, Wisłoka, Dunajec and Nida catchments. It turned out that measures such as increasing logging in the intercatchment or expanding the area of grassland within the intercatchment and polders are only of local importance and do not substantially reduce the overall flood risk in the region. More comprehensive solutions are therefore needed, and the new program is designed to make it possible.
You can learn more about the Safe Vistula program – greening the future on the website.
