The multi-year program “Management of water resources in Poland” – Public consultations will last until June 5

As part of the ongoing strategic environmental assessment procedure until June 5 this year. You can submit your comments on the draft Multiannual Program “Management of Water Resources in Poland”. The consultation was announced by the Ministry of Infrastructure.

The total value of investments envisaged by the Program is PLN 6.29 billion

According to the wording of the document, the goal of the activities included in it is to increase flood safety and achieve a favorable water balance (drought protection and water retention). It is assumed that this goal will be achieved through the restoration of flood control infrastructure and the construction of water reservoirs. On the other hand, the identified specific goals for the Program are to raise the navigational performance of the waterway and improve icebreaking, as well as increase retention and green energy production.

As highlighted in the draft Multiannual Program “Water Resources Management in Poland”, due to the financial limitations of the state budget, a total of 20 investment tasks were selected for implementation. Among them were the construction of water reservoirs: Wielowieś Klasztorna on the Prozna River, Kąty-Myscowa on the Wisłoka River, Kotlarnia on the Bierawka River, Kamieniec Ząbkowicki on the Nysa Kłodzka River, or the Tkaczewska Góra small retention reservoir. The second priority of the Program is the reconstruction of regulatory structures on the Lower Vistula in various kilometers.

Selection of tasks for the Program “Management of water resources in Poland”.

The Program reads: “A key criterion for their inclusion in the Program was their inclusion in the planning and program documents in water management: the update of the PZRP, PPSS and/or the draft PPNW. Implementation of the tasks included in the Program is intended to improve the effectiveness of the implementation of activities planned in the six-year planning cycle. The selection of investment tasks for implementation under the Program must be considered in the context of the overall policy of flood protection and minimization of the effects of drought in Poland. It is necessary to emphasize that in parallel with the implementation of the Program, under other sources of funding, it is expected to initiate activities of a different nature, resulting from planning and strategic documents relevant to the water management sector.

The list of investment tasks focused on supporting areas prone to floods and droughts, as manifested in the Program’s priorities centered around increasing retention in Poland (through the construction of wet reservoirs) on a nationwide basis, flood protection (through the construction of dry reservoirs) and providing conditions for icebreaking on the sensitive section of the Lower Vistula River.”

The investments indicated in the draft Multiannual Program “Management of Water Resources in Poland” are classified as projects likely to have a significant impact on the environment. At the same time, the draft Program indicates that there are no alternatives to projects identified as potentially having a significant impact on Natura2000 areas. According to the Environmental Impact Assessment, six investments are affected. How the draft Program was evaluated in the forecast can be seen in the appendices to the Notice of Consultation.

The contractor of the Program and at the same time the investor will be Wody Polskie.