PL
The results of analyses on flood risk and drought hazards in the Upper Vistula region, along with proposed solutions to identified problems, were presented on May 14 during the “Safe Vistula – Ecologically into the Future” program conference. The meeting took place in Sandomierz, a city severely affected by the 2010 flood and crucial to the implementation of the current project.
The new program is formally known as the “Retention Measures Program as Part of Flood Risk Management in the Upper Western Vistula and Upper Eastern Vistula Water Region between Kraków and Zawichost.” Its goal is to enhance the safety of residents in the Vistula region, with particular emphasis on the Sandomierz Vistula, by mitigating flood risks while maintaining the highest ecological standards—not only in hydrotechnical infrastructure but also in surrounding areas. From the outset, it has been developed in close cooperation between PGW Wody Polskie and experts in both technical and non-technical hydrological solutions, environmental protection, and representatives of local communities, including municipal authorities from flood-prone areas.
Both at the inaugural conference in Kraków and the current one, stakeholders from non-governmental organizations with a strong interest in green-blue hydrology also participated.
Severe floods are a dramatic consequence of the warming climate.
Severe, sudden floods are now becoming more frequent and widespread, with reports from around the world documenting their unprecedented scale. Just in recent weeks, Dubai experienced a tropical-style storm, with rainfall in 12 hours matching the total that typically falls over an entire year. Brazil’s southern region, especially the state of Rio Grande do Sul, has been devastated by the heaviest rains in 80 years, resulting in floods and landslides that have claimed hundreds of lives. Afghanistan, too, faced similar devastation, with over 300 people dying from floods and landslides. While tropical rainfall has been studied for a long time, its increasing intensity and occurrence in areas that have never seen such events are direct consequences of rapid climate changes. Unfortunately, this phenomenon is not confined to distant regions but is also affecting Europe, including Poland. In addition to localized floods and inundations that occur several times a year, Poland has experienced catastrophic floods of unprecedented scale, such as those in 1997 and 2010.
Time for flood prevention actions on the Upper Vistula
“Rarely is it emphasized that a flood is not only a powerful natural disaster. We must realize that it is a multifaceted phenomenon affecting our lives, from the economy to the sense of security of people living in flood-prone areas. The losses caused by the two largest floods at the turn of the century, amounting to tens of billions of zlotys, force us to take adequate measures to minimize similar threats.” said Deputy Minister Przemysław Koperski. “To a large extent, through spectacular hydrological investments such as the Racibórz Dolny reservoir, the comprehensive reconstruction of the so-called Wrocław water junction, and many non-technical initiatives, we have addressed this challenge in the Oder River basin. Now it’s time for equally effective solutions in the upper section of the Vistula River. After the implementation of the 2021 “Program of non-technical and retention actions as part of flood risk management in the Mała Wisła and Upper Vistula water regions (catchment above Kraków), including flood protection for the city of Kraków,” i.e. task 5.7.1, it is now time to propose a retention action program that forms part of flood risk management in the Upper Western Vistula and Upper Eastern Vistula water regions between Kraków and Zawichost.” said Wojciech Kozak, Director of the Regional Water Management Authority in Kraków.
Press briefing with the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Infrastructure, the State Water Holding Polish Waters, and the Director of the Regional Water Management Authority in Kraków.
„Bezpieczna Wisła – ekologicznie w przyszłość” to kolejny etap działań
The project 5.7.2 “Safe Vistula – Ecologically Towards the Future” is a continuation of efforts aimed at analyzing additional possible measures in the Vistula basin to reduce floodwater flow and lower the height of the flood wave. Mateusz Balcerowicz, Deputy President of the State Water Holding Polish Waters for flood and drought protection, pointed out that in previous years, several tasks were completed to protect the most urbanized areas of the basin, namely Sandomierz and Kraków.
“An example of such actions is, among others, the design and construction of a floodgate along with accompanying devices on the tributary channel to the river port in Sandomierz, as well as the expansion of the embankment protecting the residential area in Sandomierz from floodwaters, along with the extension of the Vistula flood embankment from Lwowska Street to the connection with the Koćmierzów embankment. The total value of all completed investments amounted to 700 million PLN,” said Mateusz Balcerowicz.
Detailed analyses and multi-variant proposals
The program includes a full range of actions, accompanied by a series of analyses and studies aimed at the most effective implementations. “These are both initiatives such as the protection and renaturalization of natural floodplain areas as well as the construction of retention basins,” said Wojciech Kozak, Director of RZGW Kraków, overseeing the implementation of the program. “An example of the work carried out is, among others, an analysis regarding the increase of the retention capacity of the catchment area through afforestation. It was conducted for the catchments of the Raba, Wisłoka, Dunajec, and Nida rivers.” – added W. Kozak. The total potential retention could reach 6.2 million m³, compared to the total estimated needs in the Program, which are between 200 and 250 million m³. Partial, yet still important, significance, in line with existing recommendations, good practices, and in compliance with existing restrictions for protected areas, pertains to the proposed maintenance works in the floodplain area. Hydraulic analyses have shown that increasing the clearing in the floodplain will improve floodwater flow conditions only locally, but it will not resolve the flood risk issue in the entire region. The same applies to increasing the share of green areas in the floodplain and polder areas, controlled flooding of the polder area, and restoring and improving the condition of water retention structures (oxbow lakes, ponds). Urban drainage networks, examined in this context in Kielce, Tarnów, and Rzeszów, also have limited significance in mitigating the impacts of river floods.
“Bezpieczna Wisła – ekologicznie w przyszłość” is a project that incorporates the World Bank standards for the preparation of Strategic Environmental and Social Assessments (SESA).
The conclusions from the Sandomierz conference will be used in the public consultation process. All materials and results of the currently ongoing actions will be available on the website www.bezpiecznawisła.pl.
