Flood control on the Odra –

case study Domaszków - Tarchalice

Piotr Nieznański, WWF Poland

Despite river improvement:

valuable forest and meadow biotopes along the Odra

Riparian forests on the Odra, still in good condition, are one of the most valuable in Europe

The flood of 1997

The flood of 1997– can we expect a new approach to flood control ?

The reality:• construction and modernisation of reservoirs • modernisation and raising of dikes• construction of flood channels

• floodplain restoration is forgotten ?• plans of further regulation: dams and more dams

The Odra Floodplain Atlas

Data base accessible to all

GIS

Natural floodplain area of the Odra - more than 3600 km2

Viable floodplains today - just 970 km2 (27 %)

Lack of effective mechanisms for floodplain protection is responsible for growing pressure (intensification of agriculture, rural and urban development)

On the Odra the importance of floodplains for flood control is appreciated only on paper, very little is done to restore and protect them.

Unhappy example :

after 1997 - turkey farming on the planned retention area Bieliszów – Lubów

Bieliszów – Lubów km 346 – 352

Domaszków – Tarchalicekm 319 – 326,5

Domaszków – Tarchalicekm 319 – 326,5

Domaszków – Tarchalicekm 319 – 326,5

Domaszków – Tarchalicekm 319 – 326,5

Domaszków – Tarchalicekm 319 – 326,5

Benefits to nature and economy:

• Good conditions for floodplain regeneration

• Permanent natural retention area of 670 ha

• Area drained and flooded without technical interference

• New dike - lower (built on the river terrace), safer (situated outside the forested area)

Moving back the embankment

(km 319 – 326.5)

Case studyDomaszków - Tarchalice

- Forest management- Water management- Nature protection- Land reclamation- Self - governments

90 % of the area is under forest, 55 % of it are riparian forests /grey colour/

14 main types of biotopes:

• 8 natural river valley biotopes• 3 semi-natural• 3 anthropogenic

Risk analysis for forestry

hydrology soilsreliefecosystems

Future action:

- Feasibility study for dike removal

- Introducing adjustments into existing flood control and physical planning

- Securing funding for the dike removal by applying to national and EU sources

(in cooperation with the self-government of Wolow Commune, Water Management Authority and Forestry Authority)

WWW.WWF.PL

Floodplains cover approx. 6-8% of the land surface (in central Europe)

But offer habitat for more than 50 % of all plant associations

(based on Swiss data)

Ecological relevance of floodplains and their interconnectivity