A brief introduction to the Flood (Risk) Directive. Jan Verkade, M.A. Delft Hydraulics

Transcription

1 A brief introduction to the Flood (Risk) Directive Jan Verkade, M.A. Delft Hydraulics

2 Flood Risk Directive s full name: Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the assessment and management of flood risks EU legislation!

3 Purpose of the Flood Risk Directive (article 1) establish a framework for the assessment and management of flood risks aiming at the reduction of the adverse consequences associated with floods on human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity

4 Why a framework for Flood Risk Management? (preamble) Floods have the potential to cause fatalities, displacement of people and damage to the environment, to severely compromise economic development and to undermine the economic activities of the Community. Floods are natural phenomena which cannot be prevented. However, some human activities and climate change contribute to an increase in the likelihood and adverse impacts of flood events. It is feasible and desirable to reduce the risk of adverse consequences associated with floods.

5 Floods have the potential to cause fatalities

6 Floods have the potential to cause displacement of people

7 Floods have the potential to cause displacement of people

8 Floods have the potential to damage the environment

9 Floods have the potential to damage the environment

10 Floods have the potential to compromise economic life

11 Why an EU-directive? Why not leave it up to the Member States? Principle of subsidiarity: Flood risks are best managed and reduced at basin level, not at individual Member State level. Principle of solidarity: Actions taken by one Member State should not adversely impact another Member State.

12 Current status of the Flood Risk Directive 1. Between January 2006 and October 2007, the institutions of the European Union negotiated the text of the FRD. 2. The Flood Risk Directive was formally adopted by European Parliament and by the Council of the European Union ( council of ministers ) on October 23rd, The directive was published in the Official Journal of the European Union YESTERDAY (November 6th, 2007) and will enter into force on November 26th. 4. Member States now have two years to implement the Directive s requirements into their respective national legislations.

13 Definitions (article 2) Flood: temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water Photo: Telegraph.co.uk

14 Definitions (article 2) Flood: temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water Photo: Telegraph.co.uk

15 Definitions (article 2) Flood: temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water Photo: Telegraph.co.uk

16 Floods from mountain torrents (flash floods) Photo:

17 River floods Photos:

18 Coastal floods Photos:

19 Area potentially flooded at water level 6.0 m below MSL

20 Area potentially flooded at water level 5.0 m below MSL

21 Area potentially flooded at water level 4.0 m below MSL

22 Area potentially flooded at water level 3.0 m below MSL

23 Area potentially flooded at water level 2.0 m below MSL

24 Area potentially flooded at water level 1.0 m below MSL

25 Area potentially flooded at water level 0.0 m below MSL

26 Area potentially flooded at water level 0.5 m above MSL

27 Area potentially flooded at water level 1.0 m above MSL

28 Coastal floods Photo:

29 Ephemeral watercourses

30 Floods from sewerage systems

31 Floods in polders

32 Definitions (article 2) Flood risk: combination of the probability of a flood event the potential adverse consequences Often used definition: risk = probability x consequences flood risk where D h P h dh 0 D(h) P(h) = damage associated with a particular flood event = probability of that flood event occurring (0 P 1)

33 Probability and consequences

34 Probability and consequences Probability of occurrence: high (e.g. 0.8) Consequences: low (e.g. 150k)

35 Probability and consequences Probability of occurrence: medium (e.g. 0.5) Consequences: medium (e.g. 2.5M)

36 Probability and consequences Probability of occurrence: low (e.g. 0,1) Consequences: high (e.g. 10M)

37 Total flood risk Flood level (h) P(h) x D(h) = P(h) D(h) i low , ,000 ii medium 0.5 2,500,000 1,250,000 iii high ,000,000 1,000,000 Total flood risk: 2,370,000 probability x consequences = flood risk

38 Flood Risk Management as prescribed by the Directive For those areas with potential significant flood risk assess what that risk is (flood probability and estimated consequences) determine acceptable levels of protection (=objectives) implement measures to reach those objectives + river basin level + solidarity principle + public participation

39 Required products of Flood Risk Directive 1. Preliminary flood risk assessment (chapter II) 2. Flood hazard maps and flood risk maps (chapter III) 3. Flood risk management plans (chapter IV)

40 Preliminary flood risk assessment (article 4) to provide an assessment of potential risks based on available or readily derivable information (such as records) Elements: maps of the river basin district description of past floods description of possible future floods

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42 Flood hazard maps (article 6.3 and 6.4) have to show the areas that might be flooded by: (a) floods with a low probability (extreme events); (b) floods with a medium probability (likely return period 100 years); (c) floods with a high probability. Elements: flood extent water depths or water level flow velocity or water flow

43 Flood hazard maps: flood extent

44 Flood hazard maps: water depths or water level

45 Flood risk maps (article 6.5) show the potential adverse consequences associated with flood scenarios Elements: the indicative number of inhabitants potentially affected; type of economic activity of the area potentially affected; installations which might cause accidental pollution in case of flooding; potentially affected Natura 2000 areas.

46 Flood risk map, example from Japan

47 Flood risk map: type of economic activity / damages

48 Flood risk maps: floods and land use Landcover flooded for events with a return period of 1000 years

49 Flood Risk Management Plans (Chapter IV: articles 7 and 8) Based on flood hazard maps and flood risk maps Elements: Appropriate objectives for the management of flood risk, focusing on: the reduction of potential adverse consequences of flooding, non-structural initiatives and/or on the reduction of the likelihood of flooding. Measures that aim at achieving these objectives

50 Flood Risk Management Plans (article 7.3) FRMPs have to address all aspects of flood risk management focusing on Prevention Protection Preparedness, including flood forecasts and early warning systems FRMPs may also include the promotion of sustainable land use practices improvement of water retention controlled flooding of certain areas in the case of a flood event.

51 Flood Risk Management Plans (article 7.3) have to take into account relevant aspects such as: costs and benefits; flood extent and flood conveyance routes; areas which have the potential to retain flood water such as natural floodplains (Room for Rivers) the environmental objectives of the Water Framework Directive; soil and water management; spatial planning, land use; nature conservation, and navigation and port infrastructure.

52 Flood Risk Management: international dimension (article 7.4) Measures taken to reduce flood risk in one Member State cannot significantly increase flood risk in other Member States unless the measures have been coordinated and agreed.

53 Flood Risk Management in The Netherlands Traditionally, flood management was limited to reducing the likelihood of flooding Flood events of 12/1993 and 01/1995 increased awareness and thus allowed for new policies to be developed New strategies take into account possible consequences

54 Coordination with Water Framework Directive (art. 9) Flood Risk Management Plans have to take into account the environmental objectives from the WFD Flood hazard maps and flood risk maps must be consistent with WFD characterisation reports Possible integration: flood hazard mapping and flood risk mapping with review of WFD characterisation reports Flood Risk Management Plans with WFD River Basin Management Plans Public information and consultation

55 Public information and consultation (article 10) Why? Awareness leads to better preparation for possible floods Coordination with WFD public information and consultation All products have to be made available to the public Active involvement of interested parties inestablishing Flood Risk Management Plans should be encouraged

56 Flood Risk Directive schedule Publication in OJEU: 6/11/2007 Entry into force: 26/11/2007 Implementation into national legislation: before 26/11/2009 Preliminary flood risk assessment: 22/12/2011 Flood hazard maps and flood risk maps: 22/12/2013 Flood risk management plans: 22/12/2015 Reviews: every six years, in line with WFD reviews

57 Further reading An EU policy on flood risk management Final version of the Flood Risk Directive: re02.en07.pdf (for BG version: replace en by bg twice!)

58 Questions: via moderator