Regional development and flood protection in river basins
Background and Goals
In recent decades, flood disasters have caused considerable damage to almost all major rivers in Germany. Flooding as a natural event is usually triggered by long-lasting and extensive rainfall, sometimes in conjunction with snowmelt. However, straightening and embankment of rivers do not remain without far-reaching consequences on the flood events, since retention space is lost and flood waves accumulate faster. In addition, the vulnerability of society to floods has increased significantly as a result of increasing population density and use of river basins and catchment areas. Finally, climate change may contribute to exacerbating flood risks due to changes in precipitation regimes (UBA 14.6.2017). However, the future consequences of climate change are associated with high uncertainties and must be differentiated for the respective river basins (adelphi / prc / EURAC 2015). Human suffering and environmental damage, but also the economic costs of flood events, especially on the Elbe, Oder and Danube, repeatedly gave rise to improving flood prevention in the regions. Water management planning as well as spatial planning play an important role here. Pursuant to Section 1 (2) of the Spatial Planning Act (ROG 2017), it is the task of spatial planning to pose the framework conditions for sustainable spatial development. It turns out that flood precaution often competes with other demands on space.
The aim of the present study was to explore regulatory options for spatial planning against the background of significant changes in law, recent findings and planning principles and to develop recommendations for a sustainable approach to flood prevention in regional planning. Main foci were the priority areas for action (HSP) on preventive flood protection for the Ministerial Conference on Spatial Planning (MKRO 2013), as well as the priority topics of settlement withdrawal, load balancing and risk communication. (cf. p. 8)
Content time
toResearch area/region
Country
- Germany
Region of implementation (all German federal states)
- Nationwide
Spatial resolution
Focus lies on Elbe river with subsequent extension of the river basins of the Danube, Ems, Oder, Rhine / Meuse and Weser rivers.
Steps in the process of adaptation to climate change
Step 1: Understand and describe climate change
Parameter (climate signals)
- River flooding
- Flash floods
- Sea level rise und storm surges
Step 3: Develop and compare measures
Measures and/or strategies
Within the scope of the project, a handbook with recommendations for the design of flood prevention in spatial planning was published.
It outlines the topic of preventive flood protection and contains many hints and tips for planning practice. The addressees of the handbook are first and foremost the actors of federal and regional planning, as well as local actors who have to take into account the objectives and principles of the regional spatial plans in urban land use planning. The actors of the water industry and other specialist planning can get an idea of the current considerations on flood precaution in regional planning. In addition, the interest of a wider specialist public and of actors from science, business and politics should be awakened. The handbook can thus serve as a source of information for all actors involved in planning processes of spatial planning, but also for affected citizens.
The results of the MORO study are the basis for the conception of a new model project, in which the spatial planning authorities as well as the actors of water management and regional development are to deal in depth with the impact of flood risk management on the regions and appropriate integrative strategies for flood prevention. In particular, it is about better anchoring established approaches in planning practice and elaborating innovative strategies beyond that. The aim is to improve the connectivity of regional planning, regional development and preventive flood protection in the river basins.
The new field of research will be designed in the course of a MORO program in terms of process, action and project orientation. The generating of knowledge takes place in the interplay of scientific expertise and practical testing via projects in model regions. The focus lies on the design of the MKRO priority areas for flood prevention and coastal protection, but also on the additional priority areas of action "settlement withdrawal" and "load balancing" and their implementation in planning practice. It also promotes the exchange between spatial planning and water management, examines the interaction between flood prevention and regional development, and addresses the issues of risk governance and communication.
Step 5: Watch and evaluate adaptation (monitoring and evaluation)
Approach, objective and results of the monitoring and/or evaluation
An analysis of the design of flood prevention in spatial planning was carried out as part of a plan analysis of regional and regional plans. These were examined for current statutory regulations on preventive flood protection and measures for flood risk management in river basins and also on coastal regions in respect to the actions points of the Ministerial Conference on Spatial Planning, as well as on topics such as settlement retreat and load balancing. Results show that e.g. in Saxony, a broad portfolio of options for designation for flood-prone areas and flood development areas are available. In addition, there is a need to catch up on the implementation of the MKRO action areas at federal state level. At regional level, most of the key topics are already well established.
Furthermore, surveys with experts were held which provided further information on the status quo of flood prevention and on transnational coordination of flood prevention. Results include exceptions to the Water Resources Act are far too often used to circumvent the ban on flooding areas as well as that the obligation of self-provision according to §5 WHG in practice is hardly viable or that regional planning actors are not or inadequately involved in flood risk management planning. For these reasons, cooperation and coordination processes should be further intensified and mutual learning processes as well as the idea of solidarity should be strengthened.
Continuing three topics were covered: settlement withdrawal, load balancing and risk communication. Expertises were provided with the help of case study regions on the extent to which risk avoidance, risk minimization and compensation strategies were applied. In addition, further expert and synthesis workshops were carried out. In the course of the workshops, the previous results of thee analysis and interview were presented and discussed.
This resulted in publication of the Handbook with recommendations for the Design of Flood Management in Spatial Planning and these results were presented at a design conference with participants from regional and regional planning, water management, etc. Further research was carried forward to a new and further MORO research field.
Participants
Funding / Financing
Bavarian Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection (StMUV)
Project management
Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR)
Cooperation/Partners
- agl Hartz • Saad • Wendl
- plan + risk consult
Contact
Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR)
Deichmanns Aue 31 - 37
53179 Bonn
