In August 2002, the transnational Elbe (Czech: Labe) river catchment experienced the most severe economic damage ever caused by river flooding in Europe. The Elbe catchment suffers from a wide range of flooding issues that are typical for Europe, including flash-flooding in the mountainous regions and large inundation volumes in the lowlands. This made it an excellent case study to develop and test FLOODsite methodologies within the context of a large catchment and also an opportunity to identify lessons learnt from the 2002 flood and other events.
Data was provided by a number of public authorities in Germany and the Czech Republic, through which the Elbe and its tributaries run and five smaller pilot areas were selected in which to focus on a range of FLOODsite methodologies developed through various tasks of the project. These pilot areas were:
Moldawa River (Czech Republic)
Horní Stropnice River
Trebon Basin
Mulde River (Germany)
Zwickauer Mulde River
Vereinigte Mulde Rriver
Lowland part of the Elbe River (Germany)
The pilot sites were selected for detailed risk analysis, including social, economic and ecological impacts, and to understand the interrelation between different sites. Risk perception, risk assessment and risk reduction measures and instruments were also investigated as part of integrated flood risk management strategies being developed within the river basin. Examples of specific research topics included:
The effects of regional climate change;
The influence of land-use change on runoff generation;
Multi-criteria risk evaluation (see also Task 10);
The FLOODsite pilot study work was undertaken in parallel with the VERIS-Elbe project, part of the German Federal Research Programme RIMAX. See “Relevant links to other research projects” below.
Summary information regarding this pilot study is available in the following languages:
Key words: Elbe river; river catchment; transnational river basin, flood risk management, decision support system tool
