As of: May 2007

Flood maps

Improving preventive flood control

The flooding in the Elbe and Danube river basins in August 2002 claimed lives in Germany and elsewhere, and caused over € 10 billion worth of damage. It made it clear that there was a need to update and ensure more precise definition of the legal framework in Germany. Work on this task began immediately following the events in 2002 with the entry into force of the Flood Control Act on 10 May 2005. The Flood Control Act is supplementing the Federal Water Act, the Federal Building Code, the Federal Regional Planning Act, the Federal Waterways Act and the Law on the Deutscher Wetterdienst (German meteorological service), which play an important role in improving preventive flood control in Germany.

The new legal provisions take a major step forward on the way to a comprehensive flood control system by ensuring systematic designation of flood plains combined with increased reservation of open spaces and measures to reduce damage potential in such areas. Other measures support the development of ecological structures in and near water bodies, reduce input of pollutants during floods and promote cooperation within river basin districts.
In addition to the statutory provisions, however, the parties potentially affected by floods must take their own precautions to protect themselves from the effects of a flood. In addition to the obligation for public authorities to provide information on the danger of floods in various planning documents and the obligation to provide information to private citizens that are willing to build, both obligations being established in the Flood Control Act, extensive and targeted public relations work is required. The federal government, the Länder, the river commissions and also municipalities have become active in various ways over the past years in order to raise awareness of the danger of floods. Their activities include the development of brochures and leaflets, contributions for the press, radio and television, films and teaching materials for schools, photo exhibitions, flood seminars and information events. The conservation and maintenance of historic high water marks are also suitable awareness-raising activities.

Flood maps have already been drawn up in many river basins. These show the flood risk for a particular area, for example the extension of the flooded area or the flow velocity, and provide an indication of the damage that can be expected. This work will be further developed at European level through the EC Directive on the assessment and management of flood risks, which was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council in spring 2007.

Among the greatest challenges for the future are: further strengthening of ecological flood protection, for example by restoring alluvial meadows, the development of economic instruments which promote compensation and solidarity in the river basin, and adaptation to changing framework conditions, for example changes in precipitation patterns due to climate change. We will have to make arrangements for more frequent flood events, but also for periods with low water levels. Climate change will also have an impact on groundwater recharge. Integrated management of water resources becomes the key element of water management in Germany and in Europe.

Further Information:

• www.bmu.de/english/water_management