Floods obviously represent the largest natural risk for the CR due to hilly character of the territory causing very quick outflow of the storm waters. The time interval between the occurrence of rainfall and resulting flood waves is mostly very short. Thus, the high-tech meteorological forecasting service is primarily needed as well as improvement of preventive measures for retardation and accumulation of water in the watersheds. Thus, the Czech government decided to prepare a strategy for protection against floods as a basis for systematic approach of the protection against floods. The "Strategy against floods on the territory of the CR" was approved by Resolution of the Czech Government (No. 382 of 12th April 2000) and it formulates the activities for improvement of flood defence. The new devices improving the forecast (namely radar) were installed and the number of monitoring stations for both - precipitation and flow rate measurements have been increased.
Simultaneously, the programs have been accepted for preparation and implementation of concrete measures for retardation/accumulation of storm water as well as technical protection of towns and villages. The systematic studies based on the use of mathematical modelling of flood situations were used for proposal preparation of measures (combining structural and non-structural measures) along the watercourses in watersheds. The use of this advanced technologies has been strengthened by two international projects, the "Flood Management in the CR I. and II." supported by Denmark and "Flood Protection in the CR" supported by the Netherlands. The Ministry of Agriculture has started the important "Program of Prevention against Floods", which is focused on the increase of protection in the most endangered regions of the CR. The River Basins, state enterprises and the Agricultural Water Management Authority are responsible for the realisation of the program, the first phase of which is scheduled for 2002 -2005. Investments over 4 bill. CZK will be co-financed from national and inter- national sources (the loan of the European Investment Bank). Further, the "Program for Determination of Flood Areas along the Watercourses" and the "Program of Assessment of Run-Off Conditions in the Watersheds" were started. Their outputs will serve as the appropriate background for proposals of protection measures, territory planning and regional development.
The activities for flood protection are a crucial part of the river basin management plans, which are under preparation according the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC). In addition, the flood protection is incorporated into the activities of international commissions for protection of important European rivers.
Information & Contact:
RNDr. P.Puncochar, CSc.
Ministry of Agriculture of the CR
Tesnov 17
117 05 Prague 1
Tel.: 00422 2181 2362
Fax: 00422 2181 2983
