UNDP GEF TISZA MSP Making Space for Water in

UNDP/GEF TISZA MSP Making Space for Water in the Bodrog River Basin (HU-SK-UA) Project Eszter Simon ÉKÖVÍZIG Sárospatak, Hungary, October, 2010.

Problem definition The Bodrog river sub-basin, - part of Tisza catchment area – has been affected by several major flood events in the past decade in all countries which are sharing this territory (Slovakia, Hungary and Ukraine). Each country within the Tisza catchment has developed its own mitigation strategy and plan focused on flood management and flood prevention. However, there is a lack of harmonization of national strategies within Bodrog river basin and common understanding of proposed measures and activities on the cross-border scale and unsatisfactory involvement of local stakeholders (municipalities as well as NGOs).

Project objectives Main project objective → to mitigate consequences of floods through achieving consistent and holistic management of flood risk in Bodrog river basin countries: • creating partnerships between national and local levels through the development of common “Strategy for mitigation of floods for Bodrog river basin countries”, • implementation of sustainable solutions for flood prevention through pilot investments. Project activities should consider - where possible - the maintenance and/or restoration of floodplains by creating “space” for water during flood events. The involvement of municipalities, NGOs, farmers, spatial and urban planning authorities is crucial. Therefore project activities will focus on establishment of the close cooperation with these stakeholders.

Outputs Ø Formulation of the “Strategy for mitigation of floods for Bodrog River Basin countries”. Ø Improving the conditions of floodplains and wetlands affected by current land uses and environmentally inappropriate flood protection measures. Ø Dissemination of project results to achieve replication on national levels and to other basins.

United Nations Development Programme Global Environment Facility (UNDP GEF) Supervisory body: International Committee for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) – Tisza Group Total budget: HU budget: 128 000 USD 55 000 USD Hungary ÉKÖVÍZIG VITUKI Nonprofit Kft. GWP Hungary Main partner GWP Slovakia SVP Daphne municipalities Ukraine Transcarpathian Hydrometeorological Centre municipalities

Project area Total area of the Bodrog river basin: 11 552 km 2 Ø Hungary 54 km 2, Slovakia 7 272 km 2, Ukraine 4 225, 7 km 2 Ø River system: created from 4 main rivers - Latorica, Laborec, Uh, and Ondava Ø HU pilot project: „Water retention of the Viss oxbow” Total length: 8, 1 km Total area: 48, 6 ha Average width: 60 m Average depth: 1, 5 m Average water stored: 0, 7 million m 3 The oxbow was created during the river regulation works between 24+300 and 25+600 river kms in the 1860’s. It fills up with fresh water during flood events.

Water supplement of the Tokaj-Bodrogzug LPD Ø The oxbow area is neighbouring the Tokaj-Bodrogzug Landscape Protection District. Ø For better quality of biotopes in the LPD, there is a need to retain water in the oxbow after floods. Ø This can be solved by using the Bodrogzug I. channel which is connected to the oxbow through a sluice.

What is in the plan? Ø to build a new structure at the 0+150 rkm of the oxbow to retain flood water from Bodrog, Ø to rebuild the sluice at the 2+500 rkm of the oxbow so it would be possible to provide the Landscape Protection District with water through the Bodrogzug I. channel.

Preliminary measures Ø Field survey Ø Meetings with the stakeholders (mayors, farmers, National Park) Ø Geodetic survey Ø Contracting Ø Preparation for the construction (cleaning the area of the structures from bushes)

Sluice to be renewed May 2009. Inlet channel May 2009. Field visit Inlet channel February 2010. May 2009.

Risks and risk management Ø The formal process of issuing the construction permit by the district authority can take months, it can delay the works in a significant rate. Ø During the implementation period flood events can cause difficulties in construction works through higher water levels and delay the finishing of the construction.

Risks and risk management Ø From February to June there were several floods on the Bodrog. Ø The project site was inaccessible, the construction couldn’t start. Ø The contract had to be modified, the deadline for the implementation had to be delayed.

Finishing of the constructions The construction was finished on the 27 th August. Ø Official delivery procedure on the 6 th September. Ø

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