The INTERREG III B project ELLA – Preventive flood managementmeasures by transnational spatial planning in the Elbe basin

摘要

The potential damage value for extreme floods in the Elbe basin was known by experts longbefore the flood event in 2002.It became obvious with the disaster that caused casualties and economic loss innew dimensions for the Elbe basin.Additionally the flood caused ecological damage.This event speeded up thereconsideration of paradigms and policies in the countries of the Elbe basin: from believing in technical protectionworks and the conviction to be save behind dikes towards risk assessment, living with risk and makingway for rivers and floods.This philosophy is also laid down in the German declaration for flood policy fromSeptember 2002.Beside other contributions the transnational co-operation of spatial and sector planning, watermanagement, agriculture and forestry is necessary to improve the prevention of flood damage.Based on thisperception the project ELLA was prepared and approved in the framework of the European funding programmeINTERREG III B CADSES.The extraordinary challenge of the ELLA project is the transnational co-operationof nearly all regional spatial planning authorities in the Elbe basin.This unique comprehensive partnershiprealises almost full spatial coverage of the catchment area of the Elbe and even neighbouring regions.By thisthe aims of EU water policies and the EU spatial planning perspective can be obtained under this INTERREGIII B project.National and regional partners that are responsible for spatial planning, water management andagriculture assure that the far reaching integrated transnational approach will be implemented in many differentregions at the same time.Within the project a transnational strategy will be developed, hazard informationwill be mapped and actions for spatial planning authorities will be discussed and adapted to preventive floodprotection requirements.Regional plan will be improved in pilot projects.In addition upstream – downstreamintegration and economical impacts shall be evaluated.