General information about the project

The project ‘Enhancement of Flood Management and Flood-protection Planning of Hornád River Basin on Territory of Slovak Republic’ was submitted to the Norwegian Financial Mechanism and Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area (EEA) 2004–06 in March 2006. The grant offer letter was received in May 2007. After signing the grant contract and completion of the public procurement process, implementation started in July 2009. The project was finalised in March 2011.

The total costs were €397,718. The project was implemented by the Kosice Self-Governing Region in close cooperation with the Presov Self-Governing Region, Slovak Water Management Enterprise and Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute as project partners. It was managed by the Agency for the Support of Regional Development Kosice and the general contractor DHI, a.s.

Project background

Floods bring huge economic losses and casualties. Their causes are various, from climate change to improper water management and landscape, and indiscriminate land-use planning and settlement in areas at risk of flooding. From history, we know that floods cannot be prevented. However, it is possible to prepare for them and appropriately adapt. It is necessary to apply the principles of landscape management to eliminate the causes of excessive flood damage and to increase awareness, preparedness and the early warning of individuals and organisations.

Hornád River basin is an important area of the Slovak Republic where it is necessary to realise sustainable strategies, concepts of flood-protection and land-use planning in the areas endangered by rivers. During the years 2004–05, the most flood-endangered districts in region of Kosice were Kosice-okolie, Spisska Nova Ves and Gelnica. Overall, 60 villages were affected and damage to property amounted to more than €2 million.

The larger part of Hornád River basin is in Slovakia, and only its lower portion extends to the territory of Hungary, merging with the Slaná River and then flowing into the Tisza River. The lower part, however, is very significant for the drainage conditions on Slovak territory, especially due to its small incline. Due to backflow, this tendency is very sensitive to the rate of flow in the Tisza and Slaná rivers and, ultimately, in the river Bodrog, which may even be the cause of ‘secondary’ floods.