5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014 Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice 24-28 August 2014 in Davos, Switzerland

1. Flood prevention in Germany –
a current overview of realised
measures and related disputes
Antje Otto, Anja Hornberg, Annegret Thieken
Davos, 28.08.2014

2. 1 Recent flood events in Germany
Rhine
Danube
Oder
Elbe
Saxony-Anhalt, June 2013, http://www.taz.de/uploads/images/684x342/0365_dpa.jpg
Year River & tributaries
2013 Elbe & Danube
2011 Rhine, Elbe
2010 Oder
2006 Elbe
2005 Danube
2002 Elbe & Danube
1999 Danube
1997 Oder
1995 Rhine
1993 Rhine
Davos, 28.08.2014 2

3. Some investments in flood management
1
Saxony
Saxony-
Anhalt
Bavaria
Baden-
Württemberg
http://www.stepmap.de
State Investments in
million €
Saxony 530 since 2005
Saxony- Anhalt 500 since 2002
Bavaria 115/y. since 2002
Baden-Württemb. 70 in 2013
Davos, 28.08.2014 3

4. Aim and research questions
2
Antje Otto 31.03.2014
Potsdam
Davos, 28.08.2014 4

5. Aim and research questions
Generate an overview of current disputes on
structural measures in Germany
• What disputes are there?
• What are the arguments?
• Where are they located?
2
Davos, 28.08.2014 5

6. Methods
1. Research in the
internet using keywords
2. Questionnaire:
supreme water authority
71
Cases
3. Snowball sampling
(e.g. infos at a workshop)
4. Analysis of minor and
major interpellations
3
Davos, 28.08.2014 6

7. Methods
1. Research in the
internet using keywords
2. Questionnaire:
supreme water authority
71
Cases
3. Snowball sampling
(e.g. infos at a workshop)
4. Analysis of minor and
major interpellations
3
Structured research on all potential cases via the internet
 23 cases excluded from further analysis
 48 cases further analyzed: categorization, characterization
Davos, 28.08.2014 7

8. 4 Findings: What disputes are there?
Planned measures of flood prevention 40
• Retention basins 20
• Technical measures (walls, dikes) 14
• Designation of flood areas 6
• Further concrete measures 3
Further flood prevention topics 14
• Call for better/faster flood protection 10
• Criticism on plans which might impact flood prevention 3
• Discussions on resettlement projects 3
Amount of local disputes regarding their main topics. Double counting possible.
Davos, 28.08.2014 8

9. 4 Findings: What disputes are there?
Planned measures of flood prevention 40
• Retention basins 20
• Technical measures (walls, dikes) 14
• Designation of flood areas 6
• Further concrete measures 3
Further flood prevention topics 14
• Call for better/faster flood protection 10
• Criticism on plans which might impact flood prevention 3
• Discussions on resettlement projects 3
Amount of local disputes regarding their main topics. Double counting possible.
Davos, 28.08.2014 9

10. 4 Findings: What are the arguments?
Against the measure itself
Critics on flood prevention measures
Call for different measure 17
Critics on concrete plans/realization 12
Calculations doubted/plans to excessive 6
Plans fall short/consider not all aspects 5
Critics on costs/financing 5
Call for faster/better measures 3
Amount of local disputes regarding arguments brought forward.
Double counting possible.
Davos, 28.08.2014 10

11. 4 Findings: What are the arguments?
Against the measure itself Against impacts of the measure
Impairment of nature, landscape, townscape
Nature/certain species 20
Landscape 13
Townscape/urban heritage conservation 4
Impairment of usage
Houses impaired by groundwater 13
Local recreation/tourism 9
Agricultural use/gardens 8
Development potentials of communities 4
Threats for health and life
Pollution of drinking water/mosquito plague 5
Lack of stability against collapse 3
Lack of access-roads/evacuation 2
Critics on flood prevention measures
Call for different measure 17
Critics on concrete plans/realization 12
Calculations doubted/plans to excessive 6
Plans fall short/consider not all aspects 5
Critics on costs/financing 5
Call for faster/better measures 3
Amount of local disputes regarding arguments brought forward.
Double counting possible.
Davos, 28.08.2014 11

12. 4 Findings: What are the arguments?
Against the measure itself Against impacts of the measure
Impairment of nature, landscape, townscape
Nature/certain species 20
Landscape 13
Townscape/urban heritage conservation 4
Impairment of usage
Houses impaired by groundwater 13
Local recreation/tourism 9
Agricultural use/gardens 8
Development potentials of communities 4
Threats for health and life
Pollution of drinking water/mosquito plague 5
Lack of stability against collapse 3
Lack of access-roads/evacuation 2
Critics on flood prevention measures
Call for different measure 17
Critics on concrete plans/realization 12
Calculations doubted/plans to excessive 6
Plans fall short/consider not all aspects 5
Critics on costs/financing 5
Call for faster/better measures 3
Amount of local disputes regarding arguments brought forward.
Double counting possible.
Davos, 28.08.2014 12

13. 4 Findings: Where are they located?
Davos, 28.08.2014 13

14. 6 Discussion
Summary of findings
• Empirical derived overview of disputes across Germany
• Categorization of disputes
• Highlighting diverse character of disputes
• Distinct roles of citizens initiatives and nature conservation
• Deriving argumentative and geographical patterns
Davos, 28.08.2014 14

15. 6 Discussion
Further need for research
• Increase of disputes on designation of flood areas
• Explaining geographical distribution of disputes
• Recommendations for planning flood prevention
Davos, 28.08.2014 15

16. Antje Otto
anotto@uni-potsdam.de
Annegret Thieken
thieken@uni-potsdam.de
Davos, 28.08.2014 16

18. Characteristics of “dispute”
“Disputes“ in our research…
• exceed formal plan-approval procedures and
participation.
• are widely visible in public.
• are still ongoing.
2
Davos, 28.08.2014 18

19. Findings: Breisach (Rhine) – retention basin
5
Main stakeholders involved:
• Pro: federal state government; nature conservation
• Contra: citizens initiative; nature conservation; affected towns
Main positions:
Wetland development protection of current forests
• flooding contested
• Protection of tourism and recreation
• Threat of groundwater, mosquito plague
Ecological floodings - not like this!
http://www.buergerinitiative-breisach-burkheim.de
Davos, 28.08.2014 19

20. Findings: Dresden (Elbe) – flood wall
5
Main stakeholders involved:
• Pro: regional water authority, city of Dresden
• Contra: citizens initiative
Main positions:
Stationary flood protection wall mobile elements
• Protection of landscape, townscape and nature
• Threats of groundwater and an abandoned meander
• Participation  mediation completed
Mauerzoff.de Mauerzoff.de
Davos, 28.08.2014 20

21. Findings: Rettingen (Danube) – flood area
5
Main stakeholders involved:
• Pro: regional water authority
• Contra: citizens initiative, affected towns
Main positions:
Designation as flood area no designation; different measures
• Loss of agricultural land
• Threat of groundwater for houses
• Doubts on hydraulic calculation
God protect this land from so much foolishness!
Rettingen – no flood area We protect our homes!
Mauerzoff.de Mauerzoff.de
A. Thieken augsburger-allgemeine.de
Davos, 28.08.2014 21

22. Findings: Nünchritz (Elbe) – better protection
5
Main stakeholders involved:
• Pro: citizens initiative, affected towns
• regional water authority
Main positions:
Better/faster flood protection
• Revitalization, improvement of run-off
• Regular maintenance of Elbe valley
• Reconcile various interests
In front of the dike: clear bushes and soil – now!
Mauerzoff.de
Flood protection now!
U. Grünewald
www.sz-online.de
Davos, 28.08.2014 22