Flood protection and river restoration
We help reduce flood risk in a way that does not reduce a river to the role of a technical channel, but combines resident safety with the protection of natural values.
We prepare multi-option flood protection concepts for rivers, streams, and watercourses in urban areas. We combine hydrological calculations, hydrodynamic modelling, analyses of channel and valley morphology, flood risk assessment, as well as spatial, environmental, and social conditions. This approach is well aligned with the EU direction for flood risk management, in which flood protection should go hand in hand with restoring the natural functions of rivers and with integrated planning at the catchment scale.
We treat river restoration as a technical and strategic tool, not merely an environmental measure. Polish Waters defines it as restoring watercourses and water bodies to a condition close to their natural state. Such measures increase natural retention, improve hydromorphological conditions, reduce flood risk, mitigate the effects of drought, and support climate adaptation. For a city, this means the opportunity to develop solutions that simultaneously improve safety, the ecological status of the watercourse, and the quality of urban space.
Example of a flood protection concept
Our project for Kraków shows how we work in practice. After the flood of August 2021, caused among other things by rainfall of 112 mm, we prepared a diagnosis of the causes of the event, a hydrodynamic model of the Bibiczanka stream for current conditions and for 2050 conditions taking climate change into account, an analysis of the stream’s geomorphology, and several solution variants. The objective was to ensure flood safety without significantly interfering with the natural character of the stream, while also supporting the objectives of the Water Framework Directive.
The city gains
- a reliable diagnosis of the causes of the hazard,
- solutions tailored to the realities of dense urban development,
- strengthened ecological value of the watercourse,
- easier dialogue with residents and institutions,
- reduced need for a retention basin and costly land acquisition.
Do you have a watercourse in your city that is both a flood risk and a valuable environmental asset? Get in touch with us — we will prepare a concept that combines safety, formal requirements, and river restoration potential. Our company’s expert in this field is Jacek.
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FAQ
What does flood protection in a city involve?
It combines hydrological and hydraulic analyses with an assessment of the watercourse’s geomorphology and the selection of measures that genuinely reduce the risk of flooding in built-up areas.
Can river restoration improve flood safety?
Yes. Well-designed river restoration can increase natural retention, slow down runoff and reduce its energy, improve how the river valley functions, and reduce pressure on technical infrastructure.
When is it worth preparing a variant-based flood protection concept?
Before a major investment project, after local flood events, or when the city wants to compare different action scenarios without making hasty interventions in the watercourse.