Since the last great flood of the Rhine in 1995 the countries in the Rhine catchment have invested some 10.3 billion € into improved flood protection and have thus increased the protection of people and goods. According to the balance on the implementation of the Action Plan on Floods (ICPR report no. 200) and the comprehensive calculations made for the recording of the reduction of peak flows (ICPR report no. 199), and depending on the flood situation, retention areas along the Rhine downstream of Basel for up to 229 million m³ of water may be put into service to lower peak flows. In addition, renaturing measures have been implemented along tributaries and smaller waters in the catchment. Along other sections of the Rhine, the security of dikes and local flood protection has been increased in order to improve the protection of people and goods. Furthermore, the population is nowadays better informed about flood risks. The flood forecasting periods have been prolonged and the forecasts are meanwhile easily available on internet.
Based on the implementation of the Action Plan on Floods the ICPR will draw up a “Flood Risk Management Plan” by 2015 as required by the EU directive on assessment and management of flood risks.
