The Odra-Vistula Flood Management Project (OVFMP) similarly as the Odra River Basin Flood Protection Project, is implemented with the assistance of international financial institutions, including the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (also called the World Bank) and the Council of Europe Development Bank, as well as with the support of funding from the Cohesion Fund and the state budget. In 2015 the total cost of the Project has been set at €1,202 million. This amount may change, because the final settlement of the the Project will determine its target value.
Objective of the Project
The objective of the OVFMP is to increase flood protection for people living in selected areas of the Odra and Upper Vistula basins and to strengthen the institutional capacity of public administration to mitigate the impact of floods more effectively.
The project will provide three distinct areas of Poland with flood management infrastructure and related measures:
- the Middle and Lower Odra basin,
- the Kłodzko Valley (the Nysa Kłodzka basin),
- and (iii) the Upper Vistula basin.
The Project will also contribute to acquiring next practical experience arising from the obligation to implement the provisions of the EU’s Water Framework Directive and Flood Directive. Through the further development of the national flood monitoring and warning system as well as the construction of mathematical simulation models capable of better informing about flood risks, the Project will provide further strengthening of the national flood forecasting and operational capability of the emergency services, especially in south and west Poland.
Project Components
Component 1
Flood protection of the Middle and Lower Odra River
This component aims to enhance protection against summer floods and winter floods to the cities of Szczecin, Słubice, and Gryfino as well as other smaller towns located along the Odra River. The project activities include the (re)construction of dikes and other bank protective works (revetments, parapets, etc.), dredging in the Odra river as well as in the canals and the harbor of Szczecin, and river training works, that is, the recalibration and (re)construction of groynes and lateral submerged dams in the river, restoration of bends, and protection of banks. To facilitate safe passage of icebreakers, it is necessary to reconstruct some bridges and construct docking and mooring infrastructure. The most important and largest city in the direct vicinity of the area of implementation of Component 1 is the city of Szczecin, currently performing the function of an economic and administrative center of the region.
Component 2
Flood Protection of the Kłodzko Valley
Component 2 is designed to protect against floods the city of Kłodzko and other small towns and villages in the Kłodzko Valley downstream to the city of Bardo at the outlet of the valley. This component comprises the construction of four dry polders (active protection), dike improvement and construction, and reconstruction of the river alignments and embankments, as well as of bridges and other structures (passive protection), to allow retention and safe passage of flood waves, accompanied by large amounts of debris, through the Kłodzko Valley. In addition, the works will have significant downstream benefits because the four new dry polders will increase the buffer capacity in the valley, which will cause a reduction in the crest of peak flows in the cascade of reservoirs located on the Nysa Kłodzka River in the middle course of the river, and lower the crest of the flood wave during its passage downstream the towns located along the river, including the Wrocław conurbation. The Nysa Kłodzka River is the one of the main tributaries of the Odra upstream of Wrocław. Component 2 will be implemented within the Kłodzko Valley, which covers the mountain and highland part of the catchment area of the Nysa Kłodzka River sub-basin.
Component 3
Flood Protection of the Upper Vistula
Component 3 intends to protect the Kraków and Nowa Huta conurbation and industrial area, the Sandomierz-Tarnobrzeg area, and selected towns on tributaries in the sub-basins of the San, Wisłoka, Dunajec, and Raba Rivers. The works include:
- reconstruction and extension of dikes and embankments along the Vistula to replace old unreliable dikes;
- bank stabilization and strengthening with rip-rap and revetments;
- construction of dry polders and overflow areas to increase upstream water retention;
- river training interventions; and
- adjustment of existing hydraulic structures (weirs and barrages) to pass larger flood waves.
Component 3 also provides for additional technical support in the preparation of the River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) and the investment prioritization plan for the Upper Vistula, applying the integrated water resources management methods to planning complex investments with a large footprint.
Component 4
Institutional Strengthening and Enhanced Forecasting
Component 4 selectively supports the strengthening of institutional capacity aimed at:
- enhancing the emergency preparedness during flood risk periods along the main rivers and their tributaries in south and west Poland by improving the forecasting and operational water management capacity,
- strengthening the development of methods and capacity to prepare RBMPs and investment prioritization plans that are compliant with the Water Framework Directive and the Flood Directive,
- strengthening impact monitoring; and
- enhancing the communication and data exchange capabilities.
Assistance in applying integrated water resources management and investment scenario analysis for river basin management planning and management and investment prioritization is focused on rivers such as the Bóbr, Kwisa, and Upper Vistula upstream of Kraków (including the Kraków passage), as well as the San, Raba, Wisłoka, and Dunajec sub-basins — key areas of the basin with complex hydrology and various investment options to be studied. Strengthening impact monitoring will take the form of developing procedures and guidelines for conducting surveys for analysis of flood effects and flood protection impacts as well as citizen engagement. This capability will enhance the government’s ability to target future investments better and decide on cost-effectiveness.
Component 5
Project Management and Studies
This component is designed to fund the operation of the Project Coordination Unit (PCU), technical assistance teams that support the PIUs’ and PCU’s operation, acquisition of office equipment and supplies, and incremental operating costs. This component also includes studies designed to prepare follow-up investments and to develop and implement a communication strategy based on this Project.
15,1 mlnThe areas located close to the works and activities planned under the OVFMP are inhabited by about 15.1 million people
5,2 mlnThis is the number of people who are at direct flood risk. They live in areas at risk of flooding or in their immediate vicinity
122 000About 122,000 people currently live in the flood zones of 1-in-100-year floods and this population will benefit from the implementation of the Project by receiving full or improved physical protection compared to the current situation
The World Bank and the Council of Europe Development Bank
The international institutions financing the Project actively participate in the institutional structure for the implementation of the Project. The World Bank, with the participation of representatives of the Council of Europe Development Bank, monitors the implementation of the investments and expenditures based on reports and exchange of correspondence. It also regularly conducts visits to evaluate the progress in the implementation of the Project (once or twice a year). During these missions, the World Bank representatives participate in meetings with the persons and institutions responsible for the supervision, coordination and implementation of the Project, evaluate the progress, and provide recommendations designed to streamline this entire process. In accordance with the terms of the Loan Agreement, the Bank gives opinion, among others, on bidding documents prepared, procurement processes and contract awards as well as on the terms of contracts to be entered into. In accordance with the provisions of the Loan Agreement, this applies to procurements that require the Bank’s prior review.
The Project Steering Committee (PSC)
The role of the Project Steering Committee is to provide strategic guidance and coordination of the project activities at the level of Government, including the overall assessment of the implementation of the Project and resolve any problems concerning its implementation and financing. The PCS includes the following members:
- Minister of Interior and Administration (Co-Chairman of the Committee),
- Minister of Infrastructure (Co-Chairman of the Committee),
- Minister of Finance,
- Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy,
- Minister of Climate and Environment,
- President of Polish Waters,
- Voivodes of the voivodeships where the Project is implemented (Dolnośląskie Voivode, Lubuskie Voivode, Małopolskie Voivode, Podkarpackie Voivode, Świętokrzyskie Voivode, Zachodniopomorskie Voivode),
- Director of the Odra-Vistula Flood Management Project (OVFMP),
- Director of the Department of Civil Protection and Crisis Management at the Ministry of Interior and Administration as the PSC secretary.
The Committee’s work is attended by representatives from the World Bank and the Council of Europe Development Bank, participating as observes.
The Project Working Committee (PWC)
At the operational level, the work of the Project Steering Committee is supported by the Project Working Committee. It includes the following members: a representative of the Ministry of Infrastructure, a representative of the Ministry of Finance, a representative of the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy, a representative of the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the Polish Waters President, the Project Director (PCU), representatives of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW) and the Centre for EU Transport Projects as well as the Director of the Department of Civil Protection and Crisis Management at the Ministry of Interior and Administration as the Chairman of the PWC. The Project Working Committee is an advisory body to the Project Steering Committee. It prepares opinions and recommendations submitted to the Steering Committee. The Project Working Committee organizes its meetings at least once every quarter.
The Project Coordination Unit (PCU)
The Project Coordination Unit (PCU) is a dedicated organizational unit established to provide ongoing coordination of the implementation the Odra-Vistula Flood Management Project.
Implementing Agencies / Project Implementation Units
The Implementing Agencies are of key importance for the implementation of the Project works. As part of their statutory tasks or as part of concluded agreements, they implement a specific scope of the Project (Component, Subcomponent, or its part).
Until December 31, 2017, the following Implementing Agencies were responsible for the implementation of the project activities:
- Regional Water Management Authority in Wrocław (RZGW Wrocław);
- Regional Water Management Authority in Szczecin (RZGW Szczecin);
- Zachodniopomorskie Board for Amelioration and Hydraulic Structures (Zachodniopomorski ZMiUW) in Szczecin;
- Lubuskie Board for Amelioration and Hydraulic Structures (Lubuski ZMiUW) in Zielona Góra;
- Małopolskie Board for Amelioration and Hydraulic Structures (Małopolski ZMiUW) in Kraków;
- Podkarpackie Board for Amelioration and Hydraulic Structures (Podkarpacki ZMiUW) in Rzeszów;
- Świętokrzyskie Board for Amelioration and Hydraulic Structures (Świętokrzyski ZMiUW) in Kielce;
- Institute of Meteorology and Water Management – National Research Institute;
- Odra-Vistula Flood Management Project Coordination Unit (PCU).
Pursuant to the provisions of the Water Law Act of July 20, 2017, as of January 1, 2018 a state legal person (public sector entities) was established under the name of Państwowe Gospodarstwo Wodne Wody Polskie (State Water Holding “Polish Waters”). Polish Waters is responsible for all tasks of the State Treasury related to water management. Currently, the Project Implementation Units are as follows:
- SWH PW Regional Water Management Authority in Kraków (continues the activities of ŚZMiUW and MZMiUW);
- SWH PW Regional Water Management Authority in Rzeszów (continues the activities of PZMiUW);
- SWH PW Regional Water Management Authority in Wrocław (continues the activities of RZGW Wrocław and LZMiUW);
- SWH PW Regional Water Management Authority in Szczecin (continues the activities of RZGW Szczcin);
- IMGW-PIB and the OVFMP Project Coordination Unit in Wrocław (PCU) are still the Implementing Agencies.
The International Dam Safety Panel of Experts (IPE)
According to the World Bank’s operational policy OP 4.37 (Safety of Dams), design and construction of dams carried out as part of any project financed by the Bank need to be supervised by independent and experienced professionals. The Borrower is obliged to appoint such a team of experts. The International Panel of Experts was set up in 2011 by the PCU for the Odra River Basin Flood Protection Project (ORFPP). Its tasks include the provision of advice on issues important for the safety of the Racibórz dry polder and large hydraulic infrastructure works carried out under the ORFPP. The role of the International Panel of Experts also includes review of design assumptions, technical designs, bidding documents and operation manuals, participation in site meetings, preparation of recommendations, etc. During the ORFPP implementation, the Panel participated both at the stage of design and preparation of the Racibórz dry polder and at the construction stage. Under the Odra-Vistula Flood Management Project, the tasks of the Panel appointed for the needs of the ORFPP have been expanded to include investments carried out under the OVFMP, with special attention to dry polders planned to be constructed.
