Partnership approaches in flood risk management: lessons from the Eastern Alps

¹ Institute of Mountain Risk Engineering, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1190 Vienna, Austria
² Flood Hazard Research Centre, Middlesex University, NW4 4BT London, United Kingdom

^a Corresponding author: thomas.thaler@boku.ac.at

Abstract

In the past decades flood risk management has taken a paradigm shift away from a structural, securitybased approach towards more an integrated, risk-based approach. While the ‘traditional’ approach was informed by afirm belief in controlling rivers via engineering solutions, flood risk management today increasingly acknowledgesthe importance of providing ‘more space for the rivers’. The new policy agenda has been implemented to enhance the development of catchment-wide management plans in flood risk management and at the same time to reduce the controlling role of central national governments. The aim of the paper is to examine the new role of these local authorities and organisations in flood risk management as well as how the nature of partnerships are established and operate, focusing especially on the main barriers and challenges. The current goal of this partnership approach lies with the conservation of regionally important retention areas for protective measures on an inter-local level. An important issue is that of compensation measures between upstream and downstream communities, which at present is causing many conflicts. We conclude that although a catchment-wide management approach may be seen as an ‘optimal’ solution for flood risk management. However, in practice there are many limitations and barriers in establishing these collaborations and making them effective.