Developing a national programme of flood risk management measures: Moldova

¹ HR Wallingford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BA, UK
² Beta Studio, Via Guido Rossa 29/A – 35020 Ponte S. Nicolo, Padua, Italy
³ European Investment Bank, 100 boulevard Konrad Adenauer, L-2950, Luxembourg

^a Corresponding author: d.ramsbottom@hrwallingford.com

Abstract

A Technical Assistance project funded by the European Investment Bank has been undertaken to develop a programme of flood risk management measures for Moldova that will address the main shortcomings in the present flood management system, and provide the basis for long-term improvement. Areas of significant flood risk were identified using national hydraulic and flood risk modelling, and flood hazard and flood risk maps were then prepared for these high risk areas. The flood risk was calculated using 12 indicators representing social, economic and environmental impacts of flooding. Indicator values were combined to provide overall estimates of flood risk. Strategic approaches to flood risk management were identified for each river basin using a multi-criteria analysis. Measures were then identified to achieve the strategic approaches. A programme of measures covering a 20-year period was developed together with a more detailed Short-Term Investment Plan covering the first seven years of the programme. Arrangements are now being made to implement the programme. The technical achievements of the project included national hydrological and hydraulic modelling covering 12,000 km of river, the development of 2-dimensional channel and floodplain hydraulic models from a range of topographic and bathymetric data, and an integrated flood risk assessment that takes account of both economic and non-monetary impacts.