Multi-actor cooperation and knowledge-based decision-making to improve flood risk management in urban areas along the Segura River Basin

ongoing

Flood risks are the natural phenomenon causing more important human and material damages in Europe, being responsible for 7 600 million € of economic losses and 166 000 people exposed to this risk annually. Almost half of the surface of the European cities is sealed, so urban areas are especially vulnerable due to the modification of hydrological conditions of land naturally prone to flooding. In addition, flooding risks will be more likely and frequent due to climate change. In the case of Spain, this phenomenon has struck the whole national territory and has been specially felt along the Mediterranean coast where torrential rains are an inherent feature of this weather. The Segura River Basin, in Southeast Spain, has historically and recently suffered serious flooding events. During the period 2015-2021, up to 265 000 people were damaged in 28 flooding events. The Floods Directive (2007/60/EC) aims to reduce the negative effects of flooding on human health, economic activities and the heritage of the European Union. Member States should create and update Flood Hazard and Flood Risks Maps and Flood Risk Management Plans every six years. Despite the efforts of the Segura River Authority and local authorities to cope with flooding risks, there are still some limitations related to: weak implementation of governance measures, poor definition of actions at the local level, lack of detail of flooding maps in urban areas, insufficient action on intermittent water courses and short response times to activate protection protocols. LIFE FloodProof will mitigate flooding risk in 4 cities in an area of high potential significant risk to take a step forward in the implementation and update of the Segura Flood Risk Management Plan. This will be done by fostering knowledge and technological based planning, capacitating and giving tools to public administrations, and strengthening the cooperation and the participation of the local population before and during flooding events.