Hidrológiai Közlöny, 2017 (97. évfolyam)
2017 / 3. szám - MANAGING ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS - FLOOD PROTECTION EXPERIENCES AND COOPERATION IN THE DANUBE RIVER BASIN - Bálint Márton Zoltán: Multilateral efforts towards basin flood control along the Tisza River: The Hungarian-Ukrainian joint Upper-Tisza flood development program
Márton Zoltán Bálint: Multilateral efforts towards basin wide flood control along the Tisza River: The Hungarian-Ukrainian joint... 79 Figure 13. Effect of flood retention reservoirs on the Hungarian and the Ukrainian side Monitoring system The Upper-Tisza region is the mountainous area of the Tisza, where a flood can form in 2-3 days (Hungarian-Ukrainian joint Upper-Tisza flood development program 2013), this is why the monitoring development elements of the project are of particular importance, which means the further development and expansion of the already well-functioning system. The planned active elements of the system - the reservoirs - can only be effective if they are correctly operated, for which we need a good monitoring and early warning system. Currently there are 122 Hungarian and 50 Ukrainian stations (FETIV1ZIG 2017). These are connected via a microwave based data transfer system and function under identical operation rules. There are plans for the systems further development with Ukrainian mountain stations, which will increase the lead time in case of a flood, and provide essential data for runoff models. The data transfer system will also undergo improvement, in line with available new technologies. IN CONTEXT OF THE DANUBE STRATEGY The Danube Strategy in full requires a transboundary approach. Our project is a good and working example of a collaboration of the experts and the knowledgebase of two countries, as well as elaboration of a complex network that truly takes into account the needs of both countries. Our opinion is that the Danube Strategy is a good opportunity to be able to access and coordinate funding, as well as to provide a much needed framework for possibly extending the project to other regions or maybe even other countries, for example Slovakia and Romania. As we have experienced, multilateral forms of cooperation and a uniform professional framework are very important to be able to achieve results on a larger scale. The professional content of the project was accepted by the Danube Strategy Steering Committee in May 2013, which was a great step forward in trying to provide the financial frame for the project. The joint program was approved by the plenipotentiaries in June 2012, and since then, certain elements of the Hungarian-Ukrainian Joint Upper-Tisza Flood Development Program have been implemented, and several others are in the preparatory phase. As it is visible, the transboundary cooperation along the Hungarian-Ukrainian section of the Upper- Tisza has been strong for quite some time, as both parties understand the need to properly maintain and manage the shared catchment. Several projects can only be implemented correctly, if the effected parties take part at their full potential. We hope that the joint flood protection in the region does not only have a past, but also a future. REFERENCES ENPI CBC HUSKROUA/1001/221 project (2013). ’’Preparation of common Hungarian-Ukrainian complex flood diminution and flood plain revitalization programme at the section of Upper-Tisza between Visk- Vásárosnamény”. Project documentation. ENPI HUSKROUA/0901/044 project (2013). “Further development and harmonization of the Hungarian and Ukrainian Upper-Tisza flood-prevention development programmes, establishing an integrated flood-prevention forecast system with the adaptation of GIS model”. Project documentation.
