Logos of European Regional Development Fund, European territorial cooperation - Austria and Czech Republic

Near-natural flood protection in the confluence of the Morava and Thaya rivers (M00195)

Co-financed by the European Union, European Regional Development Fund

Project objective

The bilateral project between the Czech Republic and Austria is dedicated to the elaboration of near-natural flood protection measures in the area of the confluence of the rivers March and Thaya as well as the preparation of a renaturation concept for the Lower Thaya.

Project duration

22.10.2010 - 31.03.2014

Project content

The Soutok polder is a unique landscape, geographically bounded by the Thaya in the west, the Morava in the east and the confluence of the above-mentioned watercourses in the south. During flood events, it serves as a flood and retention area to dampen flood flows. Ecologically, the polder offers a diverse mosaic of alluvial forest and meadows, and the rivers March and Thaya form an ecologically sensitive wetland habitat. For flood protection, this tri-border area poses a special challenge and calls for a detailed joint analysis of this area.

  • Creation of a digital terrain model
  • Creation of flood maps with different flood scenarios
  • Preparation of a bilateral renaturation concept for the Lower Thaya
  • Study on the optimisation of flood protection measures (polder control)
  • Rehabilitation of the left-bank polder dam along the Thaya
  • Adaptation of the polder outlet
  • Construction of game rescue mounds in the polder

Project partners

  • Povodi Moravy (lead partner)
  • via donau - Austrian Waterways Company Ltd (PP01)
  • Office of the Provincial Government of Lower Austria, Water Group (PP02)
  • Federal Environmental Agency (PP03)
Logos: Povodi Moravy, viadonau, Federal State of Lower Austria, Federal Environmental Agency

Role of viadonau

  • Creation of the digital terrain model of the project area
  • Coordination of the activities for the survey of the terrain surface (airborne laser scan, aerial photo flight)
  • Planning and implementation of the survey of the river bed of the Morava in the project area
  • Hydrodynamic 2D-discharge modelling
  • Coordination of the work to create a hydrodynamic 2-dimensional model of the project area to investigate the runoff behaviour
  • Renaturation concept
  • Coordination of studies, participation in the discusison process for the development of the renaturation concept

Further information at: http://soutok.pmo.cz/