FOK WATMAN - Integrated (Multi-level inundation) water management system solving flood-protection, nature conservation and rural employment challenges

Large scale intensive agriculture have resulted in less fertile floodplains, the draining of inland waters and the large scale use of chemicals in almost all of the Great Hungarian Plain. The meandering character of the Tisza river flow had been terminated and only 30% of its original length provided the riverbed capacity for the flowing water, resulting in an acceleration of the flow. The original floodplains had entirely disappeared, so the high water levels and floods had to be carried down the floodplain between dikes. The project aimed to implement an innovative water management system for handling the risks associated with very high floods, river contamination, nature conservation, agricultural production and integrated rural development, and was to involve all the relevant stakeholders. To this end, it applied a water regulation system and a proper land use system, by establishing a natural water supply in the 35.000 ha in Borsodi mezőség area. Flooding scenarios were run on DTM and maps detecting minimal and maximal water covers were prepared. After the site rehabilitation, the project area’s land can be used for different purposes, ensuring incomes for the local population.