An EU-funded project has strengthened flood defences on the left bank of the River Sava, in Croatia. The section covered by the project runs between the point at which Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia meet, near Račinovci, and Nova Gradiška. Work has been carried out on 172.5 km of the 236.7 km-long section, which forms part of the border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Stronger flood defences along the River Sava in Croatia protect lives and property
- 10 July 2022
“Analyses of flood defences show that the modernisation of embankments is necessary on many sections from the Serbian border to Nova Gradiška and in the event of a recurrence of the floods of May 2014, there is a real danger of embankments being penetrated.”
Analysis showed that 41 % of the embankment on the section was unstable, while the network of service roads covering 76 % of the section was inadequate for the performance of flood defence actions.
Measures to reinforce the embankments include the construction of berms and drains, which will provide a uniform level of protection against the breakdown of the foundation soil and subsequent flooding. New service roads have been built to ensure fast, direct access to the embankments for flood defence work, monitoring and maintenance.
Catastrophic flooding
From Račinovci to Nova Gradiška, the left bank of the Sava is protected by a line of embankments that is broken only at the mouths of other watercourses. In May 2014, some of the worst flooding ever to occur in the Sava basin affected the counties of Brod-Posavina and Vukovar-Srijem.
On 18 May 2014 a level of 939 cm was recorded at a water meter in Slavonski Brod, a record in 100 years of measurement on the Sava. Slavonski Brod was saved thanks to the enormous flood defence efforts of more than 3 000 people.
The flooding was caused by the subsidence and penetration by water of the embankments at two locations near Rajevo Selo and Račinovci. About 250 km² of land was flooded. Two people died and material damage estimated at some EUR 240 million was caused. Work to rebuild the embankments, including through the insertion of prefabricated concrete elements, started in July 2014.
‘No-regret’ actions
Actions under the current project are ‘no-regret’ actions, meaning that they are cost-effective under current and future scenarios and involve no trade-offs with other objectives.
By safeguarding the embankments with materials such as earth, sand, stone and geotextiles, and facilitating transport of personnel and resources during flood defence interventions, the measures will increase protection for an area of over 2 200 km².
Annually, it is expected that this will prevent around EUR 11 million in damage. Moreover, thanks to the work, fewer people will be needed to maintain the embankments.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Modernisation of the embankments on the left bank of the Sava from Račinovci to Nova Gradiška” is EUR 48 066 723, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 40 856 714 through the “Competitiveness and Cohesion” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Climate change and risk management”.