16 July 2015 r.

The second conference as a part of environmental impact for Flood Risk Management Plans took place on 7 July 2015 in Kraków. The meeting gathered 93 participants representing various public administration bodies from Subcarpathian Voivodeship, Lesser Poland Voivodeship and Silesian Voivodeship. The representatives of regional directorate of environmental protection, voivodship board of drainage and water devices, district heads of counties, city halls, marshal’s offices, provincial offices, Group of Hydroelectric Power Plants Niedzica S.A., Agricultural University of Cracow and National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management took part at the meeting. Representatives of National Water Management Board, Water Management Boards from Gliwice and Kraków as well as those who prepared Flood Risk Management Plans for the Region of Upper Vistula River and Little Vistula River and the environmental impact assessment report for the FRMPs for the area of Vistula River basin were also present.

Printed versions of FRMPs and environmental impact assessment report for the area of Vistula River basin were available during the conference.

The conference was opened by director of Regional Water Management Board in Kraków, Mrs Małgorzata Owsiany. She acquainted the participants with the subject matter of the meeting and then she stressed how important element of meeting is a possibility of discussion.

First presentation was dedicated to methodical assumptions used in Flood Risk Management Plan for the Region of Upper Vistula River and Little Vistula River related to the mechanism of construction and assessment of undertaking options. During the presentation on the methodology of environmental assessment process, listeners were explained that due to the character of the FRMPs the analysis were carried out using strategic objectives (sustainable development objectives) approach. The methodology consists of the review of international treaties, agreements and strategic documents, higher or equivalent level form the flood risk management point of view, the choice of several important objectives and the assessment wherever the FRMPs might have negative impact in terms of achieving these objectives (objectives – led approach). Simultaneously it was pointed out that while this methodology is less widespread in Poland, it is in use and it is recommended to be used to asses similar types of documents in Europe.

Next part of the conference was focused on issues relating to potential environmental impacts of typical undertakings listed in the FRMPs, planned to be undertaken in the first planning period. The presentation was focused on these undertaking types which are planned to be undertaken in the Region of Upper Vistula River. 

The next presentation concerned results of the environmental impact assessment report for FRMP for the area of Vistula River basin with a strong emphasis on the Region of Upper Vistula River and Little Vistula River.

The final part of the conference was focused on the idea of public consultations that are carried out as a part of the strategic environmental assessment for the Flood Risk Management Plans. A procedure of raising comments and motions was presented. It was also pointed out that all the information are available on the project’s website www.powodz.gov.pl

At the end of the conference an open discussion took place. The representatives of The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management – State Research Institute, department in Kraków as well as Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Kraków and Katowice, representatives of Water Management Board in Kraków, representatives of Czarna Community and experts responsible for the environmental assessment took part in the discussion. It was discussed, among other things, about the possibility of increasing the flood reserve of Goczałkowice reservoir and about the methodological assumptions concerning the comparison of the investment plans with non technical option – people resettlement, about the assessment of cumulative impacts as a result of flood banks and about the impact of investments on climate change. Repeatedly it was stressed during the discussion that safety of people and overriding public interest is an important issue. However the credibility of the environmental assessment which shows potential negative impact on natural components in case of undertaking some investments should also be emphasized.

At the end of the meeting, as a part of a summary, the participants were reminded about the possibility of raising formal comments and motions and about public consultation process which is available for all stakeholders from 10 July to 31 July 2015.