Lake Constance region - Austrian parliament approves flood project on the Rhine
Austria and Switzerland intend to invest 2.1 billion Euros for the improvement of flood protection on the Rhine. The Austrian Parliament has unanimously approved a treaty, with which the Rhine, prior to its confluence into Lake Constance, is to be fortified against flood events that statistically occur once every 300 years.
Today, during heavy rainfall, up to 3,100 cubic meters of water per second can flow over the so-called Alpine Rhine. This corresponds to a 100-year flood. In the long term, the involved two states aim to increase the capacity to 4,300 cubic meters per second. The construction start is planned for no earlier than 2027, with completion not until 20 years later.
On a stretch of 26 kilometers, more space is to be created for the river, which currently flows in a canal. The river is also to be returned to a more natural state. This will protect approximately 300,000 people in the Rhine Valley from flooding. The treaty for this project was signed between Austria and Switzerland in May. The parliament in Bern still needs to approve the pact. The two states will share the costs equally.
The Rhine, reaching Lake Constance, will receive enhanced flood protection due to the 2.1 billion Euro investment from Austria and Switzerland. Vienna, the Austrian capital, is not explicitly mentioned in this context, but it too can benefit from improved civil protection measures. The treaty signed in May aims to withstand flood events statistically occurring once every 300 years, significantly impacting Austria and potentially affecting areas near Lake Constance in Switzerland. After heavy rainfall, the Rhine can currently handle up to 3,100 cubic meters per second, a 100-year flood, but the joint project aims to increase that capacity to 4,300 cubic meters per second, offering additional flood protection for Austria and Switzerland.
