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CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND SOIL PROTECTION
EXPERIENCES WITH THE FLOOD EVENT 2005 IN MOUNTAINOUS AREAS OF SWITZERLAND
Nicole Locher Oberholzer1, Michael Wernli2, Samuel Isler3 and Reto Rupf4 Key words: soil protection, flood event, crisis management, environmental planning INTRODUCTION
The intense rainfalls of August 21st and 22nd 2005 fell on nearly saturated soils. Before long the water levels in rivers and lakes reached maximum values and led to flood events.
Relating to spatial extension, the floods of 2005 exceeded earlier events. Almost the entire northern part of the Swiss Alps was concerned (BWG 2005).
The flood events caused direct and indirect soil damage. Erosion provoked an immense loss of fertile soil along the rivers, while deposition took place in the floodplains. In many places the slopes started sliding. Chemical products such as mineral oil flowed out of flooded indus- trial areas and buildings and contaminated vegetation and soil. Damage paid for by public authorities in the agricultural sector amounted to almost CHF 72 millions (BWG 2005).
METHOD
In a first step an evaluation of the basic principles of flood and soil protection was made, based on literature and open interviews. This resulted in a questionary for half standardized interviews. Based on this, authorities in the fields of agronomy, soil protection and natural hazards as well as representatives of construction companies and environmental engineers were interviewed. Besides open questions the interviewees were asked questions about issues such as types of damage, vulnerability of soils, possibilities to prevent damage, and adminis- trative proceedings. Their experiences as well as project data and guidelines were combined in a report including a catalogue of countermeasures (Locher Oberholzer et al. 2007).
RESULTS
In crisis management, transparent and uncomplicated structures, including local knowledge seemed to be very important. Clear strategies and orders across administrative units facilitated soil protection in crisis management. The interviewees appreciated concrete directives and the
1 Research assistant, Institut Umwelt und Natürliche Ressourcen, Departement Life Sciences und Facility Ma- nagement, Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Grüental, Postfach 335, CH-8820 Wädenswil, www.umweltplanung.unr.ch, (Tel.: +41 (0)58 934 59 44, email: nicole.locher@zhaw.ch )
2Assistant, Institut Umwelt und Natürliche Ressourcen, Departement Life Sciences und Facility Management, Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Grüental, CH-8820 Wädenswil
3Research assistant, Institut Umwelt und Natürliche Ressourcen, Departement Life Sciences und Facility Mana- gement, Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Grüental, CH-8820 Wädenswil
4Lecturer, Institut Umwelt und Natürliche Ressourcen, Departement Life Sciences und Facility Management, Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Grüental, Postfach 335, CH-8820 Wädenswil
CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND SOIL PROTECTION
EXPERIENCES WITH THE FLOOD EVENT 2005 IN MOUNTAINOUS AREAS OF SWITZERLAND
Nicole Locher Oberholzer1, Michael Wernli2, Samuel Isler3 and Reto Rupf4 Key words: soil protection, flood event, crisis management, environmental planning INTRODUCTION
The intense rainfalls of August 21st and 22nd 2005 fell on nearly saturated soils. Before long the water levels in rivers and lakes reached maximum values and led to flood events.
Relating to spatial extension, the floods of 2005 exceeded earlier events. Almost the entire northern part of the Swiss Alps was concerned (BWG 2005).
The flood events caused direct and indirect soil damage. Erosion provoked an immense loss of fertile soil along the rivers, while deposition took place in the floodplains. In many places the slopes started sliding. Chemical products such as mineral oil flowed out of flooded indus- trial areas and buildings and contaminated vegetation and soil. Damage paid for by public authorities in the agricultural sector amounted to almost CHF 72 millions (BWG 2005).
METHOD
In a first step an evaluation of the basic principles of flood and soil protection was made, based on literature and open interviews. This resulted in a questionary for half standardized interviews. Based on this, authorities in the fields of agronomy, soil protection and natural hazards as well as representatives of construction companies and environmental engineers were interviewed. Besides open questions the interviewees were asked questions about issues such as types of damage, vulnerability of soils, possibilities to prevent damage, and adminis- trative proceedings. Their experiences as well as project data and guidelines were combined in a report including a catalogue of countermeasures (Locher Oberholzer et al. 2007).
RESULTS
In crisis management, transparent and uncomplicated structures, including local knowledge seemed to be very important. Clear strategies and orders across administrative units facilitated soil protection in crisis management. The interviewees appreciated concrete directives and the
1 Research assistant, Institut Umwelt und Natürliche Ressourcen, Departement Life Sciences und Facility Ma- nagement, Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Grüental, Postfach 335, CH-8820 Wädenswil, www.umweltplanung.unr.ch, (Tel.: +41 (0)58 934 59 44, email: nicole.locher@zhaw.ch )
2Assistant, Institut Umwelt und Natürliche Ressourcen, Departement Life Sciences und Facility Management, Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Grüental, CH-8820 Wädenswil
3Research assistant, Institut Umwelt und Natürliche Ressourcen, Departement Life Sciences und Facility Mana- gement, Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Grüental, CH-8820 Wädenswil
4Lecturer, Institut Umwelt und Natürliche Ressourcen, Departement Life Sciences und Facility Management, Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Grüental, Postfach 335, CH-8820 Wädenswil
CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND SOIL PROTECTION
EXPERIENCES WITH THE FLOOD EVENT 2005 IN MOUNTAINOUS AREAS OF SWITZERLAND
Nicole Locher Oberholzer1, Michael Wernli2, Samuel Isler3 and Reto Rupf4 Key words: soil protection, flood event, crisis management, environmental planning INTRODUCTION
The intense rainfalls of August 21st and 22nd 2005 fell on nearly saturated soils. Before long the water levels in rivers and lakes reached maximum values and led to flood events.
Relating to spatial extension, the floods of 2005 exceeded earlier events. Almost the entire northern part of the Swiss Alps was concerned (BWG 2005).
The flood events caused direct and indirect soil damage. Erosion provoked an immense loss of fertile soil along the rivers, while deposition took place in the floodplains. In many places the slopes started sliding. Chemical products such as mineral oil flowed out of flooded indus- trial areas and buildings and contaminated vegetation and soil. Damage paid for by public authorities in the agricultural sector amounted to almost CHF 72 millions (BWG 2005).
METHOD
In a first step an evaluation of the basic principles of flood and soil protection was made, based on literature and open interviews. This resulted in a questionary for half standardized interviews. Based on this, authorities in the fields of agronomy, soil protection and natural hazards as well as representatives of construction companies and environmental engineers were interviewed. Besides open questions the interviewees were asked questions about issues such as types of damage, vulnerability of soils, possibilities to prevent damage, and adminis- trative proceedings. Their experiences as well as project data and guidelines were combined in a report including a catalogue of countermeasures (Locher Oberholzer et al. 2007).
RESULTS
In crisis management, transparent and uncomplicated structures, including local knowledge seemed to be very important. Clear strategies and orders across administrative units facilitated soil protection in crisis management. The interviewees appreciated concrete directives and the
1 Research assistant, Institut Umwelt und Natürliche Ressourcen, Departement Life Sciences und Facility Ma- nagement, Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Grüental, Postfach 335, CH-8820 Wädenswil, www.umweltplanung.unr.ch, (Tel.: +41 (0)58 934 59 44, email: nicole.locher@zhaw.ch )
2Assistant, Institut Umwelt und Natürliche Ressourcen, Departement Life Sciences und Facility Management, Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Grüental, CH-8820 Wädenswil
3Research assistant, Institut Umwelt und Natürliche Ressourcen, Departement Life Sciences und Facility Mana- gement, Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Grüental, CH-8820 Wädenswil
4Lecturer, Institut Umwelt und Natürliche Ressourcen, Departement Life Sciences und Facility Management, Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Grüental, Postfach 335, CH-8820 Wädenswil
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support of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment. Especially the authorities of smaller communities esteemed the availability of an external coordinator for assistance.
A satisfactory involvement of someone concerned with soil protection in crisis management was often missing. The interviewees agreed that in the first phase of coping with crisis soil protection is not a subject of priority, but must be integrated as soon as possible to prevent further soil damage. The integration of the cantonal authorities for soil protection in the or- ganization of coping with crisis and regeneration must be specified beforehand, for example in contingency planning. During intervention and regeneration the assignment of a mandatory for pedological matters supported soil protection and should get promoted in all cantons.
Detailed analysis of the damage was appreciated as an important instrument to coordinate regeneration and the management of resources. After recultivation it is important to organize the acceptance of construction work. The gentle cultivation should be followed by a control of success after a few vegetation periods. Further soil protection measures relating to the flood event are shown in figure 1.
Fig. 1: Diagram of important soil protection measures in relation to the flood events.
REFERENCES
BWG, Bundesamt für Wasser und Geologie (2005): "Bericht über die Hochwasserereignisse 2005". Bern.
Locher Oberholzer N., Krebs R., Isler S., Wernli M. (2007): „Umfrage Hochwasser – Boden- schutz. Erfahrungsbericht“. Bundesamt für Umwelt (BAFU).
CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND SOIL PROTECTION
EXPERIENCES WITH THE FLOOD EVENT 2005 IN MOUNTAINOUS AREAS OF SWITZERLAND
Nicole Locher Oberholzer1, Michael Wernli2, Samuel Isler3 and Reto Rupf4 Key words: soil protection, flood event, crisis management, environmental planning INTRODUCTION
The intense rainfalls of August 21st and 22nd 2005 fell on nearly saturated soils. Before long the water levels in rivers and lakes reached maximum values and led to flood events.
Relating to spatial extension, the floods of 2005 exceeded earlier events. Almost the entire northern part of the Swiss Alps was concerned (BWG 2005).
The flood events caused direct and indirect soil damage. Erosion provoked an immense loss of fertile soil along the rivers, while deposition took place in the floodplains. In many places the slopes started sliding. Chemical products such as mineral oil flowed out of flooded indus- trial areas and buildings and contaminated vegetation and soil. Damage paid for by public authorities in the agricultural sector amounted to almost CHF 72 millions (BWG 2005).
METHOD
In a first step an evaluation of the basic principles of flood and soil protection was made, based on literature and open interviews. This resulted in a questionary for half standardized interviews. Based on this, authorities in the fields of agronomy, soil protection and natural hazards as well as representatives of construction companies and environmental engineers were interviewed. Besides open questions the interviewees were asked questions about issues such as types of damage, vulnerability of soils, possibilities to prevent damage, and adminis- trative proceedings. Their experiences as well as project data and guidelines were combined in a report including a catalogue of countermeasures (Locher Oberholzer et al. 2007).
RESULTS
In crisis management, transparent and uncomplicated structures, including local knowledge seemed to be very important. Clear strategies and orders across administrative units facilitated soil protection in crisis management. The interviewees appreciated concrete directives and the
1 Research assistant, Institut Umwelt und Natürliche Ressourcen, Departement Life Sciences und Facility Ma- nagement, Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Grüental, Postfach 335, CH-8820 Wädenswil, www.umweltplanung.unr.ch, (Tel.: +41 (0)58 934 59 44, email: nicole.locher@zhaw.ch )
2Assistant, Institut Umwelt und Natürliche Ressourcen, Departement Life Sciences und Facility Management, Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Grüental, CH-8820 Wädenswil
3Research assistant, Institut Umwelt und Natürliche Ressourcen, Departement Life Sciences und Facility Mana- gement, Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Grüental, CH-8820 Wädenswil
4Lecturer, Institut Umwelt und Natürliche Ressourcen, Departement Life Sciences und Facility Management, Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Grüental, Postfach 335, CH-8820 Wädenswil
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