Brno is preparing flood protection measures around watercourses

Brno - The Brno City Hall and the Morava River Basin Authority are preparing flood protection measures on the watercourses in the city. The city leadership also aims to preserve the ecological function of the watercourses, with water becoming part of the public space and the lives of the city’s residents, representatives of the city hall told reporters today. The estimated costs for adjusting weirs and other constructions are approximately 350 million korunas. More precise figures will be known after the documentation is completed and the selection procedures are finished.

Firstly, the banks of the Svratka River are set to change from the Riviera to the viaduct at Uhelná Street. By 2022, promenades, tree avenues, and galleries for cafes, wine bars, and confectioneries will be added to the cycle path. The Svitava River will also undergo modifications from the Radlas weir to the Maloměřický Bridge at Dolnopolní. Along the watercourse, there will be so-called berms, which are grassed flood protection parks.

In addition, the weirs will be transformed, and walls will be built to protect the surrounding buildings from flooding - including the planned district of Nová Zbrojovka. The Svitava race, also known as the Old Ponávka, is set to undergo revitalization in selected sections, making the banks accessible, adding cycling paths, and creating places for staying.

Part of the measures includes flood and migration optimization of the weirs, which the state enterprise Morava River Basin Authority is preparing based on a memorandum with the city. "First, of course, it is necessary to resolve property rights preparation for these projects. Documentation for the reconstruction of the weirs on the Svitava River from the Radlas weir to Franz's weir is now being prepared," said Martin Ander (Greens), the deputy mayor of Brno.

The main goal is to reduce the fixed overflow edges of the weirs, which are currently either fixed or partially movable with a high fixed structure. The weirs are proposed to have their fixed overflow edge lowered by at least one meter and to replace this height with a modern movable barrier structure, which will ensure the current operating water level. At the same time, it will allow for the entire cross-section to be reserved during floods by lowering into the riverbed. "The reconstruction of the weirs also includes making them passable for fish and constructing sluices for kayakers. Thus, the Svratka and Svitava rivers will be much more attractive for recreation and leisure activities," Ander stated.

Two main streams flow through Brno, the Svratka and the Svitava, whose confluence is located in the southern part of the city outside the urban development. Many places are already accessible compared to the past, thanks to the network of cycling paths. However, according to some critics, closer contact with the river is lacking. After cleaning the Brno Reservoir, for example, people now have it in Jundrov, where the city hall set up a pier and adapted the swimming area some time ago.