Evaluation of the efficiency and interoperability of flood protection measures in the area of the Strymonas river basin, in the framework of the implementation of the project "Flood Protection - Cross Border Planning and Infrastructure Measures for Flood Protection", which is part of the European Territorial Cooperation Program "INTERREG V-A Greece-Bulgaria 2014-2020"

The Region of Central Macedonia in the framework of the implementation of European Commission’s cooperation program "Greece-Bulgaria 2014-2020"  with the management of floods that repeatedly occur in the basin of river Strymonas and the protection of man-made and natural environment as a high priority  has proceeded to the final process of assigning part of the project entitled "Flood Protection" with a main goal -  increasing the level of flood protection through an integrated  approach of the Greek-Bulgarian border area, thus promoting joint coordination and management of flood risks in the area of Strymonas.

Through the project "Flood Protection" and mainly the management work package "Integrated flood protection measures on the river Strymonas and Lake Kerkini" which starts immediately, the joint and coordinated upgrades of the existing and the construction of new / planned infrastructure will emerge on both sides of the border, while at the same time a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the impact of those support measures will be carried out.

More specifically, the main objectives from the implementation of the project are the following:

• Improving protection infrastructure along river flows in areas with significant flood risk and vulnerability
• Reduction of obstacles in flawed positions - narrowing of the river basin
• Reduce the likelihood of frequent flooding in facilities adjacent to the river, land and property
• Identify flood-prone land and increase flood protection in project areas and structures
• Reduction of negative economic and social impact from the floods
• Increase awareness and preparedness of the population in the cross-border area on how to respond in case of a flood and reduction of response time
• Enhancing the ability of stakeholders to react immediately during unexpected floods in various areas by using special equipment (mobile flood dams)
• Establish cooperation in the field of active water management, flood risk prevention and disaster prevention in the natural and man-made environment
• Increase the sense of security for residents in areas near river basins in the cross-border area.

The result of the project that will be the management tool in flood protection will be a Master Plan for the management of the ecosystem and structures of the area and at the same time a roadmap for new projects and interventions through the implementation of the Master Plan.

At the same time and for the first time, an implementation guide of the mobile modular flood protection intervention will be created through scenarios of interoperable interconnection of fixed and mobile infrastructures in the context of flood protection and action measures to minimize the risk.

The project has an implementation period of 12 months and is expected to be completed by January of 2022.