Implementation process

Point of departure of FRM strategies

There are sluices by the water course, and small dikes on a side around 2 m to prevent flooding from the water course (interview pilot manager, 2019). In order to provide better flood protection, the city has invested in a flood gate at the bottom of river Omløbsåen where it meets another river, Vejle Å. When closed, the flood gate will prevent high water levels in the fjord from entering Omløbsåen, where it otherwise would cause flooding. Three motor-driven sluice gates are also located further upstream in Omløbsåen, allowing automated and remote control. However, sea-levels are expected to rise by 25 cm in the fjord by 2050, and it is at serious risk of flooding due to its low-level topography (DHI, 2019).

Currently, protection from the side of the fjord is on the agenda. Options discussed (DCA with the Vejle Municipality) are a sea wall barrier cutting off the harbor area or  a major storm surge barrier in the same area that will close up the entire city during a storm surge. The storm surge barrier would cross the entire fjord and also function as a green area.  A sluice will also be needed to hold back the water  (interview pilot manager, 2019)

The new parts of the cities are built on raised terrain and they are also building higher foundations for the houses. This makes these areas flood proof without building a sea wall, but it might not be high enough considering the expected sea rise level (interview pilot manager, 2019).

This area was chosen as part of the project because it’s included in the risk areas of the Floods Directive and it is a member of the  list of 100 resilient cities.

Desired score to reach per layer in this pilot (Baseline survey, 2019).

Stakeholders involved

• Danish Coastal Authority
• Municipality of Vejle
  • Department of Technology and Environment
  • Department of Planning, building and environment
  • Department of Climate Adaptation
  • One from water course (water and flooding in the city)
  • Implementation of dikes
  • Urban planning (city architect)
• PhD student from Aarhus University, focusing on awareness raising

Role of key actors

The Danish Coastal Authority is an independent agency under the Danish Ministry of Environment and Food. The authority’s functions include coastal and flooding protection and the administration of the state territorial waters. Moreover, the Danish Coastal Authority functions as adviser to The Minister of Environment and Food.

In this project, the DCA worked together with the municipality. The municipality was very interested and collaborative in working together with the DCA and gave valuable input to the development of the DAPP steps.

Main activities

First the DCA had to find out the way how to work with the method since it was not applied for very specific contexts in flood risk management (FRM) in a Danish context.So a workshop was organized where Deltares, the developer of this method, brainstormed with the DCA on how to work with this approach in this specific context.

Step 1: adjust DAPP

Since the method is relatively unknown in Denmark, the project members had to familiarize themselves with the method, and adapt it to the Danish situation and standards.  A framework was developed with six steps. Each step has to be taken with a municipality and the method will be adjusted, if necessary, based on the outcomes of that particular exercise.

Step 2: DAPP workshops with municipality

The method was adjusted internally from 10 steps to 6 steps. The DCA went through  with the municipality during a workshop/full day meeting

0. Baseline: reflexion

1. System description: describe current situation and the system

Understand the area, the system, what to consider, what would be the barriers and what would be the opportunities.

2. Catalogue of ideas and vision: brainstorming over the actions (measures) and map the vision for the area

Brainstorming for measures but also thinking about what kind of visions the municipality has for the city. Measures such as open storm surge barrier together with the sluice, recreation protection wall, protection wall where buildings can be built, raising terrain, etc.

3. Define actions

Combine the visions with the possible measures and remove some measures that don’t match with the vision for the area. Dynamic planning card: create pathways

Make the DAPP maps with the measures based on the risk reduction in the area. A total of 3 workshops were required for this step. No politicians were involved in this step.

4. Multi-criteria analysis

Make a MCA of the chosen adaptation pathways. The politicians will be involved in the process and present the results.

5. Action plan

Develop an action plan for short/medium/ long term for a chosen pathway. The results will be presented to politicians.

Every step required one full day meeting with the municipalities, unless step 4 which required a 3 days meeting. The municipality was very reactive and cooperative in the whole process, they are very interested in working with the method and give input on the method to DCA. So far, the DCA went through the first 4 steps with the municipalities.

Step 3a: exchange results between municipalities

After all steps have been taken, both Danish municipalities (Vejle and Assens) will discuss the process and maps together: what went well, what was bad, what can be changed. This will result in feedback and recommendations for future similar projects.

Step 3b: get input from HZ

Establish a meeting with HZ to discuss and get feedback on the method.

Step 4: dissemination

If possible, the results will be presented to the Danish flood directive when we go out to the municipalities and we have to do the risk management plans to see if it can be something applicable.

During a Frames day the DCA invited all municipalities to join a presentation on the DAPP approach and the approach was discussed how it can be used to plan climate adaptation. One of the municipalities showed interested back then and emailed the DCA recently asking for more information about the method.

Referenties

• 100 resilient cities, 100 resilient cities, 17 februari 2020.
• Improved flood control and water quality with a smart water solution, DHI, 17 februari 2020.
• Transnational Monitor and Evaluation report FRAMES, FRAMES, FRAMES, 8 juni 2020.
• FRAMES Monitoring survey Vejle, Thomson, Jumppanen Andersen and Geertsen, DCA and Vejle municipality, 9 januari 2019.