A new board has been created in Osona to improve flood risk management

The European project LocAll4Flood, coordinated by the BETA Technology Center of UVic-UCC, has created cooperation spaces throughout its two years of operation, which have represented a significant improvement in the territorial management of flood risk. For this reason, work is underway to formalize a collaboration agreement between key actors: Vic City Council, Gurb City Council, the Catalan Water Agency, Civil Protection and the Osona Regional Council, with the aim of giving continuity to these cooperation spaces. This agreement will result in the establishment of a new board to strengthen flood risk management in these municipalities of the Gurri river basin through coordinated, inclusive and sustainable approaches.

This collaboration is structured around three main objectives. One is raising awareness among the population and the desire to improve citizens’ understanding of flood risks. In particular, the aim is to emphasize the causes and impacts of flash floods, as well as the importance of prevention, preparedness and adaptation in vulnerable areas. The second objective is to improve coordination in flood risk management, strengthening cooperation and information exchange between actors to improve preparedness and response before, during and after flood episodes. Finally, the third objective is to promote the consideration and adoption of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) when technically, environmentally and socially feasible, as part of flood risk reduction and climate change adaptation strategies.

In addition to the members of the public administration who will sign the agreement, it is also expected to open it to other entities from the private sector, academia and civil society. By signing this commitment, the parties have undertaken to contribute, within their respective competences and capacities, to the achievement of the objectives described. In addition, it has also been agreed to ensure that all interested parties are invited to participate in future meetings and coordination spaces arising from this collaboration agreement, beyond the signatory parties.

The risk of flash floods

Across the Mediterranean region, floods are a natural phenomenon that can have ecologically beneficial effects, as they contribute to the renewal of ecosystems by providing water and nutrients to the soil. However, under the impact of climate change, flood episodes are increasingly characterized by flash floods, which are becoming more frequent, intense and destructive.

In this geographical area, flash floods are usually caused by intense and short-term rainfall that exceeds the capacity of drainage systems, both natural and artificial. In addition, the expansion of urban and industrial areas in floodplains has reduced the natural capacity of the soil to absorb water.

Managing these risks requires much more than technical measures; it requires coordination, shared understanding and a truly integrated approach between all the actors involved. This is precisely the objective of the LocAll4Flood project, coordinated by the UVic-UCC BETA Technology Centre, which is being developed in Malta, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria and Spain, with the specific case study in the Gurri basin and the Mèder tributary (Vic), and Torrent de l’Esperança (Gurb).

Training and collaboration sessions

The LocAll4Flood project, funded by the Interreg Euro-Med programme, organised three training sessions in 2025 focused on flood risk prevention and awareness. The first, in March, addressed the principles of risk management, early warning systems and the identification of vulnerable areas, highlighting the need to improve coordination and invest in efficient systems. The second, in June, focused on raising awareness and collaboration between key actors, incorporating results from surveys on risk perception and strengthening synergies to move towards joint action. The third, in November, discussed opportunities and obstacles to implementing Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) at the local level, explored other NBS to reduce stormwater flood risks, and fostered knowledge exchange between experts and local actors to strengthen cooperation and territorial resilience.

Within the framework of the fourth and final session of the LocAll4Flood Project, which will take place this Friday, April 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Gurb City Hall, the collaboration agreement between the main actors of the territory will be presented, which must guarantee the continuity of cooperation between them, and the details of the new working table will also be made known. A tool that should allow strengthening the resilience of the Gurri basin to floods, with sustainable solutions and active participation of the community.

Throughout all the sessions that were held over the course of the past year, there were interactive activities that facilitated the exchange of ideas and the identification of effective solutions. This resulted in significant progress towards the development of more complete and coordinated flood risk management strategies. Some sessions also included presentations of locally implemented flood models (both pluvial and fluvial) that provided valuable information on the specific challenges and solutions of each site.

All these sessions were attended by representatives of the Catalan Water Agency (ACA), Vic City Council, Gurb City Council, the Guàrdia Urbana, the Fire Department, Forestry Agents, Civil Protection of the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Osona County Council, the Mediterranean Rivers Studies Center (CERM), the Remei Neighborhood Residents Association, the Vic Civil Protection Volunteers Association and other experts.