Integrated Flood & Debris Flow Risk Mitigation — Brza Voda River

Project Overview

Integrated Flood & Debris Flow Risk Mitigation — Brza Voda River

 

BAR E.C.E. provided multidisciplinary engineering and design services for the development of an integrated solution for flood and debris-flow risk mitigation in the Brza Voda River watershed (Poroj/Dzepciste torrential watercourse), within the programme Improving Resilience to Floods in the Polog Region.

 

The programme is implemented by UNDP North Macedonia, with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), with the objective of strengthening flood resilience and introducing an integrated approach to flood-risk management in the Polog Region.

 

The Brza Voda watershed is exposed to significant flash-flood, debris-flow, erosion and sediment-transport risks, affecting local communities, infrastructure and agricultural land, particularly around Poroj and Dzepciste and along the regional road Tetovo–Jazince.

 

Integrated Flood Protection & River Engineering

 

BAR E.C.E. developed technical documentation combining structural and non-structural measures for flood and debris-flow risk reduction.

 

The engineering solutions included riverbed regulation along the Tetovo–Jazince regional road, a new box culvert in Poroj and an open check dam upstream of the village for sediment and debris control. The designs were supported by hydrological and hydraulic analyses, structural engineering, geotechnical inputs and detailed technical documentation.

 

The project also included the development of a monitoring system for the Gjermo landslide, as well as a monitoring and early warning system for the Brza Voda River, designed to support timely assessment and management of flood and debris-flow risks.

 

Bio-Engineering & Integrated Risk Management

 

In addition to conventional engineering structures, the project incorporated bio-engineering measures for erosion and torrent control within the Brza Voda watershed.

 

These measures were developed to address sediment sources and erosion processes and complement the structural flood-protection measures through environmentally sensitive interventions.

 

The assignment also included the required Urban Design and supporting technical and environmental documentation, providing an integrated basis for the future implementation of the proposed flood-protection measures.

 

Environmental Assessment & Integrated Risk Management

 

Alongside the engineering design, BAR E.C.E. prepared the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) documentation for the proposed flood-protection interventions.

 

The assessment evaluated the potential environmental impacts associated with the construction and operation of the proposed measures, including impacts related to air, water and soil, waste generation, noise, biodiversity and the surrounding environment. Appropriate mitigation, environmental protection and monitoring measures were defined to support environmentally responsible implementation of the project.

 

The environmental assessment was integrated with the engineering solutions, which included river regulation, the open check dam and the new culvert, ensuring that environmental considerations formed part of the overall flood-risk mitigation approach.