Infiltration belts (grass) and buffer strips (permanent vegetation)

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Infiltration belts should be projected on slopes in the direction of a contour. In the vicinity of reservoirs, watercourses and built-up areas they protect them against penetration with eroded material. Buffer strips offer good conditions for effective water infiltration and slowing of surface runoff. Hedges across long, steep slopes intercept and slow surface run-off water…

Terracing

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Terracing is an ancient technology allowing the farming and building on steep and indented terrain. Farmland terraces consist of terrace platforms and terrace slopes or walls. In rural settings, the measure can reduce erosion and surface runoff by slowing rainwater to a non-erosive velocity. The measure is recommended for farmland with slopes >15°. However, terraces…

Contact persons and consultation hours for citizens’ consultation

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Risk awareness grows and turns into action when recurring and continuous information and personal expert advice are provided to private home owners as well as to public bodies. Contact persons and public consultation hours offer a greater guarantee of success than online information services or advertising campaigns. Acceptance of measures can be additionally promoted if…

Land consolidation processes

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Land consolidation is a planning process likely to clarify land ownership, reduce fragmentation of agricultural land ownership and to improve rural infrastructure and living conditions. This way it can reintroduce technical measures into collectivized field blocks, and positively influence landscape fragmentation for improving water retention and avoiding uncontrolled hazardous surface runoff. Land consolidation processes should…

Visualisation and explanation of the specific risk situation at site

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Visualisation of specific hazard and risk at site (e.g. on maps, installed billboard at locations etc.) is an effective way of pointing out dangers to affected persons and institutions. Maps indicate the specific hazard and risk on site and could be provided on the municipality’s online portal for example. Easily understandable information for the interpretation…

Conversion of arable land into grassland/ deciduous forest or short rotation plantations

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Heavy rain risk can significantly be reduced by converting farmland into grassland/deciduous forests or short rotation plantations. The measure increases the surface roughness constantly (effect: reduction of flow velocities) and decreases soil erosion (effect: reduction of mud deposition). The measure is well-suited for steep slopes with light soils, for runoff-pathways, for fields prone to flooding,…