Flood risk management in the Pleißenbach catchment area is being revised
The flood risk management plan for the Pleißenbach is currently being revised and updated on behalf of the Environmental Agency in consultation with the partners, the town of Limbach-Oberfrohna and the municipality of Callenberg, as the local authorities concerned.
Experience has shown that the Pleißenbach, one of the main tributaries to the Chemnitz in the urban area, poses considerable risks to private and municipal infrastructure as well as health and economic activities during floods. For this reason, an initial flood risk management plan for the entire Pleißenbach was drawn up back in 2010.
For its revision, the current conditions are first recorded, hazards and risks identified and visualised in flood hazard and flood risk maps for different flood events. In a second step, specific additional structural measures to improve flood protection as well as further avoidance and minimisation measures will be derived from this. The result is expected to be available by the end of 2025.
The revised flood risk management plan is intended to serve as information for those affected and emergency services, as a basis for the designation of flood zones, as a basis for flood-appropriate development planning as well as flood warnings and the provision of emergency plans.
The draft of the revised flood risk management plan will also be made available to the public for information and consultation. Information on this will be provided in good time.
 | This measure is co-financed by tax revenue on the basis of the budget adopted by the Saxon state parliament. |
Life by the water
It is also up to each riparian owner to inform themselves about flood risks, to minimise them and to turn the Pleißenbach back into a diverse and ecologically intact watercourse along its entire course.
However, as inspections by the Lower Water Authority have shown time and time again, the applicable regulations and prohibitions along the watercourse are often not sufficiently known or are disregarded. For example, the water's edge strips must be kept free of any structures and debris. Grass cuttings also do not belong on the banks of watercourses as they prevent the formation of a stable sward.
On the Pleißenbach in particular, with its rapidly rising runoff during heavy rainfall, narrow sections and many bridge structures, there is a risk that material carried along will become wedged on subsequent structures and cause overflowing and damage. In addition, improper and, in this form, usually unauthorised bank reinforcements lead to an increase in flow velocity.
A lot of information on this topic is also summarised in the flyer "Was darf ich. What should I not do?", published by the City of Chemnitz.
Download at: What am I allowed to do, what should I not do - Living by waterways
Only through the interplay of municipal measures to improve flood prevention and the co-operation of all those living near water bodies can we succeed in raising awareness of flood-related dangers and improving flood protection along the Pleißenbach.