Sustainable Usage of Natural Resources of Upper Odra River Valley Within the Range of Influence of the Racibórz Dolny Dry Polder Compared to 1997, 2010, and 2024 Pluvial Floods

Andrzej Gałaś (), Grzegorz Wierzbicki, Slávka Gałaś, Marta Utratna-Żukowska and Julián Kondela
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Andrzej Gałaś: Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute, Polish Academy of Science, Wybickiego 7A, 31-261 Krakow, Poland
Grzegorz Wierzbicki: Department of Hydraulics, Water and Sanitary Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, WULS-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Slávka Gałaś: Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Krakow, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Marta Utratna-Żukowska: Department of Hydrology, Meteorology and Water Management, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, WULS-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Julián Kondela: Institute of Geosciences, Technical University of Košice, Letná 9, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 22, 1-22

Abstract: Floods, especially in urbanised areas, incur enormous economic and social losses. The structural flood management is often limited by urbanization and environmental issues. Following the catastrophic flood events of 1997 and 2010, a relatively large dry polder was constructed in Racibórz Dolny, Poland, with the highest flood retention capacity in Central Europe. During the 2024 flood in Czechia and Poland, the polder was filled to 80%, which significantly reduced the floodwave crest on the Odra River (by 1.65 m), halved the peak discharge, and delayed the floodwave passage by two days according to hydrological calculations. The operation of the polder enables multifunctional use of the river valley—ranging from agriculture and mineral extraction to environmental protection—without the need for permanent water impoundment. Aggregate extraction carried out within the basin contributed to shaping the reservoir, reducing the demand for transport and construction materials, while the overburden was reused for engineering and reclamation purposes. Mining activities between 2007 and 2023 increased the retention capacity of the polder by 13%, providing an example of rational environmental resource management combined with effective flood protection. The findings demonstrate that integrating retention functions with mineral resource management represents an efficient and sustainable approach to mitigating flood impacts in large European river valleys.

Keywords: flood risk reduction; river training; dry polder; mineral deposits; Poland (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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