Romania completes 19 mountain flood-control projects across eight counties

Romania’s state forestry agency has completed and formally accepted 19 projects designed to reduce flood danger from fast-moving mountain runoff. The works span public forests in eight counties: Bacău, Buzău, Suceava, Neamț, Hunedoara, Prahova, Vâlcea and Vrancea.

Across the sites, crews restored 42.51 kilometres of torrent channels, repaired 26 damaged sediment-retention structures and built 203 new structures. These include dams, sills, crossings and channels that slow water and trap material carried downhill. Fifty-eight of the new structures and 21 repaired ones were fitted with fish ladders.

Nature-based measures were added to help keep rainwater and soil on slopes. The project reforested 11.1 hectares, established grass on 2.19 hectares and installed 1,382 metres of woven-branch fencing on degraded land. Together, the engineered and planted features are intended to soften flood surges, limit erosion and protect forests, transport links and communities downstream.

The programme ran from September 2022 through July 2026 and cost 130.37 million lei in total. Of that, 109.56 million lei came through Romania’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The forestry agency reported that every project target was achieved.