Ice-jam flood risk management in Latvian and Lithuanian regions with respect to climate change

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Latvia-Lithuania

Date of latest update: 2025-12-16

Description

Description (EN):

The “ICEREG” project aims to enhance the management of ice-jam flood risk by developing comprehensive flood maps and refining the conceptual model of ice-jam flood formation, particularly in the context of climate change. Although Latvia and Lithuania have included flood risk reduction and management into their climate change adaptation plans, the specific dynamics of ice-jam phenomena remain unexplored. Ice jams, as an additional source of flooding, pose a significant risk, capable of causing widespread inundation and substantial damage to both communities and the economy of the Latvia-Lithuania border regions. The unpredictability of ice jams adds to the challenge, necessitating a deeper understanding of the meteorological and hydrological conditions that contribute to ice-jam flood formation. Through transnational cooperation of national public authorities, research institution and local authorities, the project will propose and transfer good practices to target groups in order to improve ice-jam flood management in the context of climate change. Ice-jam floods will be modelled and mapped for the vulnerable territories in Latvia and Lithuania This model will be used to improve the existing early warning system by ice-jam flood information. As a result, the “ICEREG” project will significantly enhance the safety and resilience of the Latvia-Lithuania cross-border regions contending with the multifaceted challenges posed by ice-jam floods and climate change.

Description (LV):

Projekto „ICEREG“ tikslas yra pagerinti ledų sangrūdų potvynių rizikos valdymą, kuriant išsamius potvynių žemėlapius ir tobulinant ledų sangrūdų susidarymo koncepcinį modelį, ypač atsižvelgiant į klimato kaitą. Latvija ir Lietuva į savo prisitaikymo prie klimato kaitos planus įtraukė potvynių rizikos mažinimą ir valdymą, tačiau ledų sangrūdų dinamika lieka vis dar neištirta. Ledo sangrūdos, kaip papildomas potvynių rizikos šaltinis, kelia didelį pavojų dėl plataus masto užtvindymo ir didelės žalos Latvijos ir Lietuvos pasienio regionų bendruomenėms ir ekonomikai. Ledo sangrūdų nenuspėjamumas dar labiau padidina iššūkį, todėl būtina geriau suprasti meteorologines ir hidrologines sąlygas, lemiančias potvynių susidarymą. Bendradarbiaujant tarptautinėms ir nacionalinėms valdžios institucijoms bei mokslinių tyrimų organizacijoms, projekto metu bus siūloma ir tikslinėms grupėms perduoti tyrimų patirtį, siekiant pagerinti ledo sangrūdų potvynių valdymą įvertinus klimato kaitą. Bus sumodeliuotos ir kartografuotos Latvijos ir Lietuvos ledo sangrūdų pažeidžiamos teritorijos. Sukurtas modelis bus taikomas siekiant pagerinti esamą ankstyvojo perspėjimo sistemą, naudojant informaciją apie ledo sangrūdų potvynius. Todėl projektas „ICEREG“ gerokai padidins Latvijos ir Lietuvos pasienio regionų, susiduriančių su ledo sangrūdų potvynių ir klimato kaitos keliamomis problemomis, saugumą ir prisitaikymą.

Description (LT):

ICEREG projekta mērķis ir uzlabot ledus un vižņu sastrēgumu izraisīto plūdu riska pārvaldību, izstrādājot visaptverošas plūdu kartes un uzlabojot ledus plūdu veidošanās konceptuālo modeli, jo īpaši klimata pārmaiņu kontekstā. Neskatoties uz to, ka Latvijā un Lietuvā plūdu riska mazināšana un pārvaldība ir ietverta nacionālajos plānos par pielāgošanos klimata pārmaiņām, ledus un vižņu sastrēgumu parādību specifiskā dinamika joprojām nav izpētīta. Ledus sastrēgumi ir plūdu papildus avots un līdz ar to tie rada būtisku risku, jo spēj izraisīt plašu teritoriju applūšanu un nodarīt ievērojamus zaudējumus Latvijas-Lietuvas pierobežas reģionu sabiedrībai un ekonomikai. Ledus sastrēgumu neprognozējamība padara uzdevumu vēl sarežģītāku, tādēļ ir nepieciešama dziļāka izpratne par meteoroloģiskajiem un hidroloģiskajiem apstākļiem, kas izraisa ledus sastrēgumu plūdu veidošanos. Caur nacionālo valsts iestāžu, pētniecības iestāžu un pašvaldību starpvalstu sadarbību, projekts piedāvās un izplatīs mērķa auditorijai labās prakses risinājumus, lai uzlabotu ledus sastrēgumu plūdu pārvaldību klimata pārmaiņu kontekstā. Tiks veikta ledus un vižņu sastrēgumu izraisīto plūdu modelēšana un kartēšana riska teritorijās Latvijā un Lietuvā. Izstrādātais modelis tiks izmantots esošās agrīnās brīdināšanas sistēmas papildināšanai ar ledus sastrēgumu plūdu informāciju. Rezultātā ICEREG projekts ievērojami uzlabos Latvijas-Lietuvas pierobežas reģionu drošību un noturību pret daudzveidīgajiem izaicinājumiem, ko izraisa ledus sastrēgumu plūdi un klimata pārmaiņas.

Actual Achievements (EN):

During the 1 period the Agreement between project partners was signed and project experts have been contracted. The Kick-off meeting was held in 03.04.2024 at Riga, 22 project experts and 8 stakeholders were participating in the meeting. The first PSG/PMG meeting was postponed to the 2nd period. LEGMC experts provided the HEC-RAS model Training Course for LEI (PP2) experts (D.2.1.3). During the period historical data of hydrological, meteorological and morphological parameters analysis was started, all partners were involved to these activities. Results of these works will contribute to the preparing of deliverables D1.1.1 and D1.2.1. (WP1). The team of LP' field measurements experts carried out the profiles measurements in the project pilot rivers Daugava (on the river stretch Nereta - Aiviekste) and Lielupe (on the river stretch Musa-Memele rivers confluence - Sesava). These measurements will be finished before autumn 2024, results will contribute to the preparing of HEC-RAS model geometry for the ice-jam flood modelling (D2.2.1). Communication work included preparing of the Communication plan, project posters, and publishing of different information about the project. Project management: the Project Steering and Management groups meeting was held in 03.10.2024 at Riga, 4 Steering Group members (2 from National public authorities and 2 from Local public authorities), 3 project managers and 13 project experts were participating in the meeting. In 26 November 2024 the Project experts meeting was organized in Bauska city for 21 participants. During 2-d period the full equipped computer (LP) was purchased for the ice-jam flood modelling and mapping. Communication work included preparing and publishing of different information about the project. During the period historical data of hydrological, meteorological and morphological parameters analysis has been completed, two reports were prepared by all PPs in the frame of Activity A1- deliverables D.1.1.1, D.1.2.1, as well as additional Report on climate change modelling in Latvia and Lithuania (D.1.2.2) prepared by LP and PP3. In WP2, the main activities were related to ice-jam flood risk modeling by PP2 (A2.1) and cross-section measurements in field works by LP and PP2 (A2.2). Field measurements have been finished in autumn 2024, prepared Report on Pilot rivers cross-sections for development of rivers’ geometry for the HEC-RAS model (D2.2.1). The main results in A2.1 is the training course on ice-jam modelling using the Excel-VBA tool (Report D 2.1.1) that was organized in 24 09 2024. 21 experts attended instead of the planned 12 experts. PP2 was studying the feasibility of applications of the Excel-VBA tool in LT-LV conditions; the ice-jam calculations using SYKE tool “Excel-VBA” for the Mūša and Lėvuo rivers. The hydrological and hydrodynamic models of two pilot sites (the Mūša and Lėvuo) were created and calibrated using HEC-RAS Model. Also, ice-jam flood modelling in two pilot rivers was done using historical data (PP2).

Project outputs: Organisations cooperating across borders(EN)
The jointly developed solution for the Improved management of ice-jam flood risk using corresponding flood maps and the conceptual model of ice-jam flood formation with respect to climate change. (EN)

Thematic information

Water management Urban development Climate change and biodiversity

Priority: (VI-A_Lv-Lt_2) Priority 2 Green, resilient and sustainable development

Priority specific objective: RSO2.4. Promoting climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention and resilience, taking into account eco-system based approaches

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 058 Adaptation to climate change measures and prevention and management of climate related risks: floods and landslides (including awareness raising, civil protection and disaster management systems, infrastructures and ecosystem based approaches)

Partners (3)

Lead Partner: Latvijas Vides, ģeoloģijas un meteoroloģijas centrs

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 50103237791

Department: Information analysis department

Address: Maskavas, LV-1019 Riga, Latvia

Department address: Maskavas, LV-1019 Riga, Latvia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://videscentrs.lvgmc.lv/

Total budget: EUR 273 867.50

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 219 094.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 54 773.50

Lietuvos hidrometeorologijos tarnyba prie Aplinkos ministerijos

Name: Lietuvos hidrometeorologijos tarnyba prie Aplinkos ministerijos

Department: Unit of Hydrological observations

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 290743240

Address: Oršos str. , LT-09300 Vilnius, Lithuania

Department address: Oršos str. , LT-09300 Vilnius, Lithuania

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.meteo.lt

Total budget: EUR 161 315.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 129 052.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 32 263.00

Contractors:

Name: UAB NIKADITA
VAT registration or tax identification number: LT263034413
Name: „LEXIN auditas“
VAT registration or tax identification number: LT100005670019

Lietuvos energetikos institutas

Name: Lietuvos energetikos institutas

Department: Laboratory of Hydrology

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 111955219

Address: Breslaujos, 44403 Kaunas, Lithuania

Department address: Breslaujos, 44403 Kaunas, Lithuania

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.lei.lt

Total budget: EUR 218 900.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 175 120.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 43 780.00

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Lietuvos hidrometeorologijos tarnyba prie Aplinkos ministerijos

Ice-jam flood risk management in Latvian and Lithuanian regions with respect to climate change

Partners and Projects info

Lithuanian Energy Institute

Ice-jam flood risk management in Latvian and Lithuanian regions with respect to climate change

Partners and Projects info

Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology centre

Ice-jam flood risk management in Latvian and Lithuanian regions with respect to climate change

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Ice-jam flood risk management in Latvian and Lithuanian regions with respect to climate change

Project acronym: ICEREG

Project ID: LL-00136

Project start date: 2024-02-01

Project end date: 2026-01-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

NFI project 2.2.1.1/17/I/027 "Development and development of information systems for geospatial and Daugava Basin flood data" (EN) | The project included flood risk modelling and flood risk maps development for the cascade of the Daugava Hydropower Plants. Ice-jam was one of the Plavinu HPP flood risk sources in many years and in Jekabpils city in winter 2023. The ICEREG will use the Ice-flood Model presented during the previous project as well as approaches of ice-jam flood mapping for other river stretches under this flood risk. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 654 082.50

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 523 266.00

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 523 266.00. Co-financing rate, 80.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Report on Latvian-Lithuanian ice-jam flood sensitive areas
Conceptual model of the ice-jam flood formation
Report on climate change modelling in Latvia and Lithuania
Creation and updating of the Project profile on www.latlit.eu
Publishing of Project information on official websites and/or social media accounts of LP and PPs.
Informative posters at premisses of each PP
Two press releases (1 in LT and 1 in LV) for the media
Three articles for the International Conference
Notebook
Report on the Training course on the Excel-VBA tool.
Review of SYKE ice-jam flood model adjustment to Latvian-Lithuanian conditions.
Report on Training course on HEC-RAS Model.
Results of ice-jam calculations using SYKE tool “Excel-VBA”
Review of 1D modelling with HEC-RAS
Review of the ice-jam flood modelling results’ validation.
Ice-jam flood hazard and risk maps.
Fully equipped computers
Hard drivers
ArcGIS Pro software
Pilot rivers cross-sections for development of rivers’ geometry for the HEC-RAS model.
Fully equipped drone
Notebook
Developed concept of potential ice-jam flood warning
List of the ice-jam flood management measures

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyBalticSeaRegion Many EUSBSR Policy areas, like PA Hazard, PA Nutri, PA Safe, PA Tourism, etc., are related to climate change and adaptation to it. Climate change scenarios for precipitation will allow predicting possible changes in ecosystems of rivers, lakes and Baltic Sea coastal area. Ice-jam flood map is essential information for decision makers not only in the administration sector but also in the tourism and transport sectors of the economy.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSBSR

EUSBSR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSBSR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Latvia-Lithuania

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-12-16

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

67 / 67 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

235 / 235 (100%)

Notes on the data

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Ice-jam flood risk management in Latvian and Lithuanian regions with respect to climate change

Description

Thematic information

Partners (3)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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