Last updated: October 2021
In 2015, the municipality of Białystok restored the riverbed of the Biala river to its natural state. The project addresses the rapidly changing climate and atmospheric conditions which cause more frequent storms by improving the water management in the city. The city reconstructed the old riverbanks, built two ponds for retention, which serve as reservoirs and tanks to stop and distribute the excess water [1,2].
Revitalization of the Biała river in Białystok (2015)
Source: https://www.bialystok.pl/pl/wiadomosci/aktualnosci/rzeka-biala-w-przebudowie.html
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Lakes/ponds
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Focus
Maintenance and management of urban nature, Transformation of previously derelict areas, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas
Project objectives
1) Restoring the riverbed of the Biala river to its natural state;
2) Responding to the rapidly changing climate and atmospheric conditions and more frequent storms and heavy rain by improving the water management in the city [1,2].
Implementation activities
1) Building two ponds of 900 m2 and 400 m2;
2) Constructing four cofferdams;
3) Reinforcing the concrete dam - with a dam height of 0.85 m;
4) Creating a wooden-stone threshold;
5) Regulatory works;
6) Reconstructing the old river beds;
7) Backfilling the rectilinear sections of the riverbed [1].
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Renaturalization of rivers and other water bodies
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Unknown
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Local government initiated the project. The contractor for the project's implementation was company 'Construction and Water Management Services' (Usługi Budownictwa Wodnego i Melioracji s.c.) [2].
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(Local revitalization program for the city of Bialystok from 2010.(3))
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
- Water management and blue areas
- Increased protection against flooding
- Improved stormwater management
- Reduced risk of damages by drought
- Green space and habitat
- Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Safety
- Increased perception of safety
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Sadowska-Dubicka, E., (2015), 'Biala river will writhe again, new ponds will be created. Regulating the river starts this year' ('Biała znowu będzie się wiła, powstaną oczka wodne. Regulacja rzeki jeszcze w tym roku'),
Source link (Accessed: 14 September 2020).
2. City council website, 'Biała river being revitalized' ('Rzeka Biała w przebudowie'), Source link (Accessed: 14 September 2020).
3. Bialystok City Council (2010), 'Local revitalization program for the city of Bialystok' ('Lokalny Program Rewitalizacji Miasta Białegostoku'), (See attachment)
4. Kł. (2020). Susza w metropoliach. Jak radzi sobie Białystok? (Drought in metropoli. How is Bialystok doing?). Source link. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 29 September 2020).
Source link (Accessed: 14 September 2020).
2. City council website, 'Biała river being revitalized' ('Rzeka Biała w przebudowie'), Source link (Accessed: 14 September 2020).
3. Bialystok City Council (2010), 'Local revitalization program for the city of Bialystok' ('Lokalny Program Rewitalizacji Miasta Białegostoku'), (See attachment)
4. Kł. (2020). Susza w metropoliach. Jak radzi sobie Białystok? (Drought in metropoli. How is Bialystok doing?). Source link. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 29 September 2020).
Revitalization of the Biała river in Białystok (2015)
Source: https://www.bialystok.pl/pl/wiadomosci/aktualnosci/rzeka-biala-w-przebudowie.html
Revitalization of the Biała river in Białystok (2020)
Source: https://www.google.pl/maps/dir/Pod+Krzyw%C4%85,+Bia%C5%82ystok/Czes%C5%82awa+Mi%C5%82osza,+Bia%C5%82ystok/@53.1222812,23.18192,757m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x471ffeb3393818e5:0xf5b847cf5ef18a5a!2m2!1d23.1832391!2d53.1175174!1m5!1m1!1s0x471ffeaddc4d50fb:0x3573036162122c1!2m2!1d23.1795128!2d53.1221517!3e3?hl=pl&authuser=0