LAREDAR
Lakes and Reservoirs in the Danube River Basin
"Towards coordinated actions of lakes and reservoirs management to reduce flood risks in the Danube River Basin"
Short description of the project:
Flood events in the Danube Basin are inherently transnational, while reservoir operation, data systems, and management approaches remain largely fragmented. This limits the effectiveness of flood mitigation measures and reduces the ability to respond to extreme hydrological events in a coordinated way.
LAREDAR aims to improve this situation by strengthening knowledge, tools, and cooperation mechanisms for the coordinated management of lakes and reservoirs. The project combines data collection, modelling, and pilot analyses to better understand the role of reservoirs in flood risk reduction and to support joint decision-making.
A central element of the project is the development of a GIS-based platform, integrating data on lakes and reservoirs across the Danube River Basin and enabling scenario analysis and modelling.
In parallel, LAREDAR develops a transnational manual and harmonisation platform, providing operational guidance, good practices, and recommendations for coordinated reservoir management. These outputs are supported by stakeholder engagement, expert workshops, and pilot testing activities.
Finally, the project delivers strategic guidance and a capitalisation plan to ensure long-term uptake of results and their integration into national policies and Danube-wide frameworks.
By combining technical innovation, transnational cooperation, and policy alignment, LAREDAR contributes to more effective and climate-resilient flood risk management in the Danube Region.
Lists project partners
Lead Partner 1: Middle Tisza District Water Directorate
Project Partner 2: Technical University of Munich (TUM)
Project Partner 3: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU)
Project Partner 4: Global Water Partnership Central and Eastern Europe (GWP CEE)
Project Partner 5: University of Ljubljana (UL)
Project Partner 6: National Administration "Romanian Waters" (NARW)
Project Partner 7: National Institute of Hydrology and Water Management (NIHWM)
Project Partner 8: Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests (MEWF)
Project Partner 9: Jaroslav Černi Water Institute (JCWI)
Project Partner 10: Institute of Hydrology, Slovak Academy of Sciences (IH SAS)
Project Partner 11: Ukrainian Hіdrometeorologіcal Center (UHCM)
Project Partner 12: Climate, Atmosphere and Water Research Institute at Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (CAWRI-BAS)
LAREDAR: Enhancing Transnational Flood Management in the Danube Basin
The newly launched LAREDAR project, led by Hungary's Middle Tisza District Water Directorate, brings together 11 partners from eight countries to better integrate lakes and reservoirs into a coordinated flood risk mitigation strategy across the Danube River Basin. To overcome current data silos, the initiative is developing the LAREDAR GIS platform for spatial data sharing and will produce a Transnational Manual based on findings from five diverse pilot areas. Ultimately, the project aims to provide harmonized guidance and good practices that balance flood protection with drought resilience, as demonstrated during the recent kick-off meeting and site visits at Lake Tisza.
LAREDAR Progress: Harmonizing Reservoir Management in Vienna
The LAREDAR consortium met at the BOKU River Lab in Vienna to advance the technical integration of lakes and reservoirs into the Floodplain Evaluation Matrix (FEM), establishing a unified framework for cross-border flood and drought mitigation. Representatives from 11 countries presented detailed hydrological assessments of five key pilot areas, including Lake Tisza and the Mura River Basin, to ensure operational rules and data sharing are synchronized across the Danube region. By finalizing the LAREDAR GIS platform updates and a joint modeling work plan for 10, 20, and 100-year flood events, the partners have officially transitioned from preparatory scoping to the implementation of coordinated transnational simulations.
Bridging Knowledge Gaps: Insights from the LAREDAR Webinar Series
Between February and March 2026, the LAREDAR project partnered with GWP CEE to host a three-part webinar series that successfully engaged over 200 stakeholders in advancing cross-border flood risk management. These interactive sessions moved from identifying regional challenges—such as data fragmentation and climate-driven pressures—to demonstrating practical solutions like the LAREDAR GIS platform. By bringing together water authorities, policymakers, and technical experts, the series fostered a vital exchange of perspectives that will directly inform the project's upcoming Transnational Manual and strategic recommendations. Ultimately, this initiative confirmed a strong regional commitment to harmonizing data and operational tools, reinforcing the essential role of transnational cooperation in building a climate-resilient Danube River Basin.