Pilot project EroL: Erosion events caused by heavy rainfall in Markgräflerland- Recommended actions for affected communities

Abstract

The foothill of the Black Forest, east of the river Rhine in the north of Basle, has a high potential for soil erosion hazards because of its topography and geology in combination with its land use. The district of Lörrach was often exposed to extreme erosion events caused by heavy rainfall in the past. On the one hand these events effected direct damages on buildings and infrastructures, on the other hand fertile topsoil was lost and sediment into waterways accumulated. As part of the German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change (DAS) the pilot project “EroL” (2018- 2021) supports the district of Lörrach with a development of a risk management strategy. Thus, by generating hazard maps for soil erosion and pluvial flooding, risk characteristics for risk objects and a concept for risk management strategy, which are carried out in several workshops with the network of communal departments, agriculture and forestry, affected citizens, planners and rescue services management.