CORK CITY manager Joe Gavin has expressed hope that a proposal to revise how water levels are maintained at ESB reservoirs on the river Lee, along with some localised protection works, will prove sufficient to reduce the risk of flooding in Cork.
The recently published draft version of the Lee Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Study proposed two options to prevent a repeat of the floods of November 19th last, which caused up to €100 million worth of damage in Cork city.
The more radical option involves major structural works and is estimated to cost €145 million, but Mr Gavin yesterday said it was hoped the alternative proposal focusing on managing water levels and localised protection would succeed in preventing major floods.
This management option, proposed by consultants Halcrow in its report for the Office of Public Works (OPW), Cork City Council and Cork County Council, would involve the introduction of revised procedures by the ESB for operating reservoir levels at Inniscarra and Carrigadrohid dams.
This management-based approach would also involve a focus on downstream flood risk management, in conjunction with localised protection works such as filling in gaps in quay walls and at bridge openings through use of temporary shutters or barricades.
According to Mr Gavin, the ESB is co-operating fully with the review. The OPW has “a very strong expectation” that this option will provide significant reduction of flood risk, and has already begun a review to this end.
The review involves the modelling of dam discharge scenarios to define flood risks and extents. It began last month and will take three months. A detailed inspection of gaps and low points in quay walls began this month and will take two months.