Inland Flood Protection

This funding program targets local authorities, public law corporations, and maintenance duty holders for water bodies who wish to implement inland flood protection projects in Lower Saxony and Bremen. The aim is to strengthen sustainable development, especially in rural areas, considering the EC Flood Risk Management Directive.

The program funds water management projects for flood defense and increasing safety against flooding. This includes the new construction, extension, and dismantling of flood protection facilities, as well as the major renovation of pumping stations. Conceptual preliminary work and accompanying measures such as planning and applied research are also eligible for funding. Eligible expenses must be directly related to the project implementation.

Funding is provided as a non-repayable grant in the form of co-financing. The funding amount varies depending on the funding source and the type of project, from up to 70% of eligible expenses to 100% in certain cases. For projects of overriding water management interest or with EAFRD co-financing, special funding rates and accounting modalities for own contributions apply.

Specific conditions apply to the funding regarding project conception, cooperation, and compliance with EU directives. In particular, for GAK and EAFRD funds, detailed concepts and consideration of sustainability goals are required. There are commitment periods for funded assets and audit obligations by various instances.

The application for a grant must be submitted using the official form. The responsible granting authorities are the Lower Saxony State Agency for Water Management, Coastal and Nature Conservation (NLWKN) for projects in Lower Saxony, and the Senator for Environment, Construction and Transport for projects in Bremen. Project selection is based on specific selection criteria, and the disbursement of funds is based on the reimbursement principle.

The "Inland Flood Protection" funding program is based on a specific guideline from the State of Lower Saxony and the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen. It is supplemented by further national and EU regulations, including the GAKG and various EU regulations, particularly concerning the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).