Torrential storm in Levoča Hills leaves no damage behind thanks to Military Forests and Estates (VLM)'s flood detention reservoirs
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- Date: 06.06.2025
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The Levoča Hills were severely affected by a torrential storm on 2 June 2025. In Ihľany and Majerka, meteorologists recorded 97mm of rain in just 24 hours, which significantly exceeded the daily rainfall average and resulted in flash floods in a number of locations in the area – Ihľany, Lomnička, Kolačkov and Jakubany.
Nevertheless, the impact of the torrential downpour was significantly mitigated thanks to Military Forests and Estates (VLM)'s flood detention reservoirs. The recently constructed flood detention structures effectively retained flood water and sediments, preventing damage to local infrastructure and residential areas.
On flood risk management, Director of VLM Branch Kežmarok Michal Dudák said: “The high efficiency of these flood detention reservoirs has been demonstrated across the municipalities where they already exist – they fully meet their purpose and minimise the impact of extreme rainfalls.”
In addition to removing sediment load from the reservoirs, VLM employees are now out to carry out site surveys to assess the structures and make adjustments to keep them fully operational for future extreme showers.
As part of the 'Levoča Hills Flood Defences' project and the 'Ľubica Watercourse Protection' project, the construction of 16 flood detention reservoirs, using a controlled outflow, with a total retention capacity of 520,656m³ has been underway. The reservoir structures will be built on the line of the Jakubianka and Ľubica watercourses within the cadastral municipalities of Jakubany, Nová Ľubovňa, Kolačkov, Lomnička, Stará Ľubovňa, Ľubica and Kežmarok. The construction sites have already been handed over to the contractors and the flood storage works are due to be completed by 30 September 2025.
The projects are funded from the Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2022 under Measure No. 8.3 – Prevention of Damage to Forests in Natural Disasters. The construction of the reservoir structures will significantly strengthen the protection of local communities, property and landscape and will improve the landscape's water retention capacity, reduce soil erosion, and deliver better forest and grassland management.
Nevertheless, the impact of the torrential downpour was significantly mitigated thanks to Military Forests and Estates (VLM)'s flood detention reservoirs. The recently constructed flood detention structures effectively retained flood water and sediments, preventing damage to local infrastructure and residential areas.
On flood risk management, Director of VLM Branch Kežmarok Michal Dudák said: “The high efficiency of these flood detention reservoirs has been demonstrated across the municipalities where they already exist – they fully meet their purpose and minimise the impact of extreme rainfalls.”
In addition to removing sediment load from the reservoirs, VLM employees are now out to carry out site surveys to assess the structures and make adjustments to keep them fully operational for future extreme showers.
As part of the 'Levoča Hills Flood Defences' project and the 'Ľubica Watercourse Protection' project, the construction of 16 flood detention reservoirs, using a controlled outflow, with a total retention capacity of 520,656m³ has been underway. The reservoir structures will be built on the line of the Jakubianka and Ľubica watercourses within the cadastral municipalities of Jakubany, Nová Ľubovňa, Kolačkov, Lomnička, Stará Ľubovňa, Ľubica and Kežmarok. The construction sites have already been handed over to the contractors and the flood storage works are due to be completed by 30 September 2025.
The projects are funded from the Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2022 under Measure No. 8.3 – Prevention of Damage to Forests in Natural Disasters. The construction of the reservoir structures will significantly strengthen the protection of local communities, property and landscape and will improve the landscape's water retention capacity, reduce soil erosion, and deliver better forest and grassland management.
