Between Schlanders (Silandro) and Laas (Lasa)

Between Schlanders
(Silandro) and Laas (Lasa)
Press release in South Tyrol (PP5), June 23th
2010
by Alto Adige (newspaper)
Between Schlanders (Silandro) and
Laas (Lasa)
Gadria stream monitored to avert debris flows
Alto Adige, 23/06/2010
Laas. Debris flows are very dangerous especially during the summer months. A heavy shower
with pouring rain for a prolonged period is sufficient to cause landslides, which, even if shallow,
can disturb the characteristics of endangered slopes. Now is an innovative project in Venosta is
trying to deal with this problem.
The project - to prevent or avert serious damages - is proceeding in Venosta valley, precisely
between Silandro and Lasa: tangible steps have been carried out. Recently a group of experts,
professors and students from the University of Padova, the Free University of Bolzano and the
research centre CNR-IRPI Padova went to the Venosta valley to verify the developed work. The
project, financed by the European regional development fund ERDF through the South East
Europe programme, by national and provincial funds – foresees the installation of a monitoring
system for the collection of useful data for research of debris flows. It will also develop a
prototype of an alert system for the civil protection. The equipment will register even a minimal
movement of the ground and is therefore able to alert in real time the authorities allowing to
dispose the necessary interventions which can avoid dramatic consequences, if taken rapidly.
The area where the monitoring system is foreseen is the Gadria stream. “The stream has
provoked heavy troubles over the years,” remembers the mayor of Lasa, Andreas Tappeiner. “In
the past, especially after heavy rains, the stream flooded and caused landslides.” The
Autonomous Province did some interventions in the area between Lasa and Silandro redirecting
the course of the Gadria stream – before reaching the Adige river, it passes under the national
road at a distance of about 400 m from the church of Lourdes, and building some retaining walls.
But the stream is still considered as a potential danger; thus the monitoring project to prevent
debris flows which the experts believe to be dangerous. “The municipality has been informed
about the project, but I was not at the visit of the technicians. The work of the project `Monitor
II´ should be finished within May 2012 and will be another guarantee for the inhabitants of Lasa.”
concludes the mayor Tappeiner. The Province participates together with Austria, Slovenia,
Greece, Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria in the transnational project Monitor II. The aim of the
project is the real time monitoring of natural phenomena for civil protection purposes in areas,
which are considered to be exposed to hydrogeological risk. The good example comes from the
Venosta valley, where work is proceeding.
30.06.2010
© Company
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