Flooding “Hits the City of Celje And its Surroundings Once or Even Twice Almost Every Year.«

Flood Protection Measures in Celje and the Savinja Valley in the First Half of the 19th Century

Abstract

Due to snowmelt and heavy rainfall, Savinja, which originated in the mountains, together with its tributaries often flooded considerably in the past. In the first half of the 19th century, the Savinja Valley was hit by major floods in 1805, 1807, 1814, 1820, 1824, 1833 and 1847. The Celje District Office dealt with the river and its tributaries since the beginning of the 19th century. Up until the mid-19th century, the clearing of the riverbed, the construction of embankments and the consolidation of the banks had to be undertaken by the affected landowners, with plans drawn up by the district (later county) engineer. But the work progressed slowly, and was of an emergency nature, so that it was not particularly effective in major floods.