Royal Decree 903/2010, on the Assessment and Management of Flood Risk

This Decree aims to promote knowledge and assessment of the risks associated with flooding and to promote co-ordinated action by all levels of government and society to reduce the negative consequences of flooding.

The Decree establishes a number of key obligations, including the development of: flood risk assessments, hazard maps, flood management plans, sectoral co-ordination, public participation, and co-operation between different authorities. It takes into account the \Committee of Competent Authorities' in districts with intercommunity basins and existing regulations on civil protection, ensuring co-ordination with the new plans of flood risk management.

The preliminary assessment of flood risk should take into account the potential impact of climate change on the occurrence of floods. It should also consider other effects of climate change assessed in previous studies. The hazard maps should consider that climate change might cause rising sea levels and, consequently, flooding events caused by coastal waters and tidal waves.