A comprehensive development for the future of Lake Venice is ready

The complex renovation of the Lake Velence embankment has been completed. The ceremonial project closing event took place on 23 June 2023 in Kápolnásnyék.

The KEHOP project is a joint venture between the National Water Authority and the Central Transdanubian Water Management Directorate, as consortium partners, in the investment of Colas Alterra Zrt. and the SWIETELSKY Hungary Kft. will be implemented with a budget of HUF 14 billion.

The project aims to improve the water quality of Lake Venice in a sustainable way, to maintain and ensure a higher standard of the near-natural condition of the shore areas and to rehabilitate them in an environmentally friendly way.

During the complex water management, bank protection works were renewed at 47 locations, 25 kilometres long, and dredging was carried out to improve the flow. At a further 25 sites, dredging of the estuaries of stormwater drainage ditches was carried out. In addition, natural spawning grounds for fish have been created, and sediment traps and water management facilities have been renovated.

One of the project's priorities is the protection of natural assets

This involved the rebuilding of obsolete, low-lying seawalls using a number of different technologies, adapted to the nature of the site and the specific operational needs.

Remediation of inlet watercourses and water quality storage reservoirs, as well as flow improvement dredging in nature reserves, will all contribute to improving water quality. Some of the priority riverbed material has been used to create breeding islands in the marshland part of the reedbed, which is home to a number of bird species that nest around the lake.

The HIDRO port was also renewed as part of the project. In addition to the reconstruction of the vertical seawalls, a new harbour and hall building was constructed and the portal building was renovated.

Special techniques were also used to build the seawall

In her speech, Angéla Horváth, Deputy Technical Director of the Central Transdanubian Water Directorate said:

"We are coming to the end of nearly 6 years of work. Lake Venice is special in several respects: its catchment area is relatively small, its feeding watercourses are limited, it attracts a lot of social attention, it has many conservation values and it is also important for tourism. A development has taken place which I believe represents the future for the lake, which is on the threshold of a new development. As water professionals, we can use the tools of water management to serve the development of the lake, and we hope that a new future is now beginning, and that the lake will be revitalised by the development"