RISCURI ŞI CATASTROFE, NR. XV, VOL. 18, NR. 1/2016 45 SIGNIFICANT FLOODS ON THE UPPER TISZA/TISA AND ALONG THE LOWER SZAMOS/SOMEŞ RIVER (FROM 1876 ONWARDS) K. KONECSNY 1 ABSTRACT. - Significant floods on the Upper Tisza/Tisa and along the lower Szamos/Someş river (from 1876 onwards). Dealing with floodwave propagationon rivers, as well as flooding related phenomena, planning of engineering works to moderate the dangers of flooding, dealing with flood hazard and risk, necessitates the knowledge of the affected rivers in terms of historical hydrological regime, hydrological patterns and specifically of data pertaining to significant flood events and their consequences. Several of the older but alsothe more recent scholarly articles about the left side tributaries of the Tisa river published incomplete or false figures about the major flood events of the period covered by systematic hydrometric flow records. The afore mentioned issues inspired the collation and analysis of data published in Hungarian and Romanian hydrological yearbooks and the relevant professional publications and the creation of a flood chronology. The continuous and reliable hydrometric data collection on the basin of the Upper Tisa and the lower Someş basin goes back to 1876 the publication of the first Hungarian hydrological yearbook. Based on this information we have highlighted the significant flood events, charted their occurance patterns, and the changes of the flood trends. We discussed the pecularities of the greatest flood waves and their consequences in greater detail. Keywords: significant flood events, floodwave, hydrometric data, historical maximum water level, flood control activity 1. INTRODUCTION It is fundamental for the understanding of flood risk and hazards on particular rivers to posess a knowledge of the historical water regimes, and of the significant flood events and their consequences. The data published so far about major floods in relevant publications remained incomplete. For example the most compehensive study of the hydrology ofmajor Romanian floodings (Mustățea 2005), discussing the Upper-Tisa and Somes omits several of the most damaging floods that occurred in the 1876-1919 period covered bydaily water level recordings.
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RISCURI ŞI CATASTROFE, NR. XV, VOL. 18, NR. 1/2016
45
SIGNIFICANT FLOODS ON THE UPPER TISZA/TISA
AND ALONG THE LOWER SZAMOS/SOMEŞ RIVER
(FROM 1876 ONWARDS)
K. KONECSNY1
ABSTRACT. - Significant floods on the Upper Tisza/Tisa and along the lower
Szamos/Someş river (from 1876 onwards). Dealing with floodwave propagationon
rivers, as well as flooding related phenomena, planning of engineering works to
moderate the dangers of flooding, dealing with flood hazard and risk, necessitates
the knowledge of the affected rivers in terms of historical hydrological regime,
hydrological patterns and specifically of data pertaining to significant flood events
and their consequences. Several of the older but alsothe more recent scholarly
articles about the left side tributaries of the Tisa river published incomplete or false
figures about the major flood events of the period covered by systematic
hydrometric flow records. The afore mentioned issues inspired the collation and
analysis of data published in Hungarian and Romanian hydrological yearbooks and
the relevant professional publications and the creation of a flood chronology. The
continuous and reliable hydrometric data collection on the basin of the Upper Tisa
and the lower Someş basin goes back to 1876 the publication of the first Hungarian
hydrological yearbook. Based on this information we have highlighted the
significant flood events, charted their occurance patterns, and the changes of the
flood trends. We discussed the pecularities of the greatest flood waves and their
Szatmárnémeti/Satu Mare 63.9 15 262 118.07 816/1970
Szamos/Someş Csenger 49.4 15 283 113.56 902/1970
The rivers burst their banks, changed their curse, left their old beds, split into
more branches, searching for new channels. The most flooded area of the Tisa
valley with 73 floods and approximately 200 breaching events were the flats at the
meeting of the Tisa, Someş and Tur rivers (Nagy 2013).
The first comprehensive river engineering and flood control works on the
Upper Tisa were started in the mid 19th century. Until 1855 the length of the
Vásárosnamény-Tiszaújlak/Vilok stretch was of 85 km, by 1897 this was cut to
60,6 km (28.7% decrease) that increased the stream gradient of the river.
K. KONECSNY
48
The waters of the Someş are mainly gathered in Romania and to a smaller extent in Hungary. The Nagy-Szamos/Someşul Mare is created by the confuence of the Kis-Szamos/Someşul Mic former and the Lesser – Szamos/Someş at Dés/Dej reaching the plains after the confluence of Lápos/Lăpuş, then merging the Tisa at Vásárosnamény. Its catchment area is greater than that of the Tisa before their confluence.
Until the mid 18th century the Someş was only effected by small scale engineering works that hardly influenced its hydrology or flood security. At this pre-regulation stage the Tur and the Crasna were both tributaries of the Someş (Ihrig 1973). Since the regulation both tributaries flow directly into the Tisa.
The raising of the embankments was started in 1750 on the left bank between Szatmárberence/Băbăşeşti and Szamossályi continuing in 1775-1780 with the stretch outside Szamoskrassó/Cărăşeu. The „Szamos Regulating Company” engineered 19 cuts (16,65 km), on the river stretch above Szatmárnémeti/Satu Mare and 10 (5,66 km) under it.
Until 1902 altogether 36 cuts have been dug thereby the original pre 1777 225,9 km length of the Nagysikárló/Cicârlău – Tisa confluence (Vásárosnamény) river stretch was shortened to 118,5 only 53% of the original.
Due to the works the gradient of the river on the Satu Mare -Vásárosnamény stretch increased from 96-144 cm/km to 150-336 cm, between Sikárló-Szatmárnémeti from 306 cm/km- to 466 cm/km (Nyárády 1908).
The Ecsed Marsh Draining Company and the Szamos left-bank Flood Alleviating and Drainage Company raised embankments on the left bank in 1894-1895 next to Vetés/Vetiş–Óvári/Oar-Angyalos (Körösmezei 2013). The right bank of the Someş s was embanked in 1926-1929 between Panyola and Olcsvaapáti.
Between 1864 and 1896 the embankments were breached 160 times but the flood defenses established by the end of the period improved the flood safety.
3. THE HIDROMETRIC RECORDS OF THE UPPER TISA AND
SOMES RIVERS
Systematic hydrometric data observations in the examined area started in the mid 19th century. On the Tisa the water level of the 1842 low water event was used to set the zero water level providing the baseline used at all other newly established gauge stations.
The height of the zero level points of the stations was determined in relation to the mean sea level of the Adriatic Sea (mAf). In Vásárosnamény the water level gauge was by the road bridge (102,76 mAf) providing data from 1851 onwards.
The longterm daily streamflow records of this station are almost complete
between 1876-1920. The data for January 1879 and April-December 1919 went
SIGNIFICANT FLOODS ON THE UPPER TISZA/TISA AND ALONG THE LOWER SZAMOS/SOMEŞ RIVER …
49
missing. The station is now located at the 684,450 river kilometer profile, its 0
point is 101,98 mBf. The recorded extreme points of the water level at the station
fluctuated between 103 cm/2014 and 943 cm/2001.
Observations on the Someş in Satu Mare started in 1868, but the low water
level was only established in 1871 providing the zero point of the gauging stations.
Gauging points were set up in Csenger (114,26 mAf) on the road bridge in
Satu Mare (120,31 mAf), in Cicârlău by the Balotafalu/Aciua-Cicârlău road
(144,66 mAf).
The recordings for the Csenger station on the Szamos are available in the
hydrological yearbooks since 1876. Recordings for January 1879, October 1917,
December 1919 went missing (Konecsny 2015).
The Csenger hydrometric station is now located at the 49.4 km left bank
profile, the elevation of its "0" point is 113,56 mBf. The recorded extreme points of
the water level at the station fluctuated between 122 cm/1961 and 902 cm/1970.
4. MAJOR FLOODS OF THE TWO RIVERS
In the 18th century 1715, 1720, 1740/41, 1782, 1783, 1784, 1789, 1792 were
noted as floodig years. (Cernovodeanu-Binder 1993, Réthly 1998; 2009).
Preceding the large scale regulation and flood defense engineering works large
scale flooding occurred in 1815, 1841, 1847, and 1855.
During the great flood of 1855 the Szamos burst its banks on its left and
flooded the valleys of the Balkány/Balcaia and Homoród/Homorod streams. Lower
down it‟s breached the embankment on both sides causing extended flooding. The
area of Amacz/Amaţi, Zsadány/Sătmărel, Szamosdob/Doba, Kismajtény/Moftinu
Mic, Domahida/Domăneşti, Csengerbagos/Boghiş, Csengerújfalu was submerged
(Nyárády 1908).
Table 3. Highest water levels recorded at the two gauging stations (cm)
At the time of the 1869 flood the right side embankments of the Tisa gave
way 15000 hectares were submerged, causing serious damage in roads and bridges
(Reiszig 1908).
The 1876 floods broke the maximum recorded water levels (Table 2, Fig. 1,
Fig. 2). On the 3rd February the Someş flooded due to sudden snowmelt waters.
On the 26th February the floodbanks gave way at 49 points. Due to the breach at
Óvárinál/Oar 55478 hectares of 60 localities were flooded, 37 bridges were
damaged, 27 houses collapsed in Oar (Nagy 2007).
Floodwaves were triggered by coinciding snowmelt and widespread rain in
February 1879. On the Tisa and Someş the maximum water level was only 20-30
cm short of the 1876 level. The flood lasted for a very long time (Table 2, Fig. 2).
The embankments were breached at 7 points along the Tisa, 48917 hectares were
flooded (Reiszig 1908).
On 11th March 1880 the water level of the Szamos surpassed the maximum
levels of the 1876 and 1879 floods. The defenses were breached between
Szatmárnémeti and Szamosdara /Dara, the lower part of Szamosköz was
submerged. The waters also breached the road and rail embankments linking
Nagykároly/Carei and Satu Mare (Reiszig 1908).
In March 1881 the waters of the Szamos damaged roads on the left bank. A
new maximum peaking was recorded on 9th March at Csenger.
On 22nd June 1884 a new maximum level was recorded on the Szamos. The
flood covered 115000 hectares and several localities. Buildings collapsed in
Szamosszeg (Reiszig 1908).
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
01
,I
31
,I
01
,III
31
,III
30
,IV
30
,V
29
,VI
29
,VII
28
,VIII
27
,IX
27
,X
26
,XI
26
,XII
Csenger Vásárosnamény
1876
-200
-100
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
01
,I
31
,I
01
,III
31
,III
30
,IV
30
,V
29
,VI
29
,VII
28
,VIII
27
,IX
27
,X
26
,XI
26
,XII
Csenger Vásárosnamény
1888
Fig. 2 Water levels between 1876 and 1888 at the Tisza/Vásárosnamény and
Szamos/Csenger stations
SIGNIFICANT FLOODS ON THE UPPER TISZA/TISA AND ALONG THE LOWER SZAMOS/SOMEŞ RIVER …
51
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
12
,II
17
,II
22
,II
27
,II
03
,III
08
,III
13
,III
18
,III
23
,III
28
,III
02
,IV
07
,IV
12
,IV
17
,IV
22
,IV1876 Csenger
1876 Vásárosnamény
869 cm/16,III
632 cm/28,II
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
05
,II
10
,II
15
,II
20
,II
25
,II
02
,III
07
,III
12
,III
1879 Csenger
1879 Vásárosnamény
843 cm/15,II
649 cm/14,II
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
13
,VI
18
,VI
23
,VI
28
,VI
03
,VII
08
,VII
13
,VII
18
,VII
1884 Csenger
1884 Vásárosnamény
883 cm/25,VI
694 cm/22,VI
Fig. 3. Flooding of 1876, 1879 and 1884 at the Tisza/Vásárosnamény and Szamos/Csenger
stations
In December 1885 60 localities were flooded by the flood of the Someş. On 24th January 1886 the Someş flooded and submerged Sályi with its 900
families losing their homes (Reiszig 1908). On 16th March 1887 the waters of the Someş overtopped the defenses and
flooded 27 streets in Szatmárnémeti. In the early spring of 1888 new maximum levels were reached (Table 2,
(Fig. 1, Fig. 3.). The streamflow of the Tisa at was 3300 m3/s (Bogdánfy 1904).
Along the Someş 60 localities, parts of Satu Mare were flooded. On 17th March to save the city the Carei road was cut across (Fejér 1997), leading to a sudden 1,5 m drop of water levels.
In the autumn of 1894 the highest ever water levels were recorded in Máramarossziget/Sighetu-Marmaţiei and Tiszaújlak (400 cm, 2300 m
3/s). As it was
not reinforced by floods on other rivers, the floodwave flattened out on the lower parts of the catchment area, at Vásárosnamény it was 247 cm below the maximum 1888 water level.
During the April 1895 flood the water levels came close but did not reach the 1888 level (Fig. 3).
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
17
,II
22
,II
27
,II
03
,III
08
,III
13
,III
18
,III
23
,III
28
,III
02
,IV
07
,IV
12
,IV
17
,IV
22
,IV
1888 Csenger
1888 Vásárosnamény
900 cm/22,III
743 cm/20,III
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
04
,III
09
,III
14
,III
19
,III
24
,III
29
,III
03
,IV
08
,IV
13
,IV
18
,IV
23
,IV
28
,IV
03
,V
08
,V
1895 Csenger
1895 Vásárosnamény
840 cm/06,IV
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
24
,IV
29
,IV
05
,V
10
,V
15
,V
20
,V
698 cm/05,V
1919 Csenger
Fig. 4. Flooding of 1888, 1895 and 1919 at the Tisza/Vásárosnamény and Szamos/Csenger
stations
K. KONECSNY
52
On 14-17 June 1902 flood threatened the city of Satu Mare, but the new
defensive works saved the city.
The March 1907 and July 1913 floods did not cause much damage.
The amount of rainfall between 24th April 1919 and 7 May is shown by the
200 mm recorded in Satu Mare (Tellyesinszki 1923). Two quick floodwaves
followed eachother on the Someş (Fig. 3). The waters caused significant damage to
the embankments along Szamosbecs, Szamoskér and Olcsvaapáti.
26
5
39
2
25
0
18
0
19
0
27
5
28
1
38
0
27
5
23
5
16
6
44
0
19
13
-52
0
35
6 41
5
23
6
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
19
01
19
03
19
05
19
07
19
09
19
11
19
13
19
15
Szamos Dés/Dej
Fig. 5. Yearly maximum peakes on the Szamoson/Dés (1901-1916)
The floodwave of 1932 peaked on 5th April with 394 cm at the
Kolozsvár/Cluj gauging station supassing the previous maximum by 164 cm
(Mustăţea 2005). On the lower part of the Someş at Csenger and at the Upper Tisa
at Vásárosnamény the waters peaked on the 7th April.
At the time of the 1940 spring floodwave on the Someş the land drainage
issues were compounded by a burst dam on the Romanian side which resulted in
flooding on the other side of the border (Pichler 1941).
Table 4. Monthly and annual maximum water levels between the years of 1876-1920
Station I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII Year