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stone fortifications, widening the stream bed, arranging the stream bed, cleaning the stream
and canal, etc. before flooding with mass mechanised works.

b) Non-structural activities:

Hydrometric and Meteorological Observation Studies: In order to reveal the water resources po-
tential of Türkiye, observations are made instantaneously within the scope of observation acti-
vities in order to make observations and evaluate them, publish them and make them available
to all users. In this context, General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works has a total of 2,683 ob-
servation stations, including 2,001 flow observation stations on rivers, 98 lake observation sta-
tions, 187 meteorological stations, 242 snow stations and 155 sediment measurement stations.
Activities carried out within the framework of Law No. 4373: Within the framework of the rele-
vant provisions of the Law No. 4373 (Articles 1 and 3), the areas under flood risk in different re-
gions of Türkiye were declared as areas prohibited for any kind of construction by the Decree of
the Council of Ministers. Between 1943-1980, 143 rivers were included in the scope of the law. In
line with these articles, the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works analyses the requests
received regarding the rivers within the scope of the Law No. 4373 and gives its opinion. In addi-
tion, if it is determined that there are illegal practices in areas declared as floodplains, necessary
warnings are given to the relevant institutions and organizations.
Studies carried out within the scope of Law No. 7269: In line with the relevant provisions of Law
No. 7269, the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (SHW) and the Disaster and Emer-
gency Management Presidency (AFAD) are carrying out joint studies on floods in order to dec-
lare the settlement areas surveyed by the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (SHW),
and as a result of the surveys, it is understood that it is not possible to provide protection from
floods with engineering measures for technical and economic reasons, to be designated as Di-
saster Areas and then to be relocated in a safe place.

Training Activities: Within the scope of training activities, General Directorate of State Hydraulic
Works also organises National Flood Symposiums on flood and sediment control activities and
flood management.

Flood Early Warning Systems (TEUS): In addition to the structural measures carried out by the
General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works for flood and sediment control, studies for the es-
tablishment of Level Observation Stations (LOS) have been initiated within the scope of TEUS
project. Within the scope of TEUS project, 322 LOS units have been installed throughout Türkiye,
a significant part of which is in the Black Sea Region. The river beds are monitored with cameras
through the LOS units, and it is planned to start providing pre-flood information to local admi-
nistrations, local administrative authorities and AFAD via SMS for the whole of Türkiye.

Within the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works, there is a Flood Management Room
which aims to carry out the analysis, planning, decision-making and evaluation processes in a
timely and effective manner by organising the available resources for the purposes of prepared-
ness, mitigation, response and recovery against possible floods. In the Flood Management Cent-
re, basins are kept under observation by monitoring meteorological observations from Level
Observation Stations, Current Observation Stations (COS) and various sources within the scope
of TEUS.

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