Ersekë Riverbank Protection Project involves a hydraulic engineering feasibility study for the protection of land adjacent to a photovoltaic development in the Kolonjë region of southeastern Albania. The study evaluates the risks of riverbank erosion, channel degradation, potential bank instability and flooding associated with the nearby watercourse, with the objective of identifying a suitable long-term protection strategy for the land and planned energy infrastructure.
The engineering assessment combines UAV-based topographic surveying, 3D terrain modelling, HEC-RAS 2D hydraulic simulations and historical satellite imagery analysis. The results identify significant erosion activity, including approximately 20–32 m of lateral riverbank retreat between 2007 and 2023, channel incision reaching around 10 m, and modelled water velocities of up to 10–11 m/s under extreme flow conditions. These findings demonstrate the vulnerability of the existing riverbanks and the potential consequences for the adjacent property.
The feasibility study evaluates three riverbank protection alternatives, ranging from continuous gabion protection to localized interventions and an integrated hydraulic protection scheme. The recommended concept combines upstream flow-energy dissipation structures, earth embankments, structural bank protection and channel stabilization measures. The study establishes the technical basis for selecting an appropriate mitigation strategy and for subsequent detailed engineering, with the objective of protecting the photovoltaic investment from progressive erosion and flood-related damage.
