G. Boni, L. Ferraris and P. La Barbera (Environmental Montoring Research Centre, University of Genova, Cadorna, 17100 Savona, Italy)

The Liguria region belongs to the thin strip of territory along the northern Mediterranean coastline characterised by catchments presenting small extension with floodplains densely urbanised. In these areas, public administrators are involved on the redefinition of the policy of the development of the urban settlements sensible to the problem of the risk of inundation. A correct evaluation of the magnitude of the flood frequency is necessary for this purpose to help the planners in mapping the areas exposed to the highest risk of flooding and to take correct decisions in their policy. A new method for the evaluation of the flood frequency is applied here to the western part of the Liguria region in order to obtain an homogeneous evaluation of the magnitude of the peak discharge for a given return period. The method is based on the recent results in the field of the study of the characteristics of the Mediterranean storms. The results are shown and a validation of the method, using data from monitored basins and traditional flood evaluation techniques, is performed.