1. Ingwer de Boer, Director Room for the River ProgramWater Managementin The Netherlands

2. Contents1. My country2. History3. Policy4. Room for the River Program5. Governance6. Lessons learned 3. My country! 4. Water management in The Netherlands 5. The Netherlands 6. The Netherlandsbelow sea level16 million peopleMore than 50% ofDutch citizens livebelow sea level 7. History 8. Flood History First Saint Elizabeth flood(Nov. 1404) Second Saint Elizabethflood (Nov. 1421) Floods in the years:838, 1014, 1530,1570,1717, 1916 9. Villages engulfed by the sea 10. Dike Breaches 1700-1950 11. Storm surge 1953175.000 ha1.800 deaths 12. PolicyFirst Delta Act21 February 1953 First Delta CommissionTwo aims: To protect The Netherlands againststorm surges Secure the land against salt waterintrusion 13. Delta Works 14. Flood safety standards1:10,000 years1: 4,000 years1: 2,000 years1: 1,250 yearsInvestments & Operations:National 550 Million (2008)(approx. 725 Million Austr $)Maintenance:Regional 200 Million (2008)(approx. 265 Million Austr $)Total damage: 300 Billion (approx. 400 Billion Austr $) 15. Three stages of flood defence Stage 3: Emergency planning for evacuation Stage 2: Excellent spatial planningStage 1: Defence system,prevention of floods 16. Flood safety standardsCatchment area of Rhine and MeuseDischarge at Lobith (border NL) Average:2,200 m3/s Highest level (1993/1995):12,000 m3/s Discharge 1/1250 yr:16,000 m3/s 17. Peak discharge at Lobith 18000 18,000m3/s 16,000 m3/s 16000 15,000 m3/s hw Jan. 1995 14000 hw Dec. 1993 12000m3/s 10000 8000 6000 Serious flood risks in 1993 and 1995 Today 15,000 m3/s In 2015 16,000 m3/s (following implementation of Room for the 4000 River measures ) In 2050 18,000 m3/s (Delta Committee recommendation) 20001 4 7 10 1316 19 days 18. Historical developmentsRapid urban development,has resulted in drastic reductions in river spaceArnhem 1830 Arnhem 2000 19. Water distribution branches River Rhine 20. Near floodingsEvacuations 1993 and 1995Evacuations 21. New approach towards floodprotectionThe serious flood risks in 1993 and 1995were a warning :something had to be doneReinforcement of dikes was not enough:rivers had to be given more room toensure flood-safety in the futureMinistry of Infrastructure and theEnvironment developed ProgramRoom for the River 22. Room for the River Program Room for the RiverTwo aims1. Safer Dutch river areas by 2015. Safety for 2-4 million inhabitants2. Give local government a chance to develop their spatial areas at the same time 23. More than 30 Room for the River measures 24. Room for the River: Technical measuresDeepening navigation channel Water storage Lowering of flood plainsLowering groynesBy-pass Dike relocation Removing obstaclesStrengthening dikes De-poldering 25. Room for the River: Program framework- Facts and figuresDischarge 16.000 m3/s at Lobith (1:1250 yr) - Approx. 150 families have to move- From 600 to 39 measures - Approx. 50 farms have to relocate- Investment 2,3 billion (price level 2009) - 1280 ha decrease agricultural land- Completion in 2015- 1852 ha increase of nature- Decentralized planning and execution- 20 million m3 soil removal- Long term: expected discharge 18.000 m3/s 26. Room for the River: IJssel project 27. Dike relocation: Nijmegen - LentLenttrainstation LENT New quay River WaalRailway bridge Waal Bridge NIJMEGEN 28. The benefits of water 29. Dike relocation: Nijmegen Lent Train station LENTNew quay River Waal Railway WaalbridgeBridgeNIJMEGEN NIJMEGENLowering high water level with 70 cm 30. Nijmegen Current situation 31. Nijmegen New situation 32. River widening: Overdiepse polderLowering high water level with 30 cm 33. Lowering flood plains:Deventer NormalPlanning: co-operation with Province Municipality Two Water Boards 2 projects in 1 process Lowering high water level with 25 cmRealization: FloodedOne Water Board realizes both projectsand co-ordinates with an NGO projectof an ecological farm. 34. GovernanceProgram conditionsResponsibility of the Ministry of Infrastructureand the Environment, together with the Ministryof Economics, Agriculture and Innovation Completion of the program by 2015 Budget: 2.3 billion (approx. 3 billion Australian $) Commitment and co-makership of all regional partiesinvolved: 2 Central Government 5 Provinces 5 Water Boards 30 Municipalities 35. Process 2007 Identification20122000Design & legal procedures 20152006 Implementation2008 36. Roles of program managementProcess architectureProviding expertiseManagement and accountability 37. Process duration approx. 16 yearsA complex environment: A politicians term in office is 4 years The total Program period equals4 political terms.This requires: Co-makership and mutual respect Broad regional political and administrativesupport Transparency in process and decision making Participation of non-governmental organisations 38. Room for the River: an international co-operationInternational interest(field trips, visits)USA - China Korea Vietnam- Brasil Polandand Australia 39. European partnershipCo-operation with European partners inEU subsidized projects Total budget approx.60 million Euro 40. Room for the River: an international co-operation 41. Second Delta CommitteeThe Delta Committee was established todeliver recommendations to the Dutchgovernment on how to protect TheNetherlands against the consequences ofclimate change in the long term (200 years)This task went beyond merely floodprotectionThe Committees vision embracesinteractions with life andwork, agriculture, nature, recreation,landscape, infrastructure and energy.. 42. Delta reportIn 2008 the Second Delta Report waspublished.The strategy for future centuries restson two pillars:~ flood protection~ sustainability.The report also emphasises theopportunities for The Netherlands as a whole.The report details 12 recommendations,most important is a special act: The Delta Act A Delta Fund A Delta Commissioner A Delta Program 43. The Delta Report: RecommendationsEven with local sea-level rise scenarios of0.65 - 1.3 m by 2100 and 2 to 4 meters by 2200living in The Netherlands will remain possible,if appropiate measures are takenFor the river regions this means: The Room for the River Program must beimplemented without further delays Where possible, measures must be taken now toaccommodate discharges of 18,000 m3/s for theRhine and 4,600 m3/s for the Meuse Completion of measures between 2050-2100 toaccommodate Rhine and Meuse discharges of18,000 m3/s and 4,600 m3/s, respectively. Co-operation with neighbouring countries on theEuropean Floods Directive. 44. The Delta Report: Recommendations 45. Lessons learned Connecting short term gainswith long term objectives Engagement of localactors/stakeholders Identify win-win situations The Program Directorateconnects the national governmentwith local governments In a changing political and socialenvironment, the programobjectives should remain intact 46. 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