Watermanagement in the Netherlands Past, Present and Future Ruud Staverman Rijkswaterstaat

The Netherlands: Population: 16 million inhabitants Area: 41.526 km2

The Netherlands: Population: 16 million inhabitants Area: 41.526 km2 = US States Vermont + New Hampshire (1.8 million)

7000 Bc 5500 Bc

Precipitation and evapotranspiration

The Netherlands: a Delta of 4 international rivers

Past: A constant fight against the water Amsterdam Haarlem St Elisabeth flood of 1421 Alblasserwaard

Reclamation in the 17 th Century Drainage by windmills

Several floods

Landreclamation in the 20th century

Storm disaster of February 1 st , 1953

Flooded area in 1953, 1800 casualties FLOODED

The Deltaworks

Maeslantkering

Present: the Vulnerability for flooding

the “(pair of) scissors”: Subsidence and Sea level rise Past Present, Future

Will this be the future? Dike Increase of water discharge Water level compared to the surface level Soil subsidence = Zero level

Present and future : Urban development, the need for housing

What future to anticipate on? Sea level rise: 2050: + 0.4 m 2100: + 0.65 - 1.30 m 2200: + 2 - 4 m

Sea level rise:

2050: + 0.4 m

2100: + 0.65 - 1.30 m

2200: + 2 - 4 m

Climate change (1): Seawater expands + ice melts: sealevel rises Period of heavy rainfall: damage Rivers discharge more water in the winter period Result: Increase risks of flooding

Seawater expands + ice melts: sealevel rises

Period of heavy rainfall: damage

Rivers discharge more water in the winter period

Result: Increase risks of flooding

Climate change (2) Extreme droughts in summer: damage in agriculture, low waters: inland navigation, and additional soil subsidence Salt intrusion from the sea: Problems with intake of drinking water Damage for agriculture and industries Higher temperature of riverwater: Cooling problems for power plants

Extreme droughts in summer: damage in agriculture, low waters: inland navigation, and additional soil subsidence

Salt intrusion from the sea:

Problems with intake of drinking water

Damage for agriculture and industries

Higher temperature of riverwater: Cooling problems for power plants

Future River discharges: Summer: 1700 m 3 /s  700 m 3 /s in 2100 Winter: 16.000 m 3 /s  18.000 m 3 /s in 2100

Summer:

1700 m 3 /s 

700 m 3 /s in 2100

Winter:

16.000 m 3 /s 

18.000 m 3 /s in 2100

R3294 E000418n Room for the Rhine branches

The high waters of 1993 and 1995 lead to the implementation of Delta (major rivers) plan

Future: We stay in the (floodprone) part of the Netherlands, Solidarity among inhabitants and generations Work with natural processes “building with nature” Your solutions: Rivers? N orth Sea coast? IJsselmeer area?

We stay in the (floodprone) part of the Netherlands,

Solidarity among inhabitants and generations

Work with natural processes “building with nature” Your solutions:

Rivers?

N orth Sea coast?

IJsselmeer area?

? Rivers ?

Rivers: De-poldering Building houses on raised platforms /mounds along the dike Overdiepse polder

Rivers: Dike relocation Hondsbroekse Pleij

Rivers ‘ Room for the River’ Land aquisition on strategic locations International catchmentwise cooperation

‘ Room for the River’

Land aquisition on strategic locations

International catchmentwise cooperation

A Deltaplan for the large rivers 39 Measures, until 2015

? N orth Sea coast ?

North Sea Coast: Nourishment works, Follow the sealevel rise strandsuppletie onderwater suppletie

North Sea Coast: Building with Nature, use sand from the Sea

? IJsselmeer area ?

IJsselmeer area IJsselmeer remains strategic fresh water reservoir Water level IJsselmeer rises with sea level, up to 1.5 m above present  free discharge Water level Markermeer remains unchanged

IJsselmeer remains strategic fresh water reservoir

Water level IJsselmeer rises with sea level, up to 1.5 m above present  free discharge

Water level Markermeer remains unchanged

Costs: < 2050: 1,2 tot 1,6 billion euro /yr 2050 – 2100: 0,9 tot 1,5 billion euro /yr Beach nourishment for coastal land reclamation: 0.1 – 0.3 billion euro/yr

< 2050:

1,2 tot 1,6 billion euro /yr

2050 – 2100:

0,9 tot 1,5 billion euro /yr

Beach nourishment for coastal land reclamation: 0.1 – 0.3 billion euro/yr

The End Thank you for your attention