balancing competing water claims in the dutch south western delta ms annemarie moons (drs.) regional...
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Balancing competing water claims in the Dutch South
Western Delta
Ms Annemarie Moons (drs.)
Regional Minister for Economic Affairs, Water Safety & International Affairs
Province of Noord-Brabant, the Netherlands
March 2009
Content in brief
• An overview of the Dutch South Western Delta
• Present and future conflicting needs and claims
• Examples of solutions
The Dutch South Western Delta
The Dutch South Western Delta
The Dutch South Western Delta
Facts
-Approx. 2.5 million people
-Home of three estuaries: Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt
-Many governmental agencies are involved in the region’s water management:
- 3 provinces: Noord-Brabant, Zeeland and Zuid-Holland - 6 waterboards- 3 ministries
Nature
Water provides economic opportunities
Strong agricultural sector due to:
• Fertile soil due to rich clay content
• Close to major agricultural industies
• Reliable and abundant supply of fresh water
Tensions, however, between water claims and uses do exist now and in the future...
Water quality problems
Example: Cyanic algae blooms
Climate Change: Safety first!
Fresh water will become scarcer
•Lower and more irregular flow of the rivers
•Higher water use
•Rising sea level and increasing salinisation
Solutions: Safety and ecology
Combine nature development and river enlargement
Build broader, unbreakable dikes
Solutions: Tackle short term problems in combination with long term strategies
Solutions: co-operate!
Co-operate with all the authorities involved: Agency for co-operation between 3 provinces, 3 ministries and 6 waterboards within the South Western Delta
Co-operate with stakeholders
Thank you for your attention
Wishing you a fruitful discussion!
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