Coastal Zone Management in the Netherlands

Coastal Zone Management in the Netherlands Erik de Ruyter van Steveninck with contributions by Mick van der Wegen and Frank van der Meulen The Netherlands: a delta landscape, penetrated by rivers, subject to sea and river flooding (Working together with water-Findings of the Deltacommissie, 2008) The Netherlands: • 26% below sea level • 60% threatened by floods • >1250 km coastline HWRU: Coastal ecosystems Challenges: Population density (from Misdorp 2011) HWRU: Coastal ecosystems Challenges: economic activities (beeldbank.rws.nl, Rijkswaterstaat/) Bart van Eyck Harry van Reeken Jan vd Broeke HWRU: Coastal ecosystems Challenges: climate change More /extreme storms? More/intenseMore summer rainfall drought Spatial developments Sealevel rise Increased Salt 60-85 cm/100y) erosion intrusion Subsidence HWRU: Coastal ecosystems Increased river discharge Decreased river discharge First priority: protection from floods and erosion From Misdorp 2011 Developing insight and available resources (beeldbank.rws.nl, Rijkswaterstaat/Bart van Eyck) (beeldbank.rws.nl, Rijkswaterstaat/Rens Jacobs) Maeslantkering (beeldbank.rws.nl, Rijkswaterstaat/) Disadvantages of hard structures • • • • Impacts on hydromorphological processes Irreversible High construction, maintenance and operation costs False sense of safety-increasing risks Risk = Probability x Effect Sand nourishment: the sand engine (beeldbank.rws.nl, Rijkswaterstaat/Joop van Houdt) Compensation Spanjaards dune constructed by beach nourishment to compensate for loss of high quality (Natura 2000) habitat due to harbour extension (EU regulation) Spanjaards dune will develop into a characteristic dune nature reserve area Resilient coastal defense Room for the river • the goal of the Dutch Room for the River Programme is to give the river more room to be able to manage higher water levels • >30 locations, measures will be taken that give the river space to flood safely • measures will be designed in such a way that they improve the quality of the immediate surroundings How to make room for the river: Room for the river Rhine Meuse drainage area Rhine and Meuse as source of coastal pollution (from Misdorp 2011) North Sea: eutrophication (Min Transport & Public Works 1991) Spatial and temporal distribution of cadmium in sediments of the Rhine-Meuse delta (Misdorp 2011) Rehabilitation of the River Rhine Stepwise gentlemen agreements government and industry Legislative enforcement 1950: International Commission for Protection of the Rhine • • • improve chemical => ecological state river and later also North Sea ecological rehabilitation, including fish migration (salmon) support European regulations 2000: EU Water Framework Directive • maintain and restoration of ecological status through Integrated River Basin Management–including coastal waters Climate change predictions (Working together with waterFindings of the Deltacommissie, 2008) Delta programme (Working together with water-Findings of the Deltacommissie, 2008) How to make the Netherlands climate proof over the very long time: • flood protection • securing freshwater supplies • sustainability Implementation: • along with climate change and ecological processes • flexible • gradual Principles of CZM in the Netherlands No separate CZM strategy, principles already integrated in policies: 1.decentralisation-regional and local approach within the framework set by national government 2.building with nature-sediment-based measures for flood protection preferred over artificial structures 3.participation-awareness of the various interests at stake and good public support 4.international consultation-exchanging experience with other coastal states through cooperation on international projects CZM in Europe Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (2014): • a legislative framework for maritime spatial planning, integrated coastal maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal management This Directive supports the integrated management and sustainable development of coastal and marine resources by means of: • increasing coordination, reducing conflicts between sectors and creating synergies • increasing cross-border cooperation between EU countries • encouraging investment by instilling clearer rules • protecting the environment HWRU: Coastal ecosystems 27 ... Directive • maintain and restoration of ecological status through Integrated River Basin Management including coastal waters Climate change predictions (Working together with waterFindings of the Deltacommissie,... planning, integrated coastal maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal management This Directive supports the integrated management and sustainable development of coastal and marine resources.. .The Netherlands: a delta landscape, penetrated by rivers, subject to sea and river flooding (Working together with water-Findings of the Deltacommissie, 2008) The Netherlands: •