General National Id Belgium_02 Site name Gravenvoeren Summary This measure is located near the village of Gravenvoeren in eastern Belgium. It was a low-cost project to retain mudstreams/erosion consequences by the building of a horizontal dyke/dams at the bottom in the valley, which will retain the water longer in the valley, so reducing runoff and sediment transport to the villages downstream. Additionally they changed crop growing from corn to grasslands to help reduce erosion. Light or indepth? Light Location description The site is located in a rural location on the Horstregrub stream, upstream of the village of Gravenvoeren. It is located in the catchment of the River Voer, which is itself a tributary of the Meuse. NUTS Code Prov. Limburg (BE) RBD code BEMaas_VL Transboundary 1 Data provider Heather Williams and Chris Binje, AMEC Source(s) Pilootprojecten Stroomgebied Voer NWRM(s) implemented in the case study Meadows and pastures Basins and ponds Longitude 5.7720445 Latitude 50.7585409 Site information Climate zone cool temperate moist Mean rainfall 800 Mean rainfall unit mm/year Average temperature 10 Type Case Study Info Average slope range 5-10% Vegetation class Hilly grasslands Monitoring maintenance Monitoring impacts effects 0 Performance Performance impact estimation method Unknown Performance impact estimation information n/a Design & implementations Application scale Field Scale Age 1 Performance timescale Immediate Design capacity description Design capacity of the retention pond is 6.000 m3. Constraints There are no specific constraints to the application of this measure type, which is a simple method of runoff capture Crop rotation The land cover was changed from seasonal crop rotation to grasslands under an agreement between the farmer and the local community. Design contractual arrangement Arrangement type Responsibility Role Comments Name Design consultation activity Activity stage Key issues Name Comments Design land use change Land use change type Design authority Authority type Role Responsibility Name Comments Other Other Province of Limburg The Belgian province of Limburg Other Other WRO The WRO (Waterschap Roer en Overmaas) is the local water authority on the Dutch side of the border. Although not directly involved, RWO Was responsible for a different pilot project upstream on the Horstergrub, also contributing to decreasing the flood risk. Other Initiation of the measure Commune of Voeren The local community of Voeren was involved as a full partner, initiating and financing the NWRM and appointing the VMM as executional officer of the program. The community of Voeren was furthermore involved in the entering into compensation agreements with local farmers. Regional / sub-national water authority Implementation VMM VMM was appointed as the executing agent of the project, including the detailed design. Lessons, risks, implications... Key lessons Low-cost measures can make a significant local improvement to runoff and sediment load problems. Success factor(s) Success factor type Success factor role Comments Financing Financing type Comments Barrier Barrier type Barrier role Comments Driver Driver type Driver role Comments Past flooding events main driver Past flooding events have occurred in the village of Gravenvoeren Financing share Financing share type Share Comments Policy, general governance and design targets Policy description In the area of the project a lot of erosion happens during heavy rainfall events. As there is no natural stream or other way of transporting rainwater away, surface runoff occurs over the area, causing mudstreams or floodings in the village downstream. Measures to prevent this from occurring were therefore needed. Part of wider plan 1 Policy target Target purpose Erosion Control Runoff control Policy pressure Pressure directive Relevant pressure Policy area Policy area type Policy area focus Name Comments Policy impact Impact directive Relevant impact Policy wider plan Wider plan type Wider plan focus Name Comments Regional Water Aquadra Aquadra had as a purpose to strive for clean water conditions across regional and national borders. Partners in the project included the Dutch and Belgians provinces of Limburg, province of Liege, regional water authorities from these 3 provinces and the German city of Aachen. Policy requirement directive Requirement directive Specification Socio-economic Costs investment 55000 Compensations scheme information Some compensation was agreed with the landowner to change the landuse to pasture Information on Ecosystem improved biodiversity The landuse upstream has been changed from crops to grassland, which allows an increase in diversity compared to the previous land use Information on Ecosystem provisioning services n/a Ecosystem impact climate regulation Not relevant for the specific application Information on Ecosystem impact climate regulation n/a Biophysical impacts Information on retained water 6000 m3 total storage volume Information on increased water storage 6000 m3 total storage volume, compared to zero previously Ecosystem erosion control 1 Information on Ecosystem erosion control Slows runoff, allowing sediment deposition and reducing the risk of further erosion downstream Water quality overall improvements Positive impact-WQ improvement Information on Water quality overall improvements Reduction in transfer of sediment and associated nutrients or other pollutants downstream, by allowing sediment deposition in the storage area Information on Ecosystem erosion control impact Not quantified Soil quality overall soil improvements Positive impact-SQ improvement Information on Soil quality overall soil improvements The Voeren area is an area with significant erosion problems, causing mudstreams in the center of the village of Gravenvoeren. As a result of this NWRM, less good quality soil will be eroded and transported downstream. Full Context Pathway(aka Context) Default view Area(aka Level or Site) ALL