General National Id Belgium_02 Site name Grote Nete between Oosterlo and Nijlen Summary This scheme is part of the Sigmaplan programme, which is a long-term large-scale programme in Belgium aiming to improve flood storage of the Scheldt catchment. This particular scheme, on the Grote Nete, reconnects the river to its floodplain, which is currently isolated by dykes along both river banks. In the middle reach of the catchment, ‘controlled water storage areas’ will be developed, where a connection between the river and floodplain will be introduced but controlled. In the upper and lower catchment, free connection between the river and floodplain will be restored, allowing development of more natural forest, grassland and wetland habitats. The details of the scheme are still being finalised, taking in to account the results of studies and modelling, and implementation will be timed in the best interests of the local landowners. Light or indepth? In-depth The in-depth description of the case study cs-be-02-final_version.pdf Location description The measure is located along the floodplain of the Grote Nete, between the towns of Oosterlo and Nijlen, in northern Belgium. NUTS Code Prov. Antwerpen RBD code BESchelde_VL Transboundary 0 Data provider Heather Williams and Chris Binje, AMEC Source(s) Projectbrochure Vallei van de Grote Nete Sigmaplan - Vallei van de Grote Nete Project Nieuwsbrief - Vallei van de Grote Nete Flankerend landbouwbeleid: Begeleiding van actieve landbouwers in Sigmagebieden. NWRM(s) implemented in the case study Wetland restoration and management Floodplain restoration and management Riverbed material renaturalization Site information Climate zone cool temperate moist Mean rainfall 800 Mean rainfall unit mm/year Average temperature 10 Type Actual Test Site Vegetation class Wetland vegetation Performance Performance impact estimation method Laboratory Performance impact estimation information The scheme has not yet been implemented, but its performance has been modelled. Design & implementations Application scale River Performance timescale Immediate Area subject to Land use change or Management/Practice change (ha) 850 Size 850 Size unit ha Design capacity description The NWRM increases the storage capacity in the river valley from 6.6 million m3 to 8.4 million m3. Favourable preconditions Only very limited development in the concerned area. The areas to be included were originally the floodplain of the Grote Nete, so are well suited to restoration to their original purpose Peak flow rate 24 Design contractual arrangement Arrangement type Responsibility Role Comments Name Design consultation activity Activity stage Key issues Name Comments Design phase Meetings during planning phase Meetings have been organized with all interested parties, including information provided through local city halls. Implementation phase Newsletters for residents Regular newsletters have been made to inform interested parties of the progress of the project. Implementation phase Comprehensive website On the website detailed animated videos can be found about what is going to happen including reasons for actions taken. Implementation phase Individual consultation with landowners Individual consultation is held with each landowner to develop the best solutions Design land use change Land use change type Pastures Design authority Authority type Role Responsibility Name Comments Other Implementation Waterwegen en Zeekanaal NV As steward of the waterways WenZ has overall responsibility for the project, from initiation of the measures and development of the plan to the actual implentation. Other Other Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos Involved in the development of new nature areas and wetlands. Other Other Vlaamse Landmaatschappij (VLM) Consulted in relation to changes to agricultural activities. Other Other Departement Ruimtelijke Ordening, Woonbeleid en Onroerend Erfgoed (RWO) Supports the spatial implementation of the project. Lessons, risks, implications... Key lessons Integration of the project under the larger Sigmaplan enabled the project communication to go smoother and inter-agency communication was already established through the overarching plan. Allowing long timescales is important and allows for the optimal outcome to be achieved, by allowing landowners greater flexibility. Success factor(s) Success factor type Success factor role Comments Successful coordination between authorities main factor Conducted assessments (incl. economic) main factor Specific incentives for stakeholder involvement main factor Financing Financing type Comments Sub-national funds Funds provided by the Flemish government. Barrier Barrier type Barrier role Comments Attitude of the public main barrier There are limits to the social support for large infrastructural changes with local communities, nearby residents, farmers etc. However the scale and government-backing of the Sigmaplan programme allows for extensive consultation to take place, as well as a compulsory purchase scheme if a voluntary agreement cannot be reached Other secondary barrier Time consuming, due to the wide variety of studies (very multidisciplinary) Driver Driver type Driver role Comments Past flooding events main driver Re-evaluation of flood risks (including expected climate change) Other secondary driver Reinstatement of the estuary of the Scheldt as a self-sustaining ecosystem Financing share Financing share type Share Comments Policy, general governance and design targets Policy description Main targeted problem is the high flood risk in the area. Quantified objectives The NWRM increases the storage capacity in the river valley from 6.6 million m3 to 8.4 million m3. Part of wider plan 1 Policy target Target purpose Increase Water Storage Improved Biodiversity 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 Catchment-based Water Sigmaplan The Sigmaplan is a catchmentbased program for the river Scheldt. It was initially intended to mitigate the problems for tidal related floodings, but has since evolved to also include overall water safety measures. Policy requirement directive Requirement directive Specification Socio-economic Direct benefits information The following positive outcomes are expected: - the social benefit of obtaining a self-maintaining estuary of the Scheldt and reducing flood risk; - social benefit of creation of a natural area of a significant size (recreational value) ; - indirect positive outcome to the economy through creation of recreation opportunities Costs investment 25000000 Costs investment information Estimate of costs at time of decision to proceed, at 2005 prices. Cost includes costs for infrustructural changes and land purchase. Costs operation maintenance The NWRM will reduce the recurring costs for dyke maintenance, but the cost for nature conservation will rise. Costs disposal decommissioning information No decommissioning is anticipated- the changes will be permanent Compensations scheme information The accompanying agricultural support measures are set under the framework of the Sigmaplan: - Support with identifying of exchange lands or company relocations - Extra time to transform the company by phasing the works - Bordercorrections to assure the liveabilityof companies by for example excluding lots with construction - Appealing retirement scheme - Financial support for changing land-use from arable to pasture Economic costs, income loss 2000 Information on Economic costs - income loss The overall Sigmaplan foresees in a compensation of 2000 euros per ha for land users directly affected by the measures and compensation of 1000 euros per ha for land users not directly affected by the measure but who voluntarily make their lands available within the framework of the NWRM (for example as part of land exchange schemes with directly affected farmers). The land owners will get an allowance of atleast 20%. When the land owner and land user are the same, both compensations can be cumulated. Ecosystem improved biodiversity 1 Information on Ecosystem improved biodiversity Yes, new wetlands will be created on formerly agricultural land. Vegetation will change, with associated changes to soil and habitats for plants and animals Ecosystem provisioning services 1 Information on Ecosystem provisioning services The controlled storage areas are expected to have a flood frequency of 1 in 5 years, with agriculture use still being continued the rest of the time. At locations where nature will be developed, farmers will be given land elsewhere in the valley as a compensation measure. Ecosystem impact climate regulation No information available Biophysical impacts Information on retained water The retention capacity of the floodplain will be 8.4 million m3 Runoff reduction 27 Information on increased water storage The retention capacity of the floodplain was previously 6.6 million m3, so the implementation of the scheme represents an increase of 1.8 million m3 Runoff reduction unit % Percent Information on runoff reduction Predicted by hydraulic modelling. Water quality overall improvements Neutral impact-no change in WQ status Information on Water quality overall improvements This has not been considered in detail in the study, although some effects on water quality may be expected through the creation of wetland habitat, in relation to sediment deposition and pollutant retention Economic costs income loss unit €/ha Ecosystem erosion control impact unit % reduction Soil quality overall soil improvements Neutral impact-no change in SQ status Information on Soil quality overall soil improvements The lands that will be made accessible to the water in the future have a higher probability of being influenced by pollutant deposition from the river. However, this has not been quantified. Full Context Pathway(aka Context) Default view Area(aka Level or Site) ALL