General
National Id
Netherlands_01
Site name
Rivierengebied
Summary
This example is one of many schemes being implemented through the national 'Room for the River' programme in the Netherlands. This particular measure involves setting back the dyke of the River Waal, and incorporating a new channel in to the expanded area of floodplain that can take additional flood flow from the Waal. The measures are also incorporated with a new area of urban development and will create an urban river park within the city of Nijmegen.
Light or indepth?
In-depth
The in-depth description of the case study
NUTS Code
Gelderland
RBD code
NLRN
Transboundary
0
Contact
Heather Williams and Dilian Jansen, AMEC
Source(s)
Sponge Measure(s) implemented in the case study
Longitude
5.862
Latitude
51.856
Site information
Climate zone
cool temperate moist
Mean annual rainfall
600 - 900 mm
Mean rainfall unit
mm/year
Type
Case Study Info
Performance
Performance impact estimation method
Laboratory
Performance impact estimation information
Monitoring is carried out of river flows in the Waal. The measure has been modelled prior to implementation, consistently with all schemes in the Room for the River programme: this has allowed the performance of the whole Room for the River programme to be assessed, not only this individual scheme.
Design & implementations
Application scale
River
Installation date
2016
Performance timescale
< 1 year
Constraints
This type of measure is suitable for rivers with permanent flow where the capacity to flow out-of-bank is currently restricted. There are no specific basin characteristics that are necessary, as the measures could be applied in a range of situations.
Favourable preconditions
The availability of open space in between the current river bank and the town. The sharp meander in the river provided a suitable geometry for addition of this type of measure
Community involvment
Yes
Design contractual arrangement
| Arrangement type | Responsibility | Role | Name | Comments |
|---|
Design consultation activity
| Activity stage | Key issues | Name | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Extensive public communication for the national programme as a whole, as well as locally for this specific measure
|
Design land use change
| Land use change type | Comment |
|---|
Design Authority
| Authority type | Authority name | Role | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
Lessons, risks, implications...
Key lessons
The ability to have an influence at a large scale, particularly in the lower reaches of a major river basin, requires commitment at high levels of government. This is the case with the Room for the River programme.
The integration of this particular scheme in to a wider programme with an overall goal ensures that individual measures do not adversely affect flood vulnerability in down- or upstream locations or in other river basins, and that the combination of individual measures leads to a cumulative, quantifiable positive effect on flood risk.
The integration of this particular scheme in to a wider programme with an overall goal ensures that individual measures do not adversely affect flood vulnerability in down- or upstream locations or in other river basins, and that the combination of individual measures leads to a cumulative, quantifiable positive effect on flood risk.
Success factor(s)
| Success factor type | Success factor role | Comments |
|---|---|---|
|
Attitude of decision makers
|
main factor
|
|
|
Financing possibilities
|
main factor
|
Driver
| Driver type | Driver role | Comments |
|---|---|---|
|
Past flooding events
|
main driver
|
Flooding events in 1993 and 1995 led to the development of the national Room for the River programme
|
|
Organisation committed to it
|
main driver
|
The national government decided on this approach and has led and funded its implementation
|
Policy, general governance and design targets
Policy description
Addressing the risk of flooding from the River Waal, particularly following flooding events in 1993 and 1995. This is part of a national programme of work by the national government to make 'Room for the River'.
Part of wider plan
1
Policy target
| Target purpose |
|---|
|
Peak-flow reduction
|
|
Increase Water Storage
|
|
Oher Societal Benefits
|
Policy pressure
| Pressure directive | Relevant pressure |
|---|
Policy area
| Policy area type | Policy area focus | Name | Comments |
|---|
Policy impact
| Impact directive | Relevant impact |
|---|
Wider plan type
| Wider plan type | Wider plan focus | Name | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
|
National
|
Water
|
Room for the River programme
|
National strategy to create more space for flooding, rather than raising dykes further, initiated following widespread flooding in 1993 and 1995
|
|
National
|
Water
|
FloodResilienCity (FRC)
|
INTERREG IVB programme enabling public authorities in eight cities in North West Europe to better cope with urban flooding. Nijmegen is one of the eight cities
|
Requirement directive
| Requirement directive | Specification |
|---|
Socio-economic
Costs investment
351000000
Compensations annual information
Compensation is required to owners and occupiers of the land that will be used for the measures, who will be displaced.
Information on Ecosystem improved biodiversity
Provision of increased aquatic and riparian habitat along the edges of the new channel
Ecosystem impact climate regulation
No specific impact
Biophysical impacts
Information on Peak flow rate reduction
The measure provides a 35 cm reduction in design flood peak height on the River Waal.
Information on Increased groundwater level
Groundwater levels can already be high in this area, causing groundwater seepage. It was a specific aim of the project to ensure that groundwater seepage did not increase.
Water quality overall improvements
Not relevant for this application
Soil quality overall soil improvements
Not relevant for this application