Sweden Mission from Skane The Dutch Delta Approach Future proof flood risk management in the Netherlands Martien Beek Special advisor to Delta Program Commissioner 18 September 2013
1 The Netherlands exposure profile H A R About 400 km of Rhine river International catchment 60% flood prone About 9 million inhabitants below flood level GDP 600 bln euro High protection level 3500 km of flood defences, hundreds of locks, sluices, pumping stations 100 km
Delta under pressure: challenges for the future More/intense rainfall More / extreme storms Spatial Developments Increased river discharge rise Sealevel Increased erosion Salt intrusion Subsidence Decreased river discharge 3
Vulnerability to Climate Change 1. Rotterdam in Europe North Sea Rotterdam Rijn 23 september 2013 Titel van de presentatie
If we do nothing... North Sea
Four levels of (water)authority 1. Local (408 municipalities) 2. Local (26 waterboards) 3. Regional (12 provinces) 4. National (11 ministries) 5. International (5 nations)
Protection dominated Dedicated governance structure Strong administrative bodies Central: ministries/ Rijkswaterstaat Regional: water boards, municipalities, provinces, safety regions Legal obligation to protect against floods (Water Act) Protection standards ( 60 s) Periodic assessment (6 yr) Report to Parliament Work is never done
Delta Commission, 2008: The threat is not acute, but measures to improve flood risk management and fresh water supply should be prepared urgently!
The Delta Programme One Aim: keeping NL a good, safe and attractive place to live and work for present and future generations ( long term perspective) Two Goals Safe, now and in the future (2050-2100) Fresh water supply guaranteed, also in dry periods Three Basic values: Solidarity, Flexibility and Sustainability Not in answer to a disaster, but in advance, to be prepared or avoid it Multigovernance, multifunctional measures
Prerequisites for future-proof implementation Delta Program: measures, yearly update, presented to Parliament ( 2015 (strategic, Delta Decisions Delta Commissioner, supervising coherence and adequate (regional) multigovernmental implementation Delta Fund, 1.0 bln є / yr Delta Act, legal anchoring Delta-commissioner, program and fund
Delta program and 5 key decisions, 2014 3 national programmes: Safety: standards,deltadikes Freshwater Reconstruction and development 6 regional programmes Programme Commissioner
Multi-level governance Steering committees for sub-programmes Ministry (Infrastructure and Environment Rijkswaterstaat) Ministry (Economy, Agriculture and Innovation) Province 1 Province 2 Province3 Province 4 Delta Programme Municipality1 Municipality2 Municipality3 Waterboard1 Waterboard2 Waterboard 3
Policy: Multy layer safety approach floods in the Netherlands Prevention Limit the risk of a flood disaster (dikes, dunes and barriers) Sustainable spatial planning Limiting the effects of flooding Crisis management Reducing the consequences of a flood
Multilayer safety concept: 1 th layer=preventive measures Safety standards for dike rings
Multi layer approach - Prevention Adequate monitoring and assessment of primary flood defenses Adopting risk approach for dike rings Reinforcement programs using a risk based approach and cost benefit analysis 1523-9-2013 July 2013
Prevention: Levees, Deltaworks, Room for the River
Examples of measures to reduce consequences 2 th layer=spatial measures Spatial measures
Examples of measures to reduce consequences 3 th layer=evacuation measures Evacation measures
Why the multilayer concept can be interesting: 1. Measures in the 2nd & 3rd layer can be an alternative to prevention (reinforcements to the dyke), when those reinforcement are: Too expensive Socially or politically unacceptable
A new approach to water safety: Risk Risk = Chance Chance x Consequences Consequences
Uncertain future 4 Delta scenario s Climate change sea level rise, discharge, rainfall, precipitation) Socio-economic developments population, economy, land use/urban development fresh water demand
Protection standards based on Cost Benefit Analysis Investment cost and expected damages ( ) Total cost Investment cost Expected damages (residual risk) Dike increase (cm) ( protection standard)
Multi layer approach - Spatial planning Combining water management and spatial planning at every administrative level Infrastructure concepts Room for rivers Unbreachable Delta dykes The blue connection is a passageway between the area of Jsselmonde and the Zuiderpark that enables a connection over water as well as new ecological and economic opportunities. Green - Water and greenery blue - Living near water
Why the multi-layer concept can be interesting: 2. Measures in the 2 nd and 3 rd layer can be used on top of prevention for: A. Waterproof new urban development and restructuring B. Extra protection of vulnerable locations & vital infrastructure C. Spatial layout for evacuation and crisis management
Flood hazard strategies changed over time Disasters over time Storm on sea High river discharge Dyke failure
Strategy: Spatial measures, prevention and evacuation (2015 AD) Building Delta works (1971) Evacuation paths & compartimentaion dykes Waterrrention Room for the river Programme (2007) Dykes
Develop adaptive strategies Planning for an uncertain future Clear in objectives, Flexible in way to go scenario s tipping points / pathways, strategy development
Adaptive strategies: Connect short term decisions (in physical domain) with long term water challenges Linked with other (short term) investment agenda s ( aging infrastructure ) Able to speed up or slow down, or flexible to change to another strategy Spatial reservations for future dike enforcements, water discharge or storage
New standards fail proof, multifunctional Deltadikes Building with nature
Conclusion Flood risk management in an uncertain future requires: Periodic update of protection standards Standards based on flood risk 3 layered approach (protection + reduce consequences) Adaptive strategies: too late, too little vs. too early, too much, materialize opportunities by combining FRM-measures with urban development and aging infrastructure decisions. Design for multifunctional use ( added value) Try to built with nature ( flexible) Multigovernance firm institutional arrangements (governance, finance, legal)
Thank you for your attention. Contact: Martien Beek - martien.beek@minienm.nl