Room for the River: Nijmegen dike relocation, Netherlands

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.

The in-depth description of the case study:

cs-nl-01-final_version.pdf

NUTS Code:

Gelderland

RBD code:

NLRN

Transboundary:

Data provider:

Heather Williams and Dilian Jansen, AMEC

Source(s):

Dijkteruglegging Lent

NWRM(s) implemented in the case study:

Floodplain restoration and management

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

Light or indepth?:

In-depth

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.

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

Information on Effect delaying peak:

In addition to reducing peak height, the measure is also likely to delay the peak, although no quantification was available

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.

Success factor(s):

Type	Role	Comments
Attitude of decision makers	main factor
Financing possibilities	main factor

Financing:

Type	Comments
National funds	Funded by the national government

Barrier:

Type	Role	Comments
Attitude of relevant stakeholders	main barrier	Attitude of people who owned, farmed or lived on the land that is being used for the scheme

Driver:

Type	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

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

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:

Policy pressure:

Policy requirement directive:

Policy impact:

Policy wider plan:

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

Policy area:

Policy target:

Target purpose
Peak-flow reduction
Increase Water Storage
Oher Societal Benefits

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

Public consultation:

Design contractual arrangement:

Design consultation activity:

Activity stage	Name	Key issues	Comments
			Extensive public communication for the national programme as a whole, as well as locally for this specific measure

Design land use change:

Design authority:

Authority type	Role	Name	Comments
National water authority	Financing	Rijkswaterstaat	Financing
	Implementation	Gemeente Nijmegen	Direct overall project responsibility
	Implementation	Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Milieu	Involved directly in planning and execution of infrastructural changes
	Determination of design details of the measure	Staatsbosbeheer	Involved in the planning and development of recreational and nature aspects on the future island

Last updated: 18 Jun 2015 | Top

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Room for the River: Nijmegen dike relocation, Netherlands

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