Year of Issue
2024
National Id
BE_05
Site name
Wimbe River Basin
Summary
The Wimbe basin is about 112 km2 in size and is classified as a continental bioregion. The basin consists of the water bodies LE8-10. The municipalities within the basin are Daverdisse, Wellin, Beauraing, Gedinne and Rochefort. The basin’s land use is 2% urban, 21% arable, 11% pasture and 66% forest. The region where the stream flows is representative of the Famenne schisteuse and the landscape is open. The region is vulnerable to both floods and low flows. The area is also vulnerable to nitrate concentration in water that is exceeding or is likely to exceed 50 mg/l, may have undergone or likely to undergo eutrophication.
The OPTAIN project will support the case study team with identifying and developing efficient land management strategies and small technical solutions to improve the soils’ infiltration and water holding capacities as well as its capacity to filter, buffer and transform pollutants.
Light or indepth?
In-depth
Transboundary
0
Data provider
Ghent University
Longitude
5.226663
Latitude
50.067272
Mean annual rainfall
600 - 900 mm
Mean rainfall
844
Mean rainfall unit
mm/year
Monitoring impacts effects
0
Public consultation
0
Contractural arrangements
0
Design contractual arrangement
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Design land use change
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Financing mechanism
0
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Policy description
The Wimbe basin is vulnerable to both flooding and low flow events. Agricultural activity within the watershed has impacted the quality of the water, leaving the area vulnerable to nitrate pollution, with concentrations exceeding 50mg/L in certain areas, and instances of eutrophication documented.

The project will be implemented in coordination with the following stakeholders: Contrat de rivière Lesse, Parc Naturel de l’Ardenne Méridoniale, Natagriwal, Fédération Belge du Secteur de l’eau Belgaqua, SPW-GISER Agriculture, Ressources Naturelles et Environnement, Fédération Wallonne de l’Agriculture, Province Namur Cellule Cours d’Eau, Commune de Daverdisse, and local farmers.
Part of wider plan
0
Policy target
Target purpose
Erosion Control
Pollutants Removal
Peak-flow reduction
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