What is the case?

Water management in the Netherlands has traditionally focused on quickly draining rainwater and keeping ditch water levels low, especially during the winter. However, climate change is forcing water managers and farmers to find alternative forms of water management, particularly to cope with prolonged periods of drought in spring and summer. The challenge is to retain rainwater for longer during wet periods while finding a better balance between waterlogging (for agriculture) and drought damage (for agriculture and nature). This requires customization and good coordination between different stakeholders, such as water boards, farmers, land management organizations, citizens, and interest groups.

What is the project doing about it?

This project aims to develop a more robust water management system for the sandy soils in East Friesland, making both agriculture and nature more climate-resilient, i.e., less susceptible to drought damage without unacceptable increases in damage from waterlogging. The question is how significant the impact of retaining more water is on hydrology, agriculture, and nature. In Friesland, various measures have already been explored model-wise at the provincial scale, but translating this to smaller scales (area, farm) and the actual effects on specific areas and agricultural businesses is challenging. Meanwhile, several field trials are ongoing to determine the effects of water retention on agriculture. This project focuses on linking large-scale model explorations and practical field trials at the plot scale by monitoring and quantifying the effects of different measures on hydrology, agriculture, and nature. New in this approach is the spatially integrated study of hydrology, agriculture, and nature.

What does the project deliver?

For the sandy areas of East Friesland, the project provides insight into the integrated effects on agriculture and nature of various measures to retain more water at the regional level. This insight is needed by different stakeholders to jointly make optimal choices regarding the implementation of hydrological measures in the context of climate adaptation. Promising measures will be developed and coordinated with all stakeholders, addressing organizational aspects of water management and cooperation between landowners and the water board. The project develops knowledge regarding (1) the effectiveness and integration of measures (the added value for agriculture and nature), (2) how this relates to the physical characteristics of the environment, and (3) what forms of cooperation between stakeholders (agricultural entrepreneurs, water board/province, land management organizations) are suitable. Additionally, calculation tools are being further developed to explore and make the effectiveness and integration of measures transparent.

Project details

Researcher: Johan Medenblik
Project duration: 2021 - 2023
Projectpartners: Wetterskip Fryslân, Provinsje Fryslân, Noardlike Fryske Wâlden, ELAN Zuidoost Friesland, Staatsbosbeheer, WUR, Antea Group.

The project is financially supported by the PPS scheme of the Knowledge and Innovation Agenda Agriculture Water Food.

Publications

• News item: 'Minder droogteschade door onderzoek naar duurzame innovaties in Friese zandgebieden' (in Dutch)
• Report klimaat robuust waterbeheer Friese Zandgebieden (Dutch, pdf, 6 MB)
• Report evaluatie praktijkproeven water vasthouden (Dutch, pdf, 10,2 MB)