7.3.3 Turning Data into Information and Cooperation
A further key step towards effective drought management is turning these data into
useful information and getting the information to the different actors and stakeholders. Therefore, VMM publishes a monthly bulletin on the state of the water
system, focusing on drought or flood risks as required. Since 2014, five Flemish
water management services bundle their efforts to make real-time data and forecasts
on the state of the water system available through the web portal www.waterinfo.be
(Fig. 7.6). Drought is included as one of the four main themes of the portal.
Information on the drought situation can be used by actors such as decision makers
or water managers, or individual stakeholders, such as farmers, to evaluate the
drought situation and take action accordingly.
It has been found that relying on the existing measuring network and framework
of data management and reporting at VMM, contributes to a more effective drought
status reporting. It also represents a technical step towards the development of an
integrated water management strategy that addresses both high flows (floods) and
low flows (hydrological droughts).
At the same time, the VMM pilot participated actively in the creation of a
coordination platform for drought by bringing together different governmental
agencies and organizations involved in water management and agriculture. This
will further stimulate the cooperation between different actors and stakeholders on
drought issues, such as the Flemish agricultural department, regional and national
water managers, the provinces and municipalities.
7.4 Governance Assessment: Improvements in Drought
Awareness but not There yet
In the following section, the four qualities of the GAT-tool presented in Chap. 3 are
analysed for the Flanders region. Contrary to the other DROP case studies the
GAT-tool was used here for the assessment of a whole region and not only a single
catchment. Furthermore, the national level in Belgium has transferred most
responsibilities to the regional levels: Wallonia, Brussels and Flanders. Because of
the entry point at a relative high scale, one difficulty was to also cover small,
individual activities on local level. Additionally, the relationships between different
authorities and ministries were central in the discussions.
7.4.1 Extent
In terms of extent, the general water management system in Flanders is assessed as
supportive with good involvement of EU level, Flemish region, provinces,
148
J. Tröltzsch et al.
A further key step towards effective drought management is turning these data into
useful information and getting the information to the different actors and stakeholders. Therefore, VMM publishes a monthly bulletin on the state of the water
system, focusing on drought or flood risks as required. Since 2014, five Flemish
water management services bundle their efforts to make real-time data and forecasts
on the state of the water system available through the web portal www.waterinfo.be
(Fig. 7.6). Drought is included as one of the four main themes of the portal.
Information on the drought situation can be used by actors such as decision makers
or water managers, or individual stakeholders, such as farmers, to evaluate the
drought situation and take action accordingly.
It has been found that relying on the existing measuring network and framework
of data management and reporting at VMM, contributes to a more effective drought
status reporting. It also represents a technical step towards the development of an
integrated water management strategy that addresses both high flows (floods) and
low flows (hydrological droughts).
At the same time, the VMM pilot participated actively in the creation of a
coordination platform for drought by bringing together different governmental
agencies and organizations involved in water management and agriculture. This
will further stimulate the cooperation between different actors and stakeholders on
drought issues, such as the Flemish agricultural department, regional and national
water managers, the provinces and municipalities.
7.4 Governance Assessment: Improvements in Drought
Awareness but not There yet
In the following section, the four qualities of the GAT-tool presented in Chap. 3 are
analysed for the Flanders region. Contrary to the other DROP case studies the
GAT-tool was used here for the assessment of a whole region and not only a single
catchment. Furthermore, the national level in Belgium has transferred most
responsibilities to the regional levels: Wallonia, Brussels and Flanders. Because of
the entry point at a relative high scale, one difficulty was to also cover small,
individual activities on local level. Additionally, the relationships between different
authorities and ministries were central in the discussions.
7.4.1 Extent
In terms of extent, the general water management system in Flanders is assessed as
supportive with good involvement of EU level, Flemish region, provinces,
148
J. Tröltzsch et al.