the size of groundwater-sensitive areas such as peats and swamps, which would be used
as focal points, and the buffer zones, within which irrigation would be regulated.
Several maps were made, including alternative buffer zones of 100, 150 and 200 m, and
alternative sizes of nature areas with 50, 20, 15 and 10 ha. Each option implied different
consequences in terms of area categorisation. The board members decided on the
200-m buffer zones, which would be defined around the nature areas of at least 20 ha.
This was in line with a more general tone in Dutch government that emphasis should be
put more on protecting larger nature areas and less on the smaller fragmented areas.
After consultations among the water authorities and with the provinces, LTO and
NMO, the irrigation policy was issued in the spring of 2013. Although there were
several issues to be worked out, the water authorities reached a decision, which was
backed by their own boards. A major issue that was raised by the NMO was the
lack of up-to-date information on water extractions in the buffer zones. In 2014, the
water authorities made an inventory of the existing groundwater wells in the buffer
zones to also identify whether and how much water is extracted without a notification, which is issued by the water authorities to the farmers for irrigating their
land. Results from the inventory showed that the extractions in the current buffer
zones are relatively small. Such an inventory was not conducted before the design
of the irrigation policy, since the water authorities wanted to wait for the decision of
the province of Overijssel as to whether water extractions in the buffer zones can or
cannot be allowed. However, the province did not make this decision yet.
8.4 Too Wet and Too Dry: The Double Needs
of the Salland Water System and Measures
to Address This
8.4.1 Water System of the Salland Region
The jurisdiction of the WGS lies in the western Overijssel province, which is
located in the north-east of the Netherlands. It constitutes a part of the Vecht/Zwarte
Water catchment within the Rhine river basin. The WGS serves to a population of
360,000 inhabitants and numerous companies within a surface area of 120,000 ha.
As shown in Fig. 8.2, the territory of WGS is divided into four districts, each of
which has a district office and manages one or more wastewater treatment plants
(WWTPs), in addition to managing a total of 4000 km of watercourse.
The area included within the WGS terrain has a 10-m slope, starting high in the
Sallandse Heuvelrug and ending at the IJssel. The major canal in the area was
originally dug for shipping. Some of the water draining from the Sallandse
Heuvelrug, the higher elevation area, goes into this canal and some passes by
underneath it. The system contains weirs and functions in an entirely regulated way
by pumping water from the IJssel River upwards in the canal from Deventer
onwards and then it trickles through the ground “downhill”.
8 Drought Awareness Through Agricultural Policy: Multi-level …
165
as focal points, and the buffer zones, within which irrigation would be regulated.
Several maps were made, including alternative buffer zones of 100, 150 and 200 m, and
alternative sizes of nature areas with 50, 20, 15 and 10 ha. Each option implied different
consequences in terms of area categorisation. The board members decided on the
200-m buffer zones, which would be defined around the nature areas of at least 20 ha.
This was in line with a more general tone in Dutch government that emphasis should be
put more on protecting larger nature areas and less on the smaller fragmented areas.
After consultations among the water authorities and with the provinces, LTO and
NMO, the irrigation policy was issued in the spring of 2013. Although there were
several issues to be worked out, the water authorities reached a decision, which was
backed by their own boards. A major issue that was raised by the NMO was the
lack of up-to-date information on water extractions in the buffer zones. In 2014, the
water authorities made an inventory of the existing groundwater wells in the buffer
zones to also identify whether and how much water is extracted without a notification, which is issued by the water authorities to the farmers for irrigating their
land. Results from the inventory showed that the extractions in the current buffer
zones are relatively small. Such an inventory was not conducted before the design
of the irrigation policy, since the water authorities wanted to wait for the decision of
the province of Overijssel as to whether water extractions in the buffer zones can or
cannot be allowed. However, the province did not make this decision yet.
8.4 Too Wet and Too Dry: The Double Needs
of the Salland Water System and Measures
to Address This
8.4.1 Water System of the Salland Region
The jurisdiction of the WGS lies in the western Overijssel province, which is
located in the north-east of the Netherlands. It constitutes a part of the Vecht/Zwarte
Water catchment within the Rhine river basin. The WGS serves to a population of
360,000 inhabitants and numerous companies within a surface area of 120,000 ha.
As shown in Fig. 8.2, the territory of WGS is divided into four districts, each of
which has a district office and manages one or more wastewater treatment plants
(WWTPs), in addition to managing a total of 4000 km of watercourse.
The area included within the WGS terrain has a 10-m slope, starting high in the
Sallandse Heuvelrug and ending at the IJssel. The major canal in the area was
originally dug for shipping. Some of the water draining from the Sallandse
Heuvelrug, the higher elevation area, goes into this canal and some passes by
underneath it. The system contains weirs and functions in an entirely regulated way
by pumping water from the IJssel River upwards in the canal from Deventer
onwards and then it trickles through the ground “downhill”.
8 Drought Awareness Through Agricultural Policy: Multi-level …
165