8.5.1 Extent
The levels and scales dimension has a supportive extent, as all governance levels
ranging from the local level to the EU level are relevant. However, the regional
level is the most prominent, since the irrigation policy is binding for the five water
authorities in the Rhine-East subbasin.
At the national level, the displacement chain, which is explained in Sect. 8.3, is
implemented to balance the water supply and demand in cases of extreme water
shortages. Interactions between different levels also occur for the implementation of
relevant EU policies such as the Water Framework Directive and the Birds and
Habitats Directives. The national level plays an enforcing role regarding the implementation of these policies. For instance, the Birds and Habitats Directives have
requirements on the nature areas that are designated as Natura 2000 sites. The areas
where the water level will be higher are identified in the provincial plan. Similarly, the
measures that the provinces take for the nature sites are defined at the national level.
The extent is also supportive in terms of actors and networks. Many actors are
involved in the decision-making processes, mainly including the province of
Overijssel, the five water authorities, the LTO, the NMO and Vitens, the monopolistic drinking water company. Regarding groundwater management, the province
and Vitens assume a role at the regional level. The province oversees the use and
protection of groundwater by controlling the water authorities and issuing permits,
whereas Vitens is interested in the influence on groundwater abstraction.
Regarding problem perceptions and goal ambitions, the extent is neutral. Many
actors adopt a supply-oriented approach to water, implying that their major goal is
providing the right amount and quality of water to all users. The focus on supply has
been shifting since other interests became important in the past few decades. It was
realized that the amount of freshwater is limited and climate change is exacerbating
this issue. Drought is becoming a problem to tackle for the agricultural sector,
although in many areas flood protection is still the major goal. Additionally, drought
is a relatively new issue and hard to explain to the general public, although 1/3 of the
country is similar to the land in the eastern Netherlands, which has dry sandy soils
that are prone to drought. Farmers are affected by dry lands but do not consider this
to be as important an issue in terms of “protecting their investments” that should be
taken over by the water authorities through longer term and larger scale investments.
Several strategies and instruments are in place to deal with water scarcity and
drought, indicating a high degree of extent. ZON is the first strategy that addresses
the water problems of the East-Netherlands. It involves various measures such
as using long-term climate data to demonstrate changes and engaging the relevant
actors at multiple levels. The irrigation regulation is the major instrument regarding
water use in irrigation. One aspect of the irrigation policy that is lacking in extent is
that it only applies to new wells and not existing ones. For surface water management at the national level, the displacement chain is implemented. In terms of
priorities, agriculture is the first sector that the water use is restricted through
“irrigation bans”, which are decided upon by the water authorities, whereas
168
G. Özerol et al.
The levels and scales dimension has a supportive extent, as all governance levels
ranging from the local level to the EU level are relevant. However, the regional
level is the most prominent, since the irrigation policy is binding for the five water
authorities in the Rhine-East subbasin.
At the national level, the displacement chain, which is explained in Sect. 8.3, is
implemented to balance the water supply and demand in cases of extreme water
shortages. Interactions between different levels also occur for the implementation of
relevant EU policies such as the Water Framework Directive and the Birds and
Habitats Directives. The national level plays an enforcing role regarding the implementation of these policies. For instance, the Birds and Habitats Directives have
requirements on the nature areas that are designated as Natura 2000 sites. The areas
where the water level will be higher are identified in the provincial plan. Similarly, the
measures that the provinces take for the nature sites are defined at the national level.
The extent is also supportive in terms of actors and networks. Many actors are
involved in the decision-making processes, mainly including the province of
Overijssel, the five water authorities, the LTO, the NMO and Vitens, the monopolistic drinking water company. Regarding groundwater management, the province
and Vitens assume a role at the regional level. The province oversees the use and
protection of groundwater by controlling the water authorities and issuing permits,
whereas Vitens is interested in the influence on groundwater abstraction.
Regarding problem perceptions and goal ambitions, the extent is neutral. Many
actors adopt a supply-oriented approach to water, implying that their major goal is
providing the right amount and quality of water to all users. The focus on supply has
been shifting since other interests became important in the past few decades. It was
realized that the amount of freshwater is limited and climate change is exacerbating
this issue. Drought is becoming a problem to tackle for the agricultural sector,
although in many areas flood protection is still the major goal. Additionally, drought
is a relatively new issue and hard to explain to the general public, although 1/3 of the
country is similar to the land in the eastern Netherlands, which has dry sandy soils
that are prone to drought. Farmers are affected by dry lands but do not consider this
to be as important an issue in terms of “protecting their investments” that should be
taken over by the water authorities through longer term and larger scale investments.
Several strategies and instruments are in place to deal with water scarcity and
drought, indicating a high degree of extent. ZON is the first strategy that addresses
the water problems of the East-Netherlands. It involves various measures such
as using long-term climate data to demonstrate changes and engaging the relevant
actors at multiple levels. The irrigation regulation is the major instrument regarding
water use in irrigation. One aspect of the irrigation policy that is lacking in extent is
that it only applies to new wells and not existing ones. For surface water management at the national level, the displacement chain is implemented. In terms of
priorities, agriculture is the first sector that the water use is restricted through
“irrigation bans”, which are decided upon by the water authorities, whereas
168
G. Özerol et al.