drinking water is the last. Permits and notifications are the main instruments to
regulate water extractions (Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat n.d.; Waterschap
Groot Salland n.d.). The water authorities regularly monitor the groundwater levels
and warn the farmers, in case of too much withdrawal.
The extent is neutral regarding the responsibilities and resources, since there is
an imbalance between the large range of responsibilities, which have been assigned
to various actors, and the often-limited level of financial and knowledge resources,
which are decreasing for some stakeholders such as NCOs. Water authorities have
the overall responsibility regarding drought adaptation. This is strongly reflected in
the development of the irrigation policy. Both the water authorities and the provinces also have a responsibility for nature conservation areas, in particular the ones
that are designated by the national government as Natura 2000 sites. Regarding
groundwater use and protection, water authorities are responsible for shallow
groundwater and the province is responsible for deep groundwater. The new irrigation regulation attributes some responsibility to farmers as well. They should
notify the water authority when they will extract surface water and install a new
well. While using water, they should also check the weirs and stop extracting
surface water if the water does not flow over the weirs. Considering knowledge as a
resource, there is a gap in the current understanding about the appropriate
groundwater levels for agriculture and nature, and how they affect one another. It is
also unknown how nature will adapt and how water extractions for irrigation will
change under the new and developing conditions related to drought.
8.5.2 Coherence
Since the interdependence between different governance levels is recognized, a
high degree of coherence is observed for levels and scales. However, coherence is
low regarding the governance levels that are related to the environmental aspects of
the irrigation policy. According to the national Nature Conservation Law
(Natuurbeschermingswet), if someone implements a project in a Natura 2000 site,
they have to prove that there is no environmental effect on the areas. In other water
authorities, such as Brabant, where they have similar problems, farmers might have
to take an additional permit from the province if their land is within a Natura 2000 site
and have potential damage. However, the new irrigation policy does not incorporate
the environmental impact assessment for Natura 2000 sites. The main reason for
applying such a blanket approach is that the province had not decided yet how to deal
with the extractions in the zones around the nature areas. There are 30–40 nature
areas in the region, and the water authorities argue that it would take too long to
consider the impact in each area. However, the EU policy would override the regional
policy: If many farmers pump water to irrigate their fields and the groundwater level
would drop, irrigation can be stopped according to Natura 2000 legislation.
A neutral degree of coherence is observed in terms of actors and networks. Since the
numerous actors of water management have different interests and views, it is
8 Drought Awareness Through Agricultural Policy: Multi-level …
169
regulate water extractions (Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat n.d.; Waterschap
Groot Salland n.d.). The water authorities regularly monitor the groundwater levels
and warn the farmers, in case of too much withdrawal.
The extent is neutral regarding the responsibilities and resources, since there is
an imbalance between the large range of responsibilities, which have been assigned
to various actors, and the often-limited level of financial and knowledge resources,
which are decreasing for some stakeholders such as NCOs. Water authorities have
the overall responsibility regarding drought adaptation. This is strongly reflected in
the development of the irrigation policy. Both the water authorities and the provinces also have a responsibility for nature conservation areas, in particular the ones
that are designated by the national government as Natura 2000 sites. Regarding
groundwater use and protection, water authorities are responsible for shallow
groundwater and the province is responsible for deep groundwater. The new irrigation regulation attributes some responsibility to farmers as well. They should
notify the water authority when they will extract surface water and install a new
well. While using water, they should also check the weirs and stop extracting
surface water if the water does not flow over the weirs. Considering knowledge as a
resource, there is a gap in the current understanding about the appropriate
groundwater levels for agriculture and nature, and how they affect one another. It is
also unknown how nature will adapt and how water extractions for irrigation will
change under the new and developing conditions related to drought.
8.5.2 Coherence
Since the interdependence between different governance levels is recognized, a
high degree of coherence is observed for levels and scales. However, coherence is
low regarding the governance levels that are related to the environmental aspects of
the irrigation policy. According to the national Nature Conservation Law
(Natuurbeschermingswet), if someone implements a project in a Natura 2000 site,
they have to prove that there is no environmental effect on the areas. In other water
authorities, such as Brabant, where they have similar problems, farmers might have
to take an additional permit from the province if their land is within a Natura 2000 site
and have potential damage. However, the new irrigation policy does not incorporate
the environmental impact assessment for Natura 2000 sites. The main reason for
applying such a blanket approach is that the province had not decided yet how to deal
with the extractions in the zones around the nature areas. There are 30–40 nature
areas in the region, and the water authorities argue that it would take too long to
consider the impact in each area. However, the EU policy would override the regional
policy: If many farmers pump water to irrigate their fields and the groundwater level
would drop, irrigation can be stopped according to Natura 2000 legislation.
A neutral degree of coherence is observed in terms of actors and networks. Since the
numerous actors of water management have different interests and views, it is
8 Drought Awareness Through Agricultural Policy: Multi-level …
169