connecting with water scarcity and climate change debates, to further develop water
demand management, and to increase synergy with farmers.
In chap. 5 (Browne et al.) the region Somerset is analyzed. In Somerset there was
a shift from increasing drought awareness when the project started to resistance to
the topic of drought during later phases of the project, as a result of severe flooding
in the winter of 2013–2014. The chapter authors discuss the fragmented nature of
the English water sector and the split responsibilities that exist as a result of that.
The discussion on water and drought in the UK is very politicized and emotive, and
this has an impact on how the topic has to be addressed in order to increase drought
resilience. To deal with this, the chapter authors call upon the decision-makers in
the UK to engage in collaborative processes of water governance instead of the
current silos.
Chapter 6 (La Jeunesse et al.) assesses the French region Brittany, and therein
the Vilaine river basin. The governance of the Vilaine river basin, and more
specifically of the area around the Arzal dam, largely revolves around the multi-user
conflict in the area and realizing drought awareness. Awareness about the effects of
climate change on drought is low. The general judgment of the region’s governance
is moderately positive, but due to the limited attention for climate change and
insufficient knowledge about the effects of drought on the area, the authors advise to
enhance knowledge and cooperation on climate change and its impacts on drought,
and increase foresight and sharing forecasting information.
The next chap. 7 (Troeltzsch et al.) gives an account of the governance situation
in the Belgian region Flanders. The authors classify the current state of affairs as
‘intermediate’. Especially in terms of responsibilities and resources there is room
for improvement. A reason for this is the fact that there is no assigned budget for
drought. Overall, the authors say that Flanders is at early stage of establishing
drought resilience measures. Through first activities motivation is increasing, and
increasingly water scarcity and drought are integrated in some general water
management strategic documents. The authors discuss how further realization can
be sought through increasing awareness, mainstreaming drought risks and engaging
with other public actors.
Chapter 8 (Özerol et al.) presents the results for the Dutch region Salland. They
write that Salland has a neutral governance context regarding its drought resilience
policies and measures. For Salland the most supportive dimension is levels and
scales, whereas the coherence of strategies and instruments and the intensity of
problem perspectives and goal ambitions are the restrictive contextual factors. Most
matrix boxes are scored neutral. Important explanations of this are that drought
measures are not integrated into existing water use and the dominance of flood
management over drought management. Positive aspects are the existence of trust
and collaboration. As a result, the authors recommend to increase awareness and
understanding of drought (management) and actively enable non-governmental
parties to share responsibilities.
Chapter 9 (Bressers et al.) discusses the last case study; the Dutch region
Twente. The governance assessment results of this region are mixed, leading to a
moderately positive general judgment; varying from excellent in one box to
12
N. Bressers et al.
demand management, and to increase synergy with farmers.
In chap. 5 (Browne et al.) the region Somerset is analyzed. In Somerset there was
a shift from increasing drought awareness when the project started to resistance to
the topic of drought during later phases of the project, as a result of severe flooding
in the winter of 2013–2014. The chapter authors discuss the fragmented nature of
the English water sector and the split responsibilities that exist as a result of that.
The discussion on water and drought in the UK is very politicized and emotive, and
this has an impact on how the topic has to be addressed in order to increase drought
resilience. To deal with this, the chapter authors call upon the decision-makers in
the UK to engage in collaborative processes of water governance instead of the
current silos.
Chapter 6 (La Jeunesse et al.) assesses the French region Brittany, and therein
the Vilaine river basin. The governance of the Vilaine river basin, and more
specifically of the area around the Arzal dam, largely revolves around the multi-user
conflict in the area and realizing drought awareness. Awareness about the effects of
climate change on drought is low. The general judgment of the region’s governance
is moderately positive, but due to the limited attention for climate change and
insufficient knowledge about the effects of drought on the area, the authors advise to
enhance knowledge and cooperation on climate change and its impacts on drought,
and increase foresight and sharing forecasting information.
The next chap. 7 (Troeltzsch et al.) gives an account of the governance situation
in the Belgian region Flanders. The authors classify the current state of affairs as
‘intermediate’. Especially in terms of responsibilities and resources there is room
for improvement. A reason for this is the fact that there is no assigned budget for
drought. Overall, the authors say that Flanders is at early stage of establishing
drought resilience measures. Through first activities motivation is increasing, and
increasingly water scarcity and drought are integrated in some general water
management strategic documents. The authors discuss how further realization can
be sought through increasing awareness, mainstreaming drought risks and engaging
with other public actors.
Chapter 8 (Özerol et al.) presents the results for the Dutch region Salland. They
write that Salland has a neutral governance context regarding its drought resilience
policies and measures. For Salland the most supportive dimension is levels and
scales, whereas the coherence of strategies and instruments and the intensity of
problem perspectives and goal ambitions are the restrictive contextual factors. Most
matrix boxes are scored neutral. Important explanations of this are that drought
measures are not integrated into existing water use and the dominance of flood
management over drought management. Positive aspects are the existence of trust
and collaboration. As a result, the authors recommend to increase awareness and
understanding of drought (management) and actively enable non-governmental
parties to share responsibilities.
Chapter 9 (Bressers et al.) discusses the last case study; the Dutch region
Twente. The governance assessment results of this region are mixed, leading to a
moderately positive general judgment; varying from excellent in one box to
12
N. Bressers et al.