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5 Challenges: Sectoral Descriptions
surface which got even worser by the installation of technical means, such as wind mills
and, of course, mechanical pumping stations.
Water management in Germany is organized by small self-acting associations, called
water boards. Similar organizations are working in The Netherlands. In both countries
today’s water boards originated from small drainage boards responsible for the drainage
and management of small areas. In the course of time small water boards were merged
to bigger ones. For example, in Lower Saxony (north-western Germany) approximately
90 water boards are currently responsible for the water management (maintenance of infrastructure and water bodies); in The Netherlands there are 23 water boards active. In
contrast to Germany the Dutch water boards have more power and responsibilities. In The
Netherlands centuries ago there were approximately 1500 water boards existing.
The area of a water board is mainly coinciding with a certain catchment area of a
discharge channel (either this channel is artificially created, thus, a canal, or an almost
“natural” ditch).
7 In some cases the catchment area is divided into sub-catchment areas because of the topography of this distinct area. Then the surface water of this sub-catchment
is discharged to sub-channel and, afterwards, pumped into the main drainage channel.
Due to the topographic conditions of low-lying land, approximately down to –4 m
below sea level, several infrastructure are installed in the hinterland to control and to discharge the water. At some places the fresh water has to be pumped four times to surmount
approximately 12 m of elevation.
The elevation in northern part of Lower Saxony (Germany) is ranging from –4 m below
sea level up to +12 m above sea level. The low-lying areas are marsh land, former salt
marshes and remnants of Middle Age storm surge disasters. To get a much clearer picture
in Fig. 5.13 the crosssection from the highest point in the area (the moraine), down to
the lowest points in the peaty area and up to the river Ems (bordering Germany and The
Netherlands) is shown. The surface water flows through smaller and bigger ditches or
canals “downhill” to the lowest parts of the areas (here, e.g., from +12 m down to –2 m).
Through a system of ditches and canals the surface water is pumped into the river Ems to
finally discharge the water into the North Sea.
Gradually, the surface of the area between the dike and the moraine is still shrinking
or shrinking caused by
• extensive drainage of peat and marsh areas,
• soil compaction,
• soil excavation,
• mineralization,
• post glacial subsidence and
• extraction of fossil fuels from the underground.
7 Almost all water bodies in low-lying coastal areas are artificial or at least heavily modified by men,
see, for example, the classification of the water bodies according to the European Water Framework
Directive (see Ch. 6).
5 Challenges: Sectoral Descriptions
surface which got even worser by the installation of technical means, such as wind mills
and, of course, mechanical pumping stations.
Water management in Germany is organized by small self-acting associations, called
water boards. Similar organizations are working in The Netherlands. In both countries
today’s water boards originated from small drainage boards responsible for the drainage
and management of small areas. In the course of time small water boards were merged
to bigger ones. For example, in Lower Saxony (north-western Germany) approximately
90 water boards are currently responsible for the water management (maintenance of infrastructure and water bodies); in The Netherlands there are 23 water boards active. In
contrast to Germany the Dutch water boards have more power and responsibilities. In The
Netherlands centuries ago there were approximately 1500 water boards existing.
The area of a water board is mainly coinciding with a certain catchment area of a
discharge channel (either this channel is artificially created, thus, a canal, or an almost
“natural” ditch).
7 In some cases the catchment area is divided into sub-catchment areas because of the topography of this distinct area. Then the surface water of this sub-catchment
is discharged to sub-channel and, afterwards, pumped into the main drainage channel.
Due to the topographic conditions of low-lying land, approximately down to –4 m
below sea level, several infrastructure are installed in the hinterland to control and to discharge the water. At some places the fresh water has to be pumped four times to surmount
approximately 12 m of elevation.
The elevation in northern part of Lower Saxony (Germany) is ranging from –4 m below
sea level up to +12 m above sea level. The low-lying areas are marsh land, former salt
marshes and remnants of Middle Age storm surge disasters. To get a much clearer picture
in Fig. 5.13 the crosssection from the highest point in the area (the moraine), down to
the lowest points in the peaty area and up to the river Ems (bordering Germany and The
Netherlands) is shown. The surface water flows through smaller and bigger ditches or
canals “downhill” to the lowest parts of the areas (here, e.g., from +12 m down to –2 m).
Through a system of ditches and canals the surface water is pumped into the river Ems to
finally discharge the water into the North Sea.
Gradually, the surface of the area between the dike and the moraine is still shrinking
or shrinking caused by
• extensive drainage of peat and marsh areas,
• soil compaction,
• soil excavation,
• mineralization,
• post glacial subsidence and
• extraction of fossil fuels from the underground.
7 Almost all water bodies in low-lying coastal areas are artificial or at least heavily modified by men,
see, for example, the classification of the water bodies according to the European Water Framework
Directive (see Ch. 6).