Greater climate water management for the Delta of the Aa River and its polders
On 24-26 September 2024, the Policy Learning Platform held an onsite peer review for the Institution Intercommunale des Wateringues, which requested advice regarding their policy challenge on water management for the Aa River and its polders.
Alongside Astrid Severin, Katharina Krell and Magda Michalikova, our Thematic Experts on ‘Greener Europe’, six excellent peers participated in the peer review:
- Liesbeth Gellinck, Project Leader NBS4Local, Vlaamse Land Maatschappij (Belgium)
- Priscilla Haselhurst, CEO, Lower Medway Internal Drainage Board (UK)
- Petra Goessen, Chair of Coastal Engineers, Regional Water Authority of HHNK (Netherlands)
- Carlos Fernandez Jauregui, Chief Visionary Officer, Water Assessment and Advisory Global Network (Spain)
- Peter Kiss, Civil Protection Supervisor, Vas County Disaster Management (Hungary)
- Leonie Corbin-Goudzwaard for Eric Caspers, Strategic Advisor Concern, Municipality of Schouwen-Duiveland, Zeeland (Netherlands)
The Aa delta is a polder, a territory reclaimed from the sea. Coastal structures, natural or artificial, ensure its protection against marine invasions. The evacuation of continental waters is ensured by a particular and complex drainage system: the Waterings. The Aa delta is affected by two main risks: marine submersion and continental flooding by overflow and runoff.
Several recommendations and key outcomes were established as a result of the discussions and presentations of the peers.
- Create a strategy that combines protection, prevention and preparedness measures
- New water strategy should be based around water safety (protection from floods) and water availability (safe from drought)
- Retain, store and discharge (foresee more places to hold water)
- Early-warning / information system for both floods and droughts (preparedness & awareness)
- Set up and facilitate new coalitions (farmers, landowners, agro-industry, nature organisations, citizens)
- Know your target groups, inform them regularly and build trust through a local coalition group
- Keep it simple - Be clear and consistent
- Survey local citizens to see what the current level of understanding of the issues is
- Visualise and share data, educate, network
- Involve local communities
- Use of nature-based solutions, in addition to existing infrastructure
- Implement solutions in urban areas (green-blue infrastructure, floodable parking spaces, underground storage) and solutions outside of cities (wetland restoration, reforestation, green dikes, pumps and buffer strips)
- Support new solutions for farmers (drip irrigation, plow-less farming, marshes, aquaculture)
- Importance of data for decision making, monitoring of impact
The host’s policy challenges, and all the peer suggestions will be available shortly in the follow-up report.
“I would like to thank the European peers for coming here and for discussing all of our questions. The exchange has confirmed that we are not starting from scratch and that we are on the right path. We will now tackle the outstanding issues with our neighbours and stakeholders.”
Frédérique Barbet - Institution des Wateringues
We have been spending three intensive days, packed with rich experiences and knowledge. I can only recommend this peer review approach!”
Xavier Chelkowski - AGUR Dunkerque
“It was a privilege to participate at the peer review for Hauts-de-France and I look forward to continuing the exchange of knowledge and best practices in climate adaptation across Europe.”
Priscilla Haselhurst - Lower Medway Internal Drainage Board
Peer review publication
Find more information on the methodology and experiences of previous beneficiaries in our publication.
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