Let It Flow: Implementation of Environmental Flows In Dutch Water Management

Abstract

In order to find the possibilities of implementation of e-flows in Dutch water management, it is necessary to first explore the current role of e-flows in projects, plans and policies. Data collection is primarily done through interviews. In addition to this, analysis of policy documents is used as a method of data collection. The collected qualitative data is analysed to provide an overview of the key factors of implementation in Dutch water management. Whether these factors provide challenges for implementation or act as enabling factors provides insight into the opportunities and methods for additional implementation of e-flows in Dutch water management. The results of this research show that e-flows efforts have been made in the Netherlands, but are not defined as e-flows. Examples are meandering of rivers to increase natural flow and water retention, removing weirs to stimulate fish migration and changing creek dimensions, a drought displacement series, increasing tidal dynamics and secondary channels. The motivation behind these projects often are European policies, the Water Framework Directive and Natura 2000. Key factor influencing e-flows implementation in Dutch water management are trade-offs of water users and functions, justification and support, government, management and success. Challenges rising when implementing e-flows are navigating politics dynamics, land availability, performing proper trade-offs, no natural flow reference and sectoral administration. Opportunities present in Dutch water management are a system approach, adaptive, integral management, raising justification and support and creating a coherent narrative. By using opportunities to navigate the challenges, recommendations for Dutch water management follow for further implementation of e-flows to reach ecological objectives. Recommendations are creating a coherent narrative around e-flows, using the nitrogen crisis and the effects of climate change to increase discussion on land use, water use and current lay-out of the water system, developing of better trade-off tools and facilitating change in government administration. In general, many similarities are present between e-flows implementation in Dutch water management and literature. These similarities mostly involve water management in general and the role of ecology in it, like the need for adaptive management, integral solutions and difficulties in measuring success. A lack of room as a large challenge for e-flows implementation is not encountered before in studies. In the USA, Australia and South-Africa, countries with the highest e-flows implementation rate, land use is much less intensive and water system modifications are more guided by the construction of (hydro-power) dams and large scale irrigation water use instead of shipping and flood control. It is likely the reason why dam flow regulation and water allocation receives much attention in e-flows literature instead of land availability.