Construction of monitoring network progressing
November 21, 2025
In recent months, the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority has consulted with various landowners around Lauwersmeer Lake about installing measuring points for the saltwater monitoring network. The monitoring wells are now being installed.
Environmental Manager Silvia Mosterd:
“We are installing measuring points at 25 locations around the lake. The monitoring network will be fully operational later in 2026. The measurement data will then be accessible to everyone via our data portal.”
Let's go back to why we're setting up this monitoring network. Silvia: "We're putting monitoring points in Lauwersmeer and the surrounding nature and agricultural areas so we can track the salt content at different locations and depths every day. On land, there are 25 groundwater wells, each with two monitoring wells, one shallow and one deep. Measuring points have now been installed at 16 locations. The remaining monitoring wells will be installed in the first half of 2026."
"These measuring points give the water board insight into the interaction between fresh and salt water. The data will help us in our research into a more natural transition between fresh and salt water. Until 2028, we will be exploring how we can allow controlled salt water to improve the ecological water quality and ecosystem in Lauwersmeer."
Measuring buoys in Lauwersmeer
Last week, measurements were taken at the R.J. Cleveringsluizen using a boat. Silvia: "These are the first measurements in the lake. They are already providing us with data that helps us better understand how the fresh-salt dynamics between the Wadden Sea and Lauwersmeer can work at the Cleveringsluizen. We are also using this data to determine where we want to place measuring buoys. We will install them in Lauwersmeer in the spring of 2026."
Online dashboard
The data from the monitoring wells on land will soon be available to everyone. Silvia: "These measurement data will be entered intothewaterboard's data portal. To provide even better insight, we are also creating a user-friendly dashboard. With the help of the measuring points, the water board hopes to answer questions such as: what is the fresh-salt distribution in the lake throughout the year? Where is the boundary between fresh and salt water? How can we control this? We still have to be patient, but I am of course very curious to see how the salt water behaves."
Questions about the monitoring network or the placement of measuring points? Send an email to Lauwersmeer@noorderzijlvest.nl.