Agreement to add maintenance paths as a landscape feature
Farmers have been granted permission to designate maintenance paths as landscape features for 2023.
The Executive Board (DB) of Noorderzijlvest Water Authority this Noorderzijlvest Water Authority on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. This decision was prompted by various requests from farmers based on the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The permission is valid for one year for the time being. An evaluation will follow thereafter.
Farmers may designate maintenance paths as landscape features
The new national Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) stipulates that farmers water authority designate maintenance paths belonging to the water authority as landscape features. These paths will then count towards the subsidy that farmers can receive for sustainable and future-proof agriculture. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency RVO) states that the owner's consent is sufficient. The published notice on the water authority website water authority as a form of consent. If checks reveal that written consent between water authority the farmer is still required, farmers can contact the water authority for this.
Farmers do not take over maintenance from water authority
Noorderzijlvest Water Authority follow its own management and maintenance plan. Farmers may only watercourse the portion of the maintenance paths—up to the point where a watercourse begins—as a landscape feature. Only mowing the maintenance path is permitted as a form of actual use. Farmers are not permitted to use the maintenance paths for any other actual purpose. Another example of actual use is sowing one’s own crops. That is therefore not permitted.
Mowing of slope under the responsibility of water authority
Mowing the slope of the watercourse the responsibility of the water authority. By only granting permission to mow the maintenance paths, the water authority avoids water authority to the management and maintenance of the water system.
At the end of 2023, water authority will evaluate water authority .
After one year, the water authority will assess water authority went well and what lessons can be learned. The executive committee will then decide before May 15, 2024, whether to extend the permit for another year. The water authority may also decide to extend the permit to include ditches. In 2024, a longer-term policy will be developed based on the experiences gained.