Board of Directors meets on 24 September

Exotic species policy

Like other water authorities, Noorderzijlvest Water Authority increasingly has to deal with invasive exotic species in its management area. Exotic species are plants or animal species that do not naturally occur in a habitat but have been introduced there through human activity. Examples include floating pennywort and the American crayfish. Some of these invasive species pose a threat to native biodiversity and our goals for clean and healthy water, or make it difficult to properly maintain and manage our watercourses and infrastructure. The Board of Directors has been asked to approve an updated policy. The policy outlines how the water authority intends to prevent and limit the presence of exotic species. The focus is primarily on controlling floating pennywort because it causes most disruption to us, as water authority.

Water level regulation plans for Fivelingo catchwater and Spijkster pumps

The Fivelingo catchwater and Spijkster pumps water level regulation plans mark the conclusion of the Implementation Programme for Subsidence Water Level Regulation Plans, under which nine water level regulation plans have been drawn up since 2018 for areas with more than 10 cm subsidence caused by gas extraction. Establishing water level regulation management in the Fivelingo catchwater and Spijkster pumps drainage area contributes to a well-functioning, future-proof, and climate-resilient water system. The WFD tasks in the area were also carefully considered. The Board of Directors was asked to adopt the water level regulation plans. This means maintaining the current target water levels in virtually the entire area, introducing dynamic water level regulation management, and implementing a raft of measures to enable effective water level regulation management in order to counteract the effects of salinisation. The measures involve a budget of €4,980,000, for which the Land Subsidence Commission has pledged a contribution of €3,120,000.

WFD measures Eelderdiep

Plans have been developed under the Water Framework Directive to improve the water quality of the Eelderdiep by restoring the upper course of the Eelderdiep to their natural state and making the lower course fish-friendly. In 2018, the Board of Directors approved an exploratory phase and made credit available. The exploratory phase has now been completed. One of the conclusions is that the project needs to be expanded geographically and has also become more complex in terms of content. At the meeting on 24 September, the Board of Directors will be asked to reassess the credit previously made available and to make €2,268,000 available for the further preparation and implementation of the proposed measures in the Eelderdiep stream system. It is expected that this credit can be covered for a large part by subsidies. The measures are aimed at restoring the stream, combating desiccation, redesigning the Runsloot and Stroetenloop, and thus ensuring the desired good ecological status in the Eelderdiep. The integrated plan is in line with our objectives within the Kop van Drenthe area approach.