Stream valley
The expansion of the balancing lake goes hand in hand with the redesign of the stream valley.
In 2021, it was agreed that the expansion of the balancing lake De Onlanden would go hand in hand with measures in the catchment the Eelder- and Peizerdiep and the Kop van Drenthe. Together with other parties, we are working on a future plan for the water system outside De Onlanden. We call this a stream valley-wide approach.
In this plan, we are not only looking at water, but also at agriculture, nature, and climate change.
Why is this necessary?
Climate change means we are increasingly faced with:
- Heavy rain and flooding
- Drought in summer
- Changes in agriculture and nature
Therefore, more space for water is needed in the long term.
What happens in the stream valley?
- Canals are becoming narrower and shallower, so that water flows more slowly and is better absorbed into the ground.
- We are looking into whether the groundwater level can be raised slightly.
This keeps Groningen dry and makes more water available in the Kop van Drenthe region.
How does this relate to De Onlanden?
The approach in the stream valley also helps De Onlanden. By retaining water upstream for longer, there is less pressure on De Onlanden. In this way, we limit flooding and together ensure sufficient water for agriculture, nature, recreation, and housing.