Additional water storage and protective measures for De Onlanden
Over the past six months, research has been conducted into which areas in and around De Onlanden are suitable for additional water storage and where this is financially feasible. De Onlanden has two equally important functions: nature conservation and water storage. Yesterday, a decision was made: in extreme situations, the extra water will be collected in De Onlanden itself. This was agreed upon by the administrators of the Noorderzijlvest water board, the site managers (Natuurmonumenten, Staatsbosbeheer, and Stichting Het Drentse Landschap), the provinces of Drenthe and Groningen, and the municipalities of Noordenveld and Tynaarlo. The extra storage space must be ready for use by January 1, 2025, at the latest.
Temporary retention in case of extreme precipitation
The De Onlanden area already serves to collect water when necessary. To be prepared for heavy and prolonged rainfall in the future, we want to be able to temporarily store more water in extreme situations. This will protect residents in the region from possible flooding. The water can then be temporarily retained (for a number of days) before being discharged back into the sea.
Protecting vulnerable nature
In some parts of De Onlanden, it is not desirable for nature to collect water from the surrounding area, for example in the quaking bogs. This is because the water from surrounding agricultural areas is richer in nutrients. We want to protect these areas for as long as possible. We are investigating the possibility of working with compartments during high water levels: first collecting the water in the least vulnerable areas. And only if there is no other option, in the area with the more vulnerable nature. An environmental impact assessment will investigate the effects of this measure.
What will happen in the near future and in the long term?
Now that the administrators have decided that the additional water storage facility will be located in De Onlanden, the province of Drenthe can initiate the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and the project decision. The local community will be involved in the project at various stages. Further information about the project, the procedures, and opportunities for contact with the local community will be posted on the website. In the longer term, the parties are looking for more integrated solutions for the entire stream valley. They are examining how the water storage task can be combined with already planned nature developments in the lower reaches of the Peizerdiep and in the upper reaches in the Fochteloërveen. Prolander is working on behalf of the province of Drenthe in both areas to implement the Natural Countryside program.
Questions?
Do you have any questions about the De Onlanden Optimization project? Please send an email to optimalisatieonlanden@noorderzijlvest.nl.