Area development Southern Westerkwartier
In the Zuidelijk Westerkwartier, the province of Groningen and the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority are combining nature development with the creation of water storage areas. At the same time, we are taking measures in the areas of water quality, recreation, agriculture, landscape restoration, and quality of life. This will enable residents to continue to live, work, and relax safely and comfortably in a unique and future-proof area.
Most up-to-date information
The most up-to-date information, newsletters, and reports from the regional meetings can be found on the website:zuidelijkwesterkwartier.nl
Newsletter Southern Westerkwartier
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Assignments Dwarsdiep
Plans for the Dwarsdiep area are currently being further developed. These plans are based on the preliminary design from 2023 and the water level decision from 2024. The water board has three important tasks for the Dwarsdiep:
- creating water storage for regional water safety
- taking measures for the Water Framework Directive (clean and healthy water)
- preservation of fresh water.
Together with local residents, we are investigating what recreational opportunities we can create in the area. When walking routes disappear as a result of the plans, we look at other locations where they can be re-established.
Planning Dwarsdiep
The preliminary design for the Dwarsdiep was presented in early 2025. The final design is expected to follow before the summer. Construction is expected to start in spring 2026.
Final design Dwarsdiep and walk-in in September
Over the coming months, the project organization will be working on the technical details of the final design for the Dwarsdiep. This is expected to be completed later this summer. In addition, agreements on ownership, management, and maintenance of the measures will be laid down. In September 2025, there will be a walk-in meeting for local residents, at which the final design will be presented.
Area committee advice on recreation in Dwarsdiep
On April 14, 2025, the Southern Westerkwartier Area Committee issued a recommendation on a number of recreational measures concerning the Dwarsdiep. These measures involve various interests, which is why the committee weighed up the options. The measures concern six footpaths, a footbridge, and two parking locations. All measures can proceed as far as the area committee is concerned, except for the parking location along the Wilgepad in the northeast corner. An alternative is being sought for this. The footbridge is still subject to financing. A condition for all measures is that ownership, management, and maintenance are guaranteed.
See the overview of all walking routes on the website zuidelijkwesterkwartier.nl.
Review of residents' evening on Dwarsdiep area development
On February 26, 2025, around eighty people attended the residents' evening about the Dwarsdiep area development. They viewed the preliminary design for phase 1 of the nature and water storage area and spoke with experts from the Province of Groningen, Staatsbosbeheer, Prolander, our water board, and other organizations.
Water storage capacity
Visitors were enthusiastic about the new nature within the project, such as wet hay meadows and flower-filled ditches. Questions mainly concerned the use of water storage and its impact. Water storage is used on average once every ten years. The water level then rises slowly. Animals and insects will instinctively move to higher areas as a result. Plants can cope well with temporarily elevated water levels.
Recreation
Many people expressed interest in walking trails, with responses ranging from "more please" to "less please, because the trail infringes on my privacy." The project seeks to strike a balance between nature, water, recreation, privacy, and management. Bottlenecks are discussed with the Area Committee, which will issue its advice to the Province of Groningen and the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority on April 14. The province and the water authority will jointly decide on the final design.
Planning and further information
Work on the final design will continue until the summer. Implementation is expected to start in the spring of 2026.
Curious about how the Dwarsdiep water storage facility works?Take a look at the illustration.
Want to know more about the project? Then visit www.zuidelijkwesterkwartier.nl
Invitation to residents' meeting Dwarsdiep February 26, 2025
On Wednesday evening, February 26, we are organizing a residents' meeting about the plans for the Dwarsdiep nature and water storage area.
In the stream valley of the Dwarsdiep, the province of Groningen and the Noorderzijlvest water board are working together to develop new nature in combination with the creation of a water storage area and the improvement of water quality. These are major tasks that contribute to increasing both biodiversity and water safety in Groningen.
From 7:30 p.m., we will be ready in the Postwagen in Tolbert to update you on the area development. In half-hour rounds, we will present the preliminary design of the development plan for the Dwarsdiep phase 1. You will also have the opportunity to talk to various experts.
Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Location: the Postwagen
Address: Hoofdstraat 53, 9356 AV Tolbert
Time: 7:15 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Presentation: the first presentation starts at 7:30 p.m., the last at 9:00 p.m.
Advance registration is not required.
Read more about the progress of the Dwarsdiep area development
General Administration of Southern Westerkwartier and Dwarsdiep
What is the status of the water management challenges in the Zuidelijk Westerkwartier (ZKW)? On November 27, 2024, the General Board of the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority discussed the progress of various projects in this area, including the redevelopment of the Dwarsdiep stream system.
Memo on subprojects in the Southern Westerkwartier and plan development for Dwarsdiep
AB members consider the memorandum 'Progress of subprojects in the Southern Westerkwartier and plan development for Dwarsdiep' to be a clear document. It describes the status of the 21 projects that fall under the Southern Westerkwartier Area Development. 'It's great to see what has already been achieved and to have a clear picture of what will be tackled in the coming period,' says the AB. However, some AB members still have questions:
- Can land management organizations be involved in project developments at an early stage?
- What do local residents think about relocating recreational walking routes within the Dwarsdiep area?
- And does the AB receive a financial overview of loans and subsidies granted and costs still to be expected?
Financial picture
Daily manager Elze Reitsema thanks the AB members for their compliments and is happy to answer questions. "We are now working towards the preliminary design for the Dwarsdiep. We will also indicate what new credit is needed and we will return to the finances of the ZWK projects that have already been realized."
Involve site managers at an early stage
As far as Reitsema is concerned, the site managers will definitely be involved in the projects. "This will be in collaboration with the Province of Groningen, because in addition to water management tasks, there are also nature conservation tasks for the area."
Information meetings Dwarsdiep - early 2025
Reitsema also says that they're talking with locals about moving recreational walking routes within the Dwarsdiep area. "This will come up again when we present the preliminary design in early 2025. We will also be organizing information meetings for residents and other interested parties. I invite the AB members to attend these meetings themselves and hear what is going on in the area. Both stakeholders and AB members will receive further information about this."
Preliminary design and walk-in meetings
The water level decision sets out the preconditions for a preliminary design and final design for the layout of the Dwarsdiep area. The preliminary design will be ready in early 2025, followed by a final design. We will be organizing walk-in meetings for this purpose. More information about the meetings will follow in the newsletter and on the area development website. We expect to be able to implement the measures from summer 2025 onwards. The water levels will only be set after this implementation phase.
Dwarsdiep water level decision formally adopted (June 2024)
Conditions for better water quality, water safety, and nature development
The Dwarsdiep water level decision was adopted by the general board of the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority during its meeting on June 5, 2024. This decision establishes the hydrological preconditions for the plans in the Dwarsdiep area. This water level decision clarifies the measures we need to take to improve water quality, increase water safety by constructing water storage facilities, retain clean seepage water for longer, and promote nature development.
Why a new water level decision?
This water level decision is necessary for the redevelopment of the stream valley in accordance with the plan. To implement this, adjustments to the water system are required. A new water level decision for the Dwarsdiep is part of this. In a water level decision, the water board determines which standard water levels and engineering structures (culverts, weirs, pumping stations) are required.
Prolander has now been tasked with further preparing the measures for the water level decision. This also includes the additional measures needed to keep the surrounding areas—which fall outside the boundaries of the water level decision—dry.
The official announcement of the water level decision can be found at www.overheid.nl:
Water and nature challenge in the southern Westerkwartier region
The water board is responsible for water level management in this area. A water level decision determines the desired water level for an area. A water level decision also specifies the range of the water level to be set in the event of prolonged dry or wet conditions.
We are taking this decision because of the nature and water challenges in the Zuidelijk Westerkwartier, which are being addressed in the Zuidelijk Westerkwartier area development project. This project combines challenges relating to water safety (water storage), water quality (WFD), water conservation, and the realization of the Dutch Nature Network (NNN). The Dwarsdiep has been designated as a storage area as part of the Dry Feet 2050 package of measures. To enable water storage, adjustments are needed to the layout of the area. You can read more information on our water level decisions.
About the draft water level decision
The draft water level decision was available for inspection from Tuesday, January 30, 2024, through Friday, March 15, 2024. You can still read the draft water level decision in the Water Board Journal of the Noorderzijlvest Water Board, which can be consulted via Overheid.nl. Notice of draft water level decision Dwarsdiep.
More background information
In addition, a digital, accessible explanation is available in the form of the Dwarsdiep draft water level decision story map . In a water level decision, the water board sets the water levels for a defined area, often one or more polders, and the measures associated with this. This story map is therefore not the water level decision itself. Story map Dwarsdiep draft water level decision (January 30, 2024).
Report on the open house evening - Thursday, February 29, 2024
Well-attended open house on the draft water level decision for Dwarsdiep
On Thursday, February 29, there was an open house about the published draft water level decision for Dwarsdiep at De Postwagen in Tolbert. This evening gave interested parties, residents, and other interested parties the opportunity to ask questions and obtain more information about the draft water level decision and the effects that the water level decision is expected to have. A brief summary of the evening:
From 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., visitors were able to view the maps and supporting documentation together with various specialists. Around 50 interested parties took advantage of this opportunity. Many questions concerned the boundaries of the water storage area, the locations of the new pumping stations, and water drainage in high water situations.
The discussions held here will be incorporated into the draft water level decision in the coming period. In addition, visitors asked a number of questions that require further investigation. They will receive individual answers to these questions when agreed.
Until Friday, March 15, all residents and stakeholders had the opportunity to submit their views in order to further substantiate a question, concern, or wish. The water board is now assessing each opinion individually. This will lead to a proposal for a final water level decision. The general board of the water board will probably make a decision on this in June 2024. If this changes, we will communicate this via this website.
Map of the Dwarsdiep area
Map of the Dwarsdiep area showing the areas covered by the water level decision. If for any reason you are unable to read the map, please contact the water board at info@zuidelijkwesterkwartier.nl.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact the water board at (050) 304 89 11 or info@noorderzijlvest.nl, quoting the draft water level decision for Dwarsdiep.
What do we do in the Southern Westerkwartier?
The climate is changing. This increases the risk of flooding and water shortages within Noorderzijlvest's working area. The consequences of this have been investigated in a study.
- To combat flooding by 2050, we need to take action. Some of these measures will be implemented in the Zuidelijk Westerkwartier. The water board has three key tasks in this regard:
- Keeping feet dry: this is achieved by constructing various water storage facilities.
- Improving water quality: this means working to ensure clean and healthy surface water and groundwater.
- Improved water retention: this not only helps to limit the impact of drought, but also reduces flooding during extreme rainfall.
- At the same time, the province of Groningen also has an important goal within the Zuidelijk Westerkwartier: establishing the National Nature Network (NNN).
The province and water board implement measures for nature and water together as much as possible. This prevents duplication of work and double inconvenience for the residents of the area.
Combating flooding and water shortages
To combat flooding and water shortages, we will be working on the following in the coming period:
- Designing the Dwarsdiep stream system. This involves retaining 2.7 million m3 of water in combination with a natural stream design. You can read more about the development of the Dwarsdiep further down this page.
What is already done?
- Setting up water storage and nature within "De Driepolders." In the water storage facility, we can temporarily store 1.3 millionm3of water in emergencies.
- Setting up water storage and nature within the De Dijken-Bakkerom polder. In an emergency, we can temporarily store 1.2 millionm³ of water in the water storage facility.
- Optimization of the Lettelberterberg reservoir. The water inlets and outlets of the reservoir have been replaced. The reservoir now has a more natural design. This makes the area more suitable as a habitat for fish.
- Optimizing water management in the Vredewold, Nienoord, Zuiderpolder, Fanerpolder (replacement of pumping station), Lagemeeden, and Lettelbert polders. We have adapted water management to the requirements of the National Administrative Agreement on Water (NBW).
- The regional flood barrier at Hoendiep has been reinforced. This reinforcement ensures that the polders behind it will remain dry even in extreme weather conditions in the future.
Water storage areas
We can use the water storage areas when there is exceptionally high rainfall over a period of time. The water storage areas help tokeep water levels in the reservoir within limits in the event of flooding.
- The water storage facilities 'De Drie Polders' and 'Polder de Dijken-Bakkerom' are ready for use. The change in the landscape is clearly visible.
What are we working on?
We are preparing the layout of the Dwarsdiep, completing a number of ongoing projects, and preparing for phase 2 of the Marumerlage. For example, we are working on the WFD (Water Framework Directive) measures at the A7 South and evaluating the water level decision for the Marumerlage. In the coming years, the Province of Groningen will develop the nature reserve north of Marumerlage and connect it to Marumerlage. In addition, the Dwarsdiep will be developed as a nature and water storage area. All these issues will influence the development of Marumerlage.
Development of nature reserves
The Province has designated eight nature areas for development or improvement: 't Faan, Matsloot, Pasop, the Leekstermeer area, Midwolde, Grootegastermolenpolder, A7 Zuid, Coendersborg, and Iwema Steenhuis. These areas have specific nature objectives according to the Dutch Nature Network (NNN). The development of these areas also requires water system measures, such as improving water quality and water management. We will be providing more specific details about these tasks in the near future.