Start procedure for expansion of De Onlanden balancing lake
Our water authority will expand De Onlanden balancing lake. The aim is to prevent flooding in the region as much as possible. This is necessary because heavy rainfall is becoming increasingly common.
To make this feasible from a spatial planning perspective, we have asked the Province of Drenthe to initiate a project procedure and an environmental impact assessment procedure. Provincial Executive to this today and Provincial Executive initiate a project decision under the new Environment and Planning Act. We have opted for this procedure because De Onlanden councils multiple councils , and also because the final decision-making process is expected Environment and Planning Act under the new Environment and Planning Act .
Information Sessions
We are closely involving the local community in our plan to expand De Onlanden balancing lake.
- There will be an online meeting on March 22.
- And on March 29, April 5, and April 7, there will be informational meetings in Eelderwolde, Roderwolde, and Peize.
Here, we will discuss the plans and potential measures. We will also explain the procedure so that everyone knows what will happen and when they can provide feedback. In addition, we will engage in dialogue with various interest groups in the area.
Provide feedback on the plan
From Friday, March 11, through May 5, the “Explanatory Notes on the Project Decision and Environmental Impact Assessment” will be available for public review. During this period, anyone who wishes to do so may submit comments. Comments should be sent to Provincial Executive the Province of Drenthe.
The “Explanatory Notes on the Project Decision and Environmental Impact Report” are available at officielebekendmakingen.nl.
Why do we need to expand the balancing lake?
De Onlanden is a nature reserve that also collects water during heavy rainfall. The past few weeks are a good example. There was a lot of rain during that period. The water from the Kop van Drenthe then flows to De Onlanden, because this area is lower. As a result, many places in De Onlanden were flooded.
Climate scenarios predict increasingly frequent heavy and prolonged rainfall. That is why more space for water is needed. De Onlanden can now collect 7.5 million cubic metres of water. The plans for expanding the balancing lake allow for another 5.2 million cubic metres of water. This will allow more water to be collected temporarily (for a number of days) in extreme situations before it is discharged into the sea. In addition, the most vulnerable areas will be the last to collect extra water. The area must be ready to store extra water by 2025.
Stakeholders
The project initiator, Noorderzijlvest Water Authority the competent authority, the Province of Drenthe, are collaborating with the Province of Groningen and the councils and Noordenveld on the realisation balancing lake additional balancing lake De Onlanden. site managers fromStaatsbosbeheer (Dutch Forestry Commission), Natuurmonumenten (Dutch Society for Nature Conservation) Stichting Het Drentse Landschap are also involved in the discussions. Last fall, the boards of these parties decided to further develop plans realisation the balancing lake the boundaries of De Onlanden, with a focus on protecting the vulnerable natural environment. This decision was made after it became clear that alternatives outside the boundaries of De Onlanden were not feasible in the short term. The parties involved will also continue their dialogue regarding the longer term. A vision for the future of the water system outside De Onlanden will be developed, incorporating other themes such as agricultural transition and nature conservation goals.