Water board no longer makes mowing paths available

Conclusion after evaluation

The executive committee of the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority came to this conclusion after evaluating the pilot project that started last year. The rules enforced by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) have since been tightened. This means that individual user agreements are now required. This takes a lot of time and capacity and does not sufficiently outweigh the benefits for the water authority. 

Intended win-win situation

The main advantage for the water board was that it could use farmers' land (with their permission) to maintain the waterways. This would allow the use of wider (and safer) equipment. The pilot showed that only a few farmers gave permission for this and that the added value for the water board was therefore too limited. Farmers who made use of the scheme were allowed to register the water board's mowing paths as landscape elements in order to be eligible for subsidies for sustainable and future-proof agriculture provided by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). 

Consequences of the new situation

At the start of the pilot in March 2023, a verbal agreement was still sufficient according to the RVO. With the tightening of the rules, agreements must be made with each individual farmer about a consideration for the use of the mowing paths. This must be a demonstrable consideration that exceeds the legal requirements. In addition, it is necessary to assess whether the use of the mowing paths constitutes state aid.
Making, reporting, enforcing, evaluating, and developing all these individual agreements requires too much time and capacity.

Possible continuation

However, the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority will work with the sector to investigate possible options for 2025 and beyond within the current regulations.