Fresh and salt water
How can we achieve a better transition from fresh to salt water in the northern part of the lake? While the southern part remains fresh for agriculture.
Former Lauwers Sea
The Lauwersmeer now has fresh water. But it was once the Lauwerszee, where fresh and salt water flowed into each other. At the end of the 1960s, the Lauwersmeer was closed off from the Wadden Sea to prevent flooding. Since then, the water has been fresh, thanks to the supply from rivers in Friesland, Groningen, and Drenthe. We now keep the water from the sea out with a dike and locks.
Nature interests
It is better for nature if there is a more natural transition zone between fresh and salt water in Lauwersmeer and the Wadden Sea. This creates more variety in environments (salt, brackish, and fresh), which increases the biodiversity of fish, underwater animals, birds, and plants.
Focusing on nature and water quality
The basis for nature restoration in the Lauwersmeer area and the Wadden Sea is the Natura 2000 status and the European Water Framework Directive. The Lauwersmeer area, covering almost 6,000 hectares, was designated as a Bird Directive area within Natura 2000 in 2003. The area is important for the objectives of the Wadden Sea (birds and fish) and the connection with other Natura 2000 areas (otters and fish).
According to the Water Framework Directive, all water in the Netherlands must be a good habitat for native plants and animals by 2027. That is why we want to ensure that migratory fish can once again reach the places they naturally want to migrate to. Lauwersmeer is an important link for fish migration between the sea and the streams of Groningen, Drenthe, and Friesland.
Future for agriculture
In addition, it is important that space remains available for farmers in the Lauwersmeer area. They depend on the supply of fresh water, for example for their livestock and for growing seed potatoes. Farmland is mainly located in the southern part of the Lauwersmeer area.
Space for sweet and savory
The Future Agenda Lauwersmeer.pdf therefore states that the northern part of the lake will become brackish, so that we can restore the original nature there, while the southern part will remain fresh for agriculture.