High tide in the Netherlands (Gelderland)

Integrated River Management (IRM)

Speaker: Ir Wiebe de Jong, Leading professional Integrated River management / Senior River engineer / TM River restoration at Royal HaskoningDHV

Wiebe de Jong's presentation can be found below

As a delta country, the Netherlands is vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Climate change is causing more extreme peak discharges, longer periods of low water and rising sea levels. These changes call for a future-proof design of the river system. This gives rise to questions such as; How do we keep the Netherlands safe from high water? How do we keep the rivers navigable at low water and ensure sufficient freshwater availability?

In order to steer the organisation of the Dutch river system, the government launched the Integral River Management (IRM) Programme. The IRM programme focuses on tasks and opportunities in the river area in the period up to 2050, with a look ahead to 2100. New water safety standards, low-water problems, facilitating shipping, sustainable freshwater supply and good ecological water quality and nature - also during prolonged periods of drought - are tasks that can interact both positively and negatively.

A vision for the river area includes an integrated analysis of the river system and focuses on the discharge capacity and the river bottom. The aim is to arrive at a future-proof river system that has multiple uses and functions well as a system. It builds on current policies and developments within the various policy areas. Autonomous developments, such as climate developments and soil erosion, are also taken into account.

During this evening, we will explain the challenges facing the Dutch river system, explain what the IRM programme stands for and delve into possible solutions. We are eager to hear your views on the future-proof design of the Dutch river area and to discuss these with each other.

Presentation Wiebe de Jong