Room for Rivers: policy development

Client:	Ministry of Transport Public Works and Watermanagement, the Netherlands

assignment/short description

In the 1990s Deltares explored in a strategic research project, whether and how the Netherlands could accommodate a 30% increase in flood discharges in the Rhine River (The Rhine on the Long-term). We concluded that rivers would need more room and that careful planning can avoid losing land to the river by combining the discharge function with flood proof land-use functions.
Deltares then quantified that the loss of floodplain surface area since 1850 amounts to some 65% and that urban development has created several bottlenecks in the floodplain. Giving more room to rivers would substantially lower flood levels and sustain a more attractive environment, both urban and natural. This greatly influenced public and political opinions. Room for rivers is now the guiding principle for climate change adaptation along our major rivers.