Climate-robust design: toward a Weerbaar Dommelland

The VMM, the Dommel Water Board, the municipality of Eindhoven, the Museum Eindhoven foundation, the province of North Brabant, the city of Peer, the municipality of Pelt and the municipality of Valkenswaard are working together across borders in order to create a climate-robust and resilient water system in the Dommel Valley.

Climate adaptation

Drought

Flooding

Share online

What and why?

The project focuses upon restoring a robust and resilient water system in the Dommel and Warmbeek-Tongelreep river basins in Belgian and Dutch Limburg. This is necessary in order to manage the impact of climate extremes, such as peak rains and prolonged droughts. The increased vulnerability of areas to both water scarcity and flooding due to climate change and intensive land use emphasises the need for a Resilient Dommelland.

The project aligns with regional water and soil programmes and contributes to a cross-border approach to water resources management.

Objective

Creation of a climate-robust landscape capable of both ensuring water availability and increasing protection against flooding. That includes making adaptations and system changes across the landscape in order to support a sustainable and connected water system.

Role of the VMM

The VMM plays a crucial role as the water authority responsible for implementing measures upon the watercourses.

Specifically, the VMM is restoring the river valley of the Dommel on the border of Pelt, Hechtel-Eksel and Peer by reconnecting meanders and raising the river bed. As a result, we keep water in the valley for a longer time and restore the peat there. We also increase the buffer capacity of (or: optimise) the controlled flood plain (GOG) in Pelt. For example, we are putting a maximum effort into water storage in order to reduce flood risks. The projects of the VMM in this Interreg Vlaned project implement some of the actions in the Dommel River contract.

More information on the project

Partners

The partners active in the project represent a mix of the different levels of government and authority.

• Belgium
• Flanders Environment Agency (coordinator)
• the municipality of Pelt
• the city of Peer
• The Netherlands
• the municipality of Eindhoven
• the municipality of Valkenswaard
• the province of North Brabant
• the Dommel Water Board
• Foundation Eindhoven Museum

Related projects

ClimASed works on a climate-proof sediment approach in watercourses

Watercourses are of strategic importance, but are increasingly affected by erosion and excess sediment as a result of climate change. This has adverse effects on water quality and storage capacity. With ClimASed, we are looking for climate-resilient solutions for sediment management in our river basins.

Climate adaptation

Wetlands as a natural climate buffer

In the LIFE project Wetlands4Cities, the VMM is working with six project partners to restore and strengthen wetlands as natural climate buffers.

Climate adaptation

Drought

Flooding

Clean water for the Dijle and the Senne thanks to Belini

The water quality of our watercourses has improved significantly in recent years. However, further efforts remain necessary. That is why the VMM participates in the European LIFE Belini project to improve the water quality in the Senne, Dijle and Demer basin.

Dijle, Demer en Zenne