Waterschap Brabantse Delta is redesigning the Heiloop stream (t Loopke) in Ossendrecht. This stream is part of the Natura 2000 Brabantse Wal area, which suffers from drying out. By taking measures to retain water longer in the area, the water board is combating the drying. Province of North Brabant provides financial resources from the National Nature Program phase 1 for the implementation.
Drying of Natura 2000 Area
The Natura 2000 Brabantse Wal area in West Brabant is characterized by a great variety of landscapes. This special nature has become vulnerable due to drying, acidification, and eutrophication. Drying mainly occurs due to increasingly long periods of drought and the too rapid discharge of groundwater and rainwater.
Deputy Hagar Roijackers (Nature, Environment and Rural Area Approach): “The habitat of protected plants and animals is deteriorating, which also reduces biodiversity (The variety of life in a particular area) and further locks Brabant for social developments. Therefore, measures against drying are necessary, and we are now taking them.”
Measures
The measures against drying aim to retain water as long as possible. For this, the water management in the area must be overhauled. The Heiloop stream near Ossendrecht is therefore being redesigned. The current course of the stream causes water to flow away too quickly.
Waterschap Brabantse Delta collaborates with the drinking water company Evides, the municipality of Woensdrecht, and Natuurmonumenten on the redesign of the stream. The measures include:
- Installing new weirs to better regulate water discharge.
- Placing dead wood in the stream at some locations for more variation in the soil and flow.
- Making the stream shallower to raise the groundwater level.
- Filling ditches that drain water too quickly.
With these measures, we work together on a strong water system for a healthy Brabant nature.
Read more about this project on the website of Waterschap Brabantse Delta (links to another website)
Green-Blue Area Approach
This project is part of the green-blue area approach (GGA). Daily board Waterschap Brabantse Delta, Angelien Hagenaars: “With this approach, we work together on a vital Brabant countryside. We look for smart combinations of solutions for stronger nature, sufficient and clean water, good soil, and future prospects for agriculture. So that our rural area remains a healthy and safe place to live, work, and reside in the future.”