Poster assignment for the course Water 1 (HWM-10303) of Wageningen University
Measures against severe precipitation deficits on the Veluwe
Research question The consequences of water shortage will be most
What measures can be taken to mitigate severe noticeable in the low-lying seepage areas, because no
precipitation deficits on the Veluwe? more groundwater will seep up there[3]. This will cause
economic setbacks, as the agricultural sector is mainly
Study area located in the lower parts of the Veluwe.
The Veluwe is situated in the middle of The Netherlands.
It is enclosed by the river Rhine and IJssel. The Veluwe Surface water will be affected by climate change by
is mainly managed by the water board Vallei and Veluwe salinization and eutrophication[6]. In the Veluwe there
and has a total area of 245,644 hectares [1]. It is the are multiple water abstraction areas for drinking water
largest interconnected nature reserve of Europe. In the [1]
, so it is important to maintain high quality waters.
Veluwe there is a high concentration of agricultural
activity, that demands a high supply of water [2]. In the
lower-lying flanks of the Veluwe, seepage mainly
occurs, while infiltration takes place in the higher-lying
parts[3].
Illustration 1: The dried-up Leuvenumse Beek. This
could be a more common sight in the future [7].
There are multiple measures that can be taken to
reduce precipitation deficits. For example, it is possible
to replace coniferous forests by deciduous forests or
heathlands[3], which will result in a decrease of
desiccation. Also, it is possible to plant deciduous forest,
as long as this is not at the expense of landscape
variation[2].
Figure 1: Land-use map of the Veluwe and surface
waters[4]. For a robust ecosystem, it is of importance that different
ecosystems are interconnected[6]. This way there is a
Results larger biodiversity with more natural processes. A robust
Climate change has dramatic changes on precipitation ecosystem is more resistant to climate change.
patterns[5]. There will be an increase in high-intensity
rainfall events. On the other hand, there will be longer These actions will not be taken by authorities on their
periods without (or limited) amount of precipitation. A own. Therefore, it is essential that new laws are made
change in weather patterns will affect biodiversity to realise these goals.
negatively, if no measures are taken [6].
Conclusion
The Veluwe is home to 1.1 million people[1] who depend
on clean drinking water that is pumped up there. The
effects of climate change could jeopardise this. When no
measure are taken, the Veluwe will become prone to
desiccation, which will result in a loss of biodiversity and
economic setbacks. Measures as reforestation, replacing
coniferous forests by deciduous forests or heathlands
and creating policies to achieve these goals can
contribute to the preservation of the Veluwe.
References
[1]
Ons gebied: feiten en cijfers. (n.d.). Waterschap Vallei en Veluwe.
Retrieved 30 November 2021, from
https://www.vallei-veluwe.nl/over-ons/onze-organisatie/gebied-
feiten/
[2]
Provincie Gelderland. (2009, June). Natura 2000 Beheerplan
Veluwe (werkversie).
https://kennisplatformbewoners.nl/fileskpb/juni09%20hoofdrapport
beheerplanveluweversie17juni09.pdf
[3]
Dortmont, T. A. (2019). De institutionele weg naar een robuust
watersysteem in de omgeving van de Veluwe (Doctoral
dissertation).
Figure 2: Status of surface waters in summer 2018 [3]
.
Measures against severe precipitation deficits on the Veluwe
Research question The consequences of water shortage will be most
What measures can be taken to mitigate severe noticeable in the low-lying seepage areas, because no
precipitation deficits on the Veluwe? more groundwater will seep up there[3]. This will cause
economic setbacks, as the agricultural sector is mainly
Study area located in the lower parts of the Veluwe.
The Veluwe is situated in the middle of The Netherlands.
It is enclosed by the river Rhine and IJssel. The Veluwe Surface water will be affected by climate change by
is mainly managed by the water board Vallei and Veluwe salinization and eutrophication[6]. In the Veluwe there
and has a total area of 245,644 hectares [1]. It is the are multiple water abstraction areas for drinking water
largest interconnected nature reserve of Europe. In the [1]
, so it is important to maintain high quality waters.
Veluwe there is a high concentration of agricultural
activity, that demands a high supply of water [2]. In the
lower-lying flanks of the Veluwe, seepage mainly
occurs, while infiltration takes place in the higher-lying
parts[3].
Illustration 1: The dried-up Leuvenumse Beek. This
could be a more common sight in the future [7].
There are multiple measures that can be taken to
reduce precipitation deficits. For example, it is possible
to replace coniferous forests by deciduous forests or
heathlands[3], which will result in a decrease of
desiccation. Also, it is possible to plant deciduous forest,
as long as this is not at the expense of landscape
variation[2].
Figure 1: Land-use map of the Veluwe and surface
waters[4]. For a robust ecosystem, it is of importance that different
ecosystems are interconnected[6]. This way there is a
Results larger biodiversity with more natural processes. A robust
Climate change has dramatic changes on precipitation ecosystem is more resistant to climate change.
patterns[5]. There will be an increase in high-intensity
rainfall events. On the other hand, there will be longer These actions will not be taken by authorities on their
periods without (or limited) amount of precipitation. A own. Therefore, it is essential that new laws are made
change in weather patterns will affect biodiversity to realise these goals.
negatively, if no measures are taken [6].
Conclusion
The Veluwe is home to 1.1 million people[1] who depend
on clean drinking water that is pumped up there. The
effects of climate change could jeopardise this. When no
measure are taken, the Veluwe will become prone to
desiccation, which will result in a loss of biodiversity and
economic setbacks. Measures as reforestation, replacing
coniferous forests by deciduous forests or heathlands
and creating policies to achieve these goals can
contribute to the preservation of the Veluwe.
References
[1]
Ons gebied: feiten en cijfers. (n.d.). Waterschap Vallei en Veluwe.
Retrieved 30 November 2021, from
https://www.vallei-veluwe.nl/over-ons/onze-organisatie/gebied-
feiten/
[2]
Provincie Gelderland. (2009, June). Natura 2000 Beheerplan
Veluwe (werkversie).
https://kennisplatformbewoners.nl/fileskpb/juni09%20hoofdrapport
beheerplanveluweversie17juni09.pdf
[3]
Dortmont, T. A. (2019). De institutionele weg naar een robuust
watersysteem in de omgeving van de Veluwe (Doctoral
dissertation).
Figure 2: Status of surface waters in summer 2018 [3]
.
