WaterScape

The main goal of WaterScape is to address the challenges posed by increasing frequency and intensity of floods and droughts, rising water demand, land subsidence, and salt-water intrusion in the Netherlands. By recognizing the limitations of the current water system, WaterScape advocates for a water transition that shifts from rapidly discharging water and preventing floods, to storing water and living and farming with water to improve dealing with droughts, poor water quality and limited freshwater availability. The focus is on developing innovative storylines for waterscapes, which are climate robust and adaptive water systems at a landscape scale. WaterScape aims to treat both governance and physical design as integral components of this water transition. The project seeks to create transformation pathways for both the physical and water governance systems, based on rethinking climate impacts, desired future scenarios, and existing system functions. In collaboration with stakeholders and researchers, WaterScape will develop storylines and pathways that propose large-scale changes in land use and water management strategies. Additionally, the project will provide state-of-the-art physical water modeling tools and designs for governance arrangements to ensure the long-term embedding and coordination of climate robust water systems at a landscape scale.