HOWABO : réservoir multi-usage

HOWABO (Hoog Water 's-Hertogenbosch)

1. production of a plan

“Doing nothing is no option. We are increasing flexibility and robustness by allocating more space for water: digging ditches in the floodplains, constructing bypasses, designating new overflow areas.” Mark Dierikx

Director-General for Water Affairs - Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management.

Howabo is a water storage measure to compensate side-effects due to an acceleration of the flood wave at the Grensmaas. The Grensmaas between Belgium and the Netherlands will be deeper, resulting in the accelerated flood wave of the Meuse. Downstream, in the neighbourhood of ‘s-Hertogenbosh, the water discharge of the rivers Aa and Dommel will be disabled. The Howabo sub-project will compensate these side-effects. It will achieve greater water storage capacity, combined with nature development and recreation.

The design will be discussed with stakeholders (inhabitants of ‘s-Hertogenbosch & Heusden, farmers of the region, the nature conservation society and recreational organisations).

Together with the Partners, the international benefits of the measure will be defined and described. The process will contribute to cooperation between catchment basin operators of the river Meuse and to operational water management with transnational advantages. Several meetings with the above mentioned operators and Partners are foreseen all along the 4 years.

2. realisation of more space for water

West of 's-Hertogenbosch, there are two open green areas that can be used for water retention. The Vughtse Gement lies at the southwest of 's-Hertogenbosch and can let water in from the Drongelens Canal.

Northwest of 's-Hertogenbosch are the Engelermeer and some old meanders of the Meuse. Water can be brought from an outlet on the Meuse. There is currently a pumping station (Groenendaal) on the dike of the Meuse to maintain the water level in the polder. The area is part of the ecological main structure.

Investigation has shown that a wet ecological connection zone will add much value to the area and give a quality impulse that will strengthen all current and planned measures. This approach offer opportunities for ecology, recreation, transport and water storage, building a robust system around 's-Hertogenbosch for the longer term (2050).

A sustainable solution is provided by natural spaces. In the long-term, the sub-project will form part of the international ecological connection zone between the river Meuse and the Beerze–Dommel systems.

The global Howabo sub-project costs 19 million Euros and match-funding has been found for the main part. However, the transnational consultation and designing, the additional calculations to take account of upstream works and climate change, and the additional construction works related, belong fully and exist only with the AMICE project.