Dutch Minister Schultz van Haegen (Infrastructure & the Environment) and US Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan have signed an agreement pledging closer cooperation between their two countries on issues related to disaster mitigation, sustainable and integrated planning, and water management infrastructure.
Donovan, who also chairs President Obama’s Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, recently visited the Netherlands to see first-hand how that country deals with the persistent threat of North Sea and river flooding in large low-lying developed areas.
Benefit from Experience
'Our two nations have much to learn from each other about finding innovative solutions to age-old shared problems,' said Donovan. 'The Dutch are no strangers to the forces of nature and I am certain we can benefit from their experience in disaster mitigation, infrastructure management and a variety of approaches to sustainable area development and planning.'
New York and the Netherlands Have a Lot in Common
'Although the scale of our landscapes differs, New York and the Netherlands have a lot in common,' said Minister Schultz. 'Both areas are river deltas. Both areas have estuaries, rivers and water basins that are vulnerable to flooding. The Netherlands has a long history in water management, but I am not coming only to bring Dutch expertise. I am also going to learn from the American approach.'
Controlling Flooding
Over the generations, Dutch planners created a vast network of dams, floodgates, storm surge barriers and other engineered works to control North Sea storm surge and flooding from the confluence of three major rivers. In recent years, Dutch engineers have also adopted hazard mitigation strategies that allow for controlled flooding in formerly developed areas.
The Memorandum of Understanding lays out certain areas of cooperation for the next five years including:
- Creating new community development strategies that focus on sustainability and liveability.
- Pursuing infrastructure and water management strategies and climate resilience and preparedness, including new approaches to flood protection systems and "building with nature".
- Leveraging private and philanthropic investments to maximise public investments in urban development and long-term disaster mitigation.
Picture: The Dutch are famous for their water management with dykes, dams, floodgates, etc.
