This National Programme concerns the further development and maintenance of safe and sustainable delta works. The Programme contains three Plans: the Delta Plan on Flood Risk Management; Delta Plan on Freshwater Supply; Delta Plan on Spatial Adaptation. The First Plan outlines measures to protect the Netherlands from flooding. The second Plan contains measures to ensure the availability of freshwater in the Netherlands. The third Plan concerns measures to render the Netherlands climate-proof and water-resilient. It comprises a strategy and measures for climate-proofing and improving the water resilience of the Netherlands, thus enabling the country to cope with extreme weather conditions. The Delta Plans contain detailed schedules of measures and provisions for the first six years and indicative schedules for the subsequent twelve years, looking ahead to 2050 (in accordance with Article 4.9, paragraph 5 of the Water Act). It features a systematic approach with a view to developing climate-proofing measures at the local and regional levels. Due attention is given in the Programme to cyber-security for waterworks, participation, international efforts and environmental sustainability.
Since the commencement of the Delta Programme, district water boards, municipalities, provinces, and the central government have worked together in an innovative manner, with input from knowledge institutes, NGOs, the business community, and residents. The Delta Programme provides a new way of insight into the progress made. The Monitoring, Analysing, Acting system, the engine of adaptive delta management, generates administratively relevant information on the progress of the Delta Programme. By addressing four key questions, a consistent picture is painted of the state of affairs and the need, if any, for strategy adjustments. The four key issues are 1. On schedule: implementing the measures within the time frame and budget agreed upon. The central point of focus here is the progress made on implementation (output). 2. assessing if the Netherlands on track or do external developments constitute a reason for reconsideration of goals or measures. The central point of focus here is the attainment of the goals (outcome). 3. Integrated approach: are we addressing the taskings in an integrated manner? 4. Participation: this addresses the issue of governments, businesses, NGO s, and residents being involved on a wide scale, where such is called for.
The Delta Plan on Flood Risk Management comprises all the Delta Programme studies, measures and provisions, scheduled or to be scheduled, pertaining to flood risk management. The measures are funded from the Delta Fund, and, in some cases, from the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment budget. Where appropriate, the Delta Plan on Flood Risk Management also features regional measures not subsidised by the central government. The Delta Plan on Freshwater Supply comprises all the measures, studies, and knowledge issues scheduled and envisaged which pertain to a sustainable freshwater supply and which are in whole or in part funded from the Delta Fund. The Delta Plan on Spatial Adaptation principally concerns measures for climate-change adaptation. The goal of this Delta Plan is to expedite and intensify adaptation efforts in order to ensure that the Netherlands will be water-resilient and climate-proof by 2050. One of the principal issues is waterlogging. Waterlogging is the rise of the water table into the root zone of the soil profile, such that plant growth is adversely affected by deficiency of oxygen. This Plan also deals with, among other things, urban flooding, problems arising from heat-stress, and drought. One important aspect is the collaboration of authorities at the local level. The Programme concludes with the outlining of specific measures of implementation.