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Peter Wijsman Urban Water Institute – August 23, 2012. Delta Dialogues Balancing economy and ecology. Delta Dialogues Basics of Water Management in the Netherlands Striking a balance. California or the Netherlands? . Delta Dialogues. Land up to 20-30 feet below sea level
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Peter Wijsman Urban Water Institute – August 23, 2012 Delta DialoguesBalancing economy and ecology
Delta Dialogues • Basics of Water Management in the Netherlands • Striking a balance
California or the Netherlands? Delta Dialogues • Land up to 20-30 feet below sea level • Protected by earthen levees • Peat soils • Flooding • Salt Water Intrusion
Shanghai Rotterdam • New Orleans Source: Rode Delta’s Majority of world population will live inDelta and Coastal Cities New York Jakarta
Netherlands = Low Lands • 17 million inhabitants • 1/10 the size of California • $770 billion GDP • 3rd Largest foreign investor in the US • 30 percent below sea level (up to 20 ft) • 60 percent of the country prone to flooding • Disastrous 1953 flood
Long-term Sea Level: Ice Sheets Volume: 2.8x1015 m3= 7 meters of sea level Ice sheet response time “is ofthe order of centuries, not millennia”. Hansen (2005)
Finding a balance Delta Stewardship Council in California Delta Committee in the Netherlands
Delta DialoguesWhy the California is not the Netherlands California Netherlands Flooding North Sea Storm Up to 10,000 yr protection 7,000,000 people below sea level Drain for 5 countries • Water supply • Earthquake • 100 yr protection • 100,000 people below sea level • One state
Questions? 415.244.2118 Peter. Wijsman@arcadis-us.com Photo: Ingrid Taylor