Resilient Water Systems and Communities: Lessons from the Grensmaas Project

The Grensmaas, a gravel river that winds 50 kilometers through Limburg, has a long history of high water levels and flooding. Following devastating floods in the 1990s, the Grensmaas project was launched: a collaboration between governments, nature organizations, and dredging companies, aimed at improving flood safety and restoring the river’s natural dynamics. “This project demonstrates how nature-based solutions (NBS) can achieve multiple goals,” explains Andries Richter, Associate Professor at Wageningen University & Research’s Environmental Economics and Natural Resources Group. “It reduces flood risks, strengthens ecosystems, and delivers surprising economic benefits that weren’t initially foreseen.”

A landscape that gains value

So what are these benefits? Over the past four years, Richter and his colleagues investigated the impacts. “The redesign of the Grensmaas area was hugely successful: it kept the water at bay while also giving the landscape and local economy a significant boost,” says Richter. By restoring the river’s natural flow, the project created a thriving ecosystem of grasslands, wild horses, and cattle. This not only improved biodiversity but also made the region more attractive for tourism and recreation. “Our research shows that housing prices in the area have risen significantly,” Richter adds. “The appeal of a safe and natural environment has played a major role in this.”

This economic boost was largely the result of the project’s smart financial setup. Dredging companies, who previously didn’t always have the best reputation among local residents, were given the opportunity to take on a positive role. They combined commercial activities, such as gravel extraction, with nature restoration and flood safety measures. “The financial returns from gravel dredging were partially reinvested in the project,” Richter explains. “This allowed the initiative to be largely funded without requiring additional taxpayer money. It’s a great example of how public and private interests can come together to achieve a shared goal.”

What does climate adaptation mean for citizens?

Climate adaptation is not solely the responsibility of public parties. The Grensmaas project examined the involvement of the local community. From an early stage, residents were included in the plans, and sounding boards were established in almost every municipality to think along about local implementation. Despite this transparent approach, research, conducted not only in the Grensmaas area but also in other parts of Limburg among households, surprisingly reveals that many residents are barely aware of the flood risks and their own role in taking measures. “Many people simply do not know what they can do to prepare for a new flood,” explains Sofia Badini, a PhD candidate in Richter's research group. “Practical measures, such as tiling the ground floor, often go unused because there are no clear guidelines on what is expected from citizens themselves.”

Lack of clarity about responsibility

Badini’s research also revealed a striking mismatch between perception and reality. She sent original postcards featuring a QR code to specific addresses in Limburg – including areas outside the Grensmaas region – which led to an online survey. This survey not only posed questions but also provided residents with information about their flood risks, based on publicly accessible but seldom consulted flood risk maps. “People often reacted with shock and even outrage at the risks they face,” she says. “In some cases, they felt abandoned by the government, especially due to the uncertainty over who is actually responsible for climate adaptation.”

According to Badini, direct and clear communication between governments and citizens is crucial to restoring the waning trust that has been under strain across the Netherlands in recent years. “Citizens need clarity about their situation and what they can contribute. The Grensmaas project focused heavily on communication about the project and its positive impacts. However, there has been insufficient education on what adaptation means personally for you as a citizen, this is true for the Grensmaas area but certainly also elsewhere in the Netherlands. The government may need to communicate differently or with different content.”

Successes and challenges of Nature-Based Solutions

The Grensmaas project is widely regarded as a successful example of nature-based solutions. However, alongside the challenges of raising awareness and improving communication, there are difficulties in measuring long-term effectiveness. “Ecosystems take time to recover,” Richter explains. “It’s challenging to immediately assess the social, economic, and ecological benefits and challenges of a project like this.” He emphasizes the need for better monitoring frameworks that can effectively evaluate the impact of such interventions. These frameworks also need to be flexible, as unexpected climate extremes—like droughts—have already impacted the Grensmaas region. “Climate change and land management processes are happening so quickly that it’s sometimes hard to distinguish cause and effect.”

Badini also highlights the importance of establishing broader frameworks for responsibility. “Who will pay for what in the future?” she rightly asks. “And how do we ensure that governments, insurers, and citizens understand and fulfill their roles?”

Lessons for the future

The success of the Grensmaas project offers valuable lessons for future water management initiatives. It underscores the importance of an integrated approach that aligns safety, nature, and economic development. Equally important is the role of clear communication and community involvement in building public support and trust. “We need to look beyond technical and ecological solutions,” Richter emphasizes. “It’s also about the human side of climate adaptation: perceptions, clear communication, and practical guidance.”

With emerging challenges, such as unexpected summer floods caused by heavy rainfall, the need for innovative, nature-inclusive solutions is greater than ever. “The Grensmaas project proves that with smart collaboration and a balanced focus on both people and nature, we can create resilient water systems,” Richter concludes. “This isn’t just an investment for today but a commitment to a safer, more sustainable future for us all.”