Landschapsecologische Systeemanalyse (LESA) Stroomgebied Boven Slinge en bovenlopen Keizersbeek

-Regional Water Authority Rijn en IJssel and Province of Gelderland aim for high-quality nature in and along the Winterswijkse beken (Brooks). Goals have been established in the Water Framework Directive and Natura 2000. Despite measures taken already, issues remain, including disturbed water discharge dynamics, limited water quality, and drought. Without measures, these issues can deteriorate substantially in the future. Therefore, the key challenge is to create a more robust, damped system, that is less susceptible to weather extremes. Such system should provide a les temporally variable discharge and sufficient groundwater for nature, agriculture, and other water uses. With the Landscape-ecological system analysis (LES) presented in this report, we have investigated how a more robust water system could be achieved, while taking expensive technical solutions as little as possible, while using the natural properties and processes of the system. The results showed that large-scale, and longlasting measures in both the water system and land use are needed. Most importantly, water needs to be retained more in the upstream source areas. Moreover, groundwater levels need to be elevated. One measure to achieve this is to remove drainage systems. To reduce nutrient and pollutant flux to the brooks and to limit surface water temperature increase, measures are needed too. The outcomes of this research can be used as a building block in integrated stakeholder processes.