Strategic Water Plan for the Dender Valley

The Challenge

The Dender basin’s distinct geomorphological and hydromorphological features make it highly susceptible to both flooding and drought. Recurrent flood events—in 2003, 2012, and 2024—have severely impacted communities, while droughts in 2018 and 2019 exposed critically low water levels. Climate change and urbanization are intensifying these risks, threatening village centers such as Geraardsbergen, Ninove, and Denderleeuw-Liedekerke, along with residential zones across the valley. Under a high climate scenario for 2050, around 750 buildings are projected to be at risk of T100-level flooding. The urgent challenge is to develop an integrated, forward-looking vision and action-oriented program to reshape the valley into a climate-resilient and sustainable landscape.

The Solution

Tractebel’s Strategic Water Plan for the Dender Valley combines a long-term development vision with a phased, actionable area program. The plan focuses on three core strategies: safeguarding future-proof locations, maintaining flood retention zones, and restoring the valley’s natural hydrodynamics. Seven key projects target the most vulnerable areas, delivering flood mitigation alongside spatial, ecological, and social benefits. Innovative solutions—such as raised quays, ecohydrological meadow designs, and downstream flow improvements—enhance both resilience and public space quality. Redesigned roads and bridges reconnect urban centers with their riverside environments, while multifunctional measures ensure that flood protection also drives broader regional transformation.

The Impact

The Strategic Water Plan will significantly strengthen the Dender Valley’s resilience to climate change, transforming it into a safer, more attractive, and future-proof region. By addressing both immediate risks and long-term challenges, the plan fosters a deeper connection between urban life and natural systems. It promotes sustainable development, enhances biodiversity, and improves quality of life for residents. As a guiding framework, it supports dialogue, planning, and decision-making across local and supra-local levels, positioning the Dender Valley as a model for integrated climate adaptation and spatial transformation.