Mowing
The water board maintains the dikes, its own land, and waterways, from ditches to ring canals, throughout its entire management area—from the North Sea Canal to Texel. Mowing dikes and waterways is necessary for safety and for water supply and drainage.
By mowing the vegetation on dikes, they remain sturdy and we can inspect them for damage. In ditches and canals, we mow away excess aquatic plants to ensure water supply and, above all, drainage. During the work, we always take the habitat of animals and plants into account. Depending on the location, we therefore mow later in the season or less frequently. Where possible, we leave vegetation in place to improve biodiversity.
More information about the opportunities and guidelines for leaving more vegetation in ditches can be found on the page Smart mowing for good water management.
Careful mowing
Mowing, whether in the water or on land, makes room for new life but can also harm life. That is why we mow according to fixed agreements made with the national government, in accordance with the Omgevingswet the code of conduct. These are general agreements about our working methods, drawn up with all water boards via the Union of Water Boards, which means that it is not necessary to licence a licence for every dike or ditch we want to mow. The 'Code of Conduct for Sustainable Management and Maintenance' sets out the rules we must adhere to. In this way, we spare the nests of breeding birds, insects, plants, and fish in the water and keep their habitat intact.
