Mowing

Throughout its management area - from the North Sea Canal to Texel - the high water board maintains the dikes, own land and watercourses, from ditch to ring canal. Mowing dikes and watercourses is necessary for safety and for water supply and drainage.

Mowing the vegetation on dikes keeps them sturdy and allows us to inspect them for damage. In ditches and canals we mow away excess aquatic plants for water supply and especially drainage. During the work we always take into account the habitat of animals and plants. Depending on the location, we mow later in the season or less frequently. Where possible, we leave vegetation in place to improve biodiversity.

Careful mowing

Mowing, in the water or on land, gives space to 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 and according to the Code of Conduct. These are general agreements about our working methods, drawn up with all the water boards through the Union of Water Boards, so that it is not necessary to apply for a permit for every dike or ditch we want to mow. The "Code of Conduct for Appropriate Management and Maintenance" sets out the rules we must follow. In this way we save nests of breeding birds, insects, plants and fish in the water and keep their habitat intact. 

  • Mowing watercourses

    To avoid flooding and water shortage (during droughts), we mow aquatic plants and reeds from our 6,000 kilometers of ditches.

  • Mowing dikes

    Almost everywhere we mow twice a year. In June/July we leave half the vegetation, in September/October we mow everything.

  • Mowing road verges

    From May through September, we mow the roadsides along our roads in three rounds of mowing.

  • Code of conduct mowing

    The new Code of Conduct on Appropriate Management and Maintenance for Water Boards provides better protection for wildlife in and around water and land.