Flood control systems in the Netherlands are built to withstand storms of a severity seen once in 10,000 years, in the US the levees are built to stand up to storms of a severity anticipated once in a century. (via)
As storm season comes around in the USA Mary Landrieu a Senator from New Orleans wants the USA to move over to a sytem like in the Netherlands of managing water instead of just building levees. It’s really most about a change in mindset, from merely opposing nature to trying to manage it and cope with it where possible. Where all urban design incorporates water management into its basic structure. Louisiana, Florida and Georgia could all benefit from such a change. But I won’t be holding my breath.
update: mammoth took this post and wrote an excellent article about the Dutch water management system, bulwarks and flux.
USA Flood control system Should Go Dutch
As storm season comes around in the USA Mary Landrieu a Senator from New Orleans wants the USA to move over to a sytem like in the Netherlands of managing water instead of just building levees. It’s really most about a change in mindset, from merely opposing nature to trying to manage it and cope with it where possible. Where all urban design incorporates water management into its basic structure. Louisiana, Florida and Georgia could all benefit from such a change. But I won’t be holding my breath.
update: mammoth took this post and wrote an excellent article about the Dutch water management system, bulwarks and flux.