Persistent dry weather has forced Waterschap Amstel, Gooi en Vecht to introduce fresh water-management emergency measures to safeguard local nature areas.
The regional authority is testing three temporary emergency pumps near the Steenen Beer by Muiderslot. The equipment draws water from the IJmeer and routes it through the Vecht river toward vulnerable nature reserves, including the Naardermeer.
Rerouting water and closing locks
A similar temporary pumping station was deployed at Muiden in 2022. Officials are currently building a permanent pumping installation at the site to prepare for increasingly frequent dry spells.
To support the operation, the water board is closing the lock in the center of Weesp on the Vecht side. The measure blocks passage between the Vecht and the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal via the Smal Weesp.
By shutting the lock, the regional authority keeps clean water in the river while emergency pumps route fresh water to nearby polders. Recreational boaters will need to detour via the Amstel, with no clear date set for when the lock will reopen.
Prioritizing safety and natural reserves
Water distribution during shortages is managed under the official national priority list, which places safety and natural preservation above agricultural, drinking water, and recreational uses.
In nearby Huizen, the board is temporarily letting in extra water containing blue-green algae to ensure local fire departments maintain sufficient water supplies.
These steps follow earlier action near Muiden, where officials installed a temporary dam wall beneath the Penbrug at the Maxis shopping center to prevent saltwater from flowing into freshwater ecosystems.
With hot, dry weather forecast to persist across the region, water levels remain under close monitoring.
