Dry, hot summers are putting Dutch dikes at risk and threatening German river trade
WADDINXVEEN, Netherlands (AP) — Jeroen Wouda and Dirk Boom walk slowly along a Dutch dike, prodding at the bone dry surface with metal rods and scanning the parched grass for patches of green that could give away the location of a…
In Waddinxveen, Netherlands, dry and hot summers are putting Dutch dikes at risk and threatening German river trade. Jeroen Wouda and Dirk Boom, walking slowly along a dike, search for cracks caused by drought. Modern dike patrols use an app to report potential problems to authorities, who can then quickly carry out repairs. The Rhine and its offshoots in Germany have been forced to carry less freight due to record low river levels, affecting cargo ships.
Farmers are facing restrictions on irrigating crops, which could lead to smaller fruit harvests and higher prices. Houseboat owners are also affected, as their homes rest on sandy river beds that may be exposed due to the drought. Flood defense manager Peter van Duijvendijk of the Schieland en de Krimpenerwaard water corporation checks about 60 miles of dikes, reporting any issues to authorities.
The volunteers are considered the "eyes and ears on the dike," as they patrol for potential problems in the low-lying Netherlands, which is mostly below sea level.
Written by urgent.news from Associated Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
