The Flood Risk Management Plan: An essential step towards the institutionalization of a paradigm shift

The European Flood Risk Management Plans are an essential step towards the institutionalization of the ongoing paradigm shift from flood protection to risk management. This challenges spatial planners and water engineers because of two particular features of these plans. First, it asks for a river basin–wide approach. This embraces the realm of spatial planning behind the dikes–an uncommon terrain for traditional water engineers; thus a new actor enters the policy arena of spatial planning. Second, it asks for the consideration of different flood scenarios beyond the traditional thresholds. Water engineers are requested to provide information on flooding scenarios instead of concise lines separating dry and wet land; spatial planners need to consider such information in their decision–making processes. The Flood Risk Management Plans therefore call for new modes of governance for both water management and spatial planning.