United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson today began a Congressional Delegation to the Netherlands to study the Dutch integrated water management system. Louisiana and administration officials, including the Army Corps of Engineers, are studying the world-class water management and flood protection system in the Netherlands, a country which shares many of Louisiana's challenges in protecting populations and economic infrastructure below sea level.

"The Netherlands and Louisiana have a strong friendship forged by water," Sen. Landrieu said. "We are building on that relationship this week, and learning how our partnership can help our state protect and strengthen our coastal communities. We need to ensure the Army Corps of Engineers can build projects more efficiently in our region and local governments have a more significant role in creating the framework for our local projects. We will continue working this week to find ways to help Louisiana overcome our remaining challenges to living effectively with water."

"We've seen first-hand today how the Dutch work to balance water management with the effects of urbanization," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "In many ways, they have crossed bridges we in the U.S. have yet to cross while also confronting some of our same challenges. I look forward to learning more about their approach to water management."

The delegation is focusing on the nuts and bolts of internal water management, both in urban and rural environments. Tuesday's study included an introduction to the history and development of the City of Amsterdam, a boat trip on the Amstel River, a briefing on water management and risks involved and a discussion of climate changes' effects on the inner city.

"We have to learn more about how to manage water," said New Orleans City Council President Jackie Clarkson. "We have to live with water, and we tend to run from it. No one does it better than the Dutch, and I also want to thank them for being there so soon after Katrina."

The delegation also visited IJurg, a new area created for mixed-use development that was built to withstand the effects of climate change, such as the rising sea level. Amsterdam city officials discussed the political challenges with developing the area, which had previously been entirely water.

"It is good to see such interest in construction, design and development in areas next to waterways and below the level of the sea," said H.J. Bosworth, Levees.Org's director of research. "It will hopefully be useful to our state and federal representatives to learn how such development can be done safely."

Site visits and briefings Wednesday through Friday include The Hague, Rotterdam, Delft and Kampen.

The Netherlands was one of the first nations to extend support to Louisiana and the Gulf Coast, including civil engineers and mobile pumps to remove floodwaters in the New Orleans region. The relationship between the Netherlands and Louisiana has continued to grow stronger.

"The Dutch try to balance the water with the land, surface water and ground water," said New Orleans architect David Waggonner. "They operate the land and water together." In early 2006, Sen. Landrieu and the Royal Netherlands Embassy led and initial CODEL to the Netherlands. Since 2006, Louisiana has made progress in protecting coastal communities, including 100-year flood protection for the New Orleans region to be completed by 2011. This trip will help the state assess remaining challenges. Sen. Landrieu will also explore policies, which may include innovative Dutch technologies and practices that can reduce the persistent delays and cost overruns of Corps projects.

Following their historic food of 1953, Dutch officials and engineers developed a comprehensive flood control system to protect the country and emerged as international leaders in the field of integrated water management. While Louisiana and the Netherlands share similar characteristics, Holland has successfully built a 10,000-year flood protection system.

Also joining this CODEL: Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority East Regional Director Bob Turner; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Claudio Tornblom, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Management and Budget) and Zoltan Montvai, Civil Works Deputy with the Mississippi Valley Division; Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Staff Director/Chief Counsel Bettina Poirier; New Orleans Director of Disaster Mitigation Dr. Earthea Nance; American Planning Association Executive Director/CEO Paul Farmer; American Society of Engineers President Wayne Klotz; Levees.Org Executive Director Sandy Rosenthal; Center for Planning and Excellence, Camille Manning-Broome; Louisiana Speaks, Lee Einsweiler; and LSU Hurricane Center Interim Director Joseph Suhayda.