Stockholm, Sweden
City population: 1602639
Duration: 2015 – ongoing
Implementation status: Ongoing
Scale: Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Project area: unknown
Type of area: Central Business District / City Centre
Last updated: November 2021

‘Slussen and a new water regulation plan for Lake Mälaren’ is part of the rebuilding of the city district Slussen (The Slussen Project) (Ref. 1). In connection with the rebuilding of Slussen, SMHI (Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute) was in 2007 commissioned by Stockholm City to review and propose a new regulatory strategy for the lake Mälaren (Ref. 2). A new regulation prevents floods, reducing the risk of saltwater entering the lake, benefiting the natural environment around Mälaren. Further effects will also benefit the ecosystem of the lake (Ref. 3).

Photo of the lock and surrounding area built to regulate water in the city.
Stockhom Slussen Lake Mälaren
https://www.c40.org/case_studies/retrofitting-and-adapting-the-slussen-lock-stockholm-sweden

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Blue infrastructure
  • Lakes/ponds
  • Coastlines

Key challenges

  • Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
  • Climate change adaptation
  • Water management (SDG 6)
  • Flood protection
  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation

Focus

Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas, Strategy, plan or policy development

Project objectives

"One of the overall goals of the proposed regulatory proposal is that it will create water-level variations that benefit the beach-based natural environment. This means that both low and high water levels shall be allowed to occur." (Ref. 4) The new regulation of the Mälaren aims to: 1. Reduce the risk of flooding around Lake Mälaren; Social interests: Drinking water supply, buildings and infrastructure, shipping, agriculture. 2. Reduce the risk of low water levels in Mälaren; Social interests: Drinking water supply and shipping 3. Prevent saltwater intrusion; Social interests: Drinking water supply. Also takes into account valuable beach-based natural environments by striving for seasonal variations that favour the beach-based natural environment. (Ref. 4)

Implementation activities

"Forming the central junction between north and south Stockholm, Slussen is a strategic infrastructure asset with regard to transport, clean water provision and flood protection for Stockholm and the Mälardalen region. [The Slussen lock] acts as one of the gates between freshwater (Mälaren) and saltwater areas (Baltic Sea), thereby playing a key role in the provision of clean water...The development also includes new green and commercial spaces to make the lock more attractive to locals and visitors." (Ref 14)

Climate-focused activities

Climate change adaptation:

  • Renaturalization of rivers and other water bodies

Main beneficiaries

  • Local government/Municipality
  • Private sector/Corporate/Company
  • Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

  • Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • Local government/municipality

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Taskforce groups

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The City of Stockholm commissioned SMHI (Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute) to propose new regulations. (Ref 2) Structor Miljöbyrån has led the work on the permit application on behalf of the City of Stockholm. (Ref. 6) Citizen dialogues have been included in the Slussen project. (Ref. 7) “The city of Stockholm owns, manages and utilizes Slussen. The city of Stockholm usually does not act as contractors/developers in major infrastructure projects, but leaves this to developers. The Traffic Office manages the current Slussen and will also be the recipient of the project's deliveries.” (Ref 8)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? No (The City of Stockholm commissioned SMHI (Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute) to propose new regulations. (Ref 2) )
... a national policy or strategy? Unknown
... a local policy or strategy? Yes (The intervention is part of the Slussen project (rebuilding of Slussen/New Slussen). (Ref. 3) The Slussen project is a water regulation strategy. (Ref. 4) )

Financing

Total cost

More than €4,000,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Public local authority budget
  • Other

Type of funding

  • Earmarked public budget

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Climate change
  • Increased protection against sea level rise
  • Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
  • Water management and blue areas
  • Improved water quality
  • Increased protection against flooding
  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased green space area

Economic impacts

  • Other

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Unknown

Type of reported impacts

Expected impacts, Achieved impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Yes

Presence of indicators used in reporting

Yes

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

Yes

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

References

Ref. 1. Stockholms Stad (n.d.) Översvämningsriskerna i Mälaren. Projekt Slussen. Information obtained: 2017-06-07. Source: Source link [Accessed 19 August 2020]
Ref. 2. Mälarens Vattenvårdsförbund (n.d.) Ombyggnation av Slussen. 2014-2017. Information obtained: 2017-06-07. Source: Source link [Accessed 19 August 2020]
Ref. 3. Stockholms Stad (2015) Slussen klimatanpassas - skapar intresse i Sverige och Europa. Source: Source link [Website updated on 1 October 2018. Accessed 19 August 2020]
Ref. 4. Andréasson, J., Gustavsson, H., & Bergström, S. (2011) Projekt Slussen - Förslag till ny reglering av Mälaren. Rapport nr 2011-64. SMHI. Source: Source link [Accessed 19 August 2020]
Ref. 5. Löfmarck, A. & Svensson, M (2014) Samhällsekonomisk värdering av rent vatten: Fallstudier av Vombsjön och Mälaren. Rapport nr 2014-14. Svenskt Vatten Utveckling. Source: Source link [Accessed 19 August 2020]
Ref. 6. Structor (n.d.) Dom i målet om Mälarens reglering: Stockholms Stad har fått tillstånd för Slussen och ny reglering av Mälaren. Information obtained: 2017-06-07. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 7. Stockholms Stad (2017) Dialogen med medborgare i projektet Nya Slussen, Nr 3. Stockholms Stad. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 8. Stockholms Stad (2016) Styrning av projektet Nya Slussen, Nr 5. Stockholms Stad. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 9. Länsstyrelsen Stockholms Län (2011) Klimatförändringar och Mälaren: ur ett vatten- och naturmiljöperspektiv. Anpassning till ett förändrat klimat. Rapport 2011:2. Source: Source link [Accessed 19 August 2020]
Ref. 10. Stockholms Stad (2007) Vision 2030 - Ett Stockholm i världsklass. Stockholms Stad. Source: Source link [Updated on 7 January 2020. Accessed 19 August 2020]
Ref. 11. Skogö, I. (2012) Ansvarsfördelning och finansiering av Slussen i Stockholm. Mälarkonferensen. Regeringskansliet. Source: Source link [Accessed 19 August 2020]
Ref. 12. Hebert, M. & Koffman, A. (2011) Utredning om konsekvenser på Natura 2000-områden. Projekt Slussen. Ny vattenreglering av Mälaren. Reglering version Fas 3c. Calluna AB, Stockholm. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 13. Calluna AB (2010) Projekt Slussen:Ny reglering av Mälaren:Konsekvensbedömning av strandnära naturmiljön. Sthlm. Source: Source link [Accessed on 19 August 2020]