The bursting of river banks, flooding of towns and evacuation of communities, have, in recent times, brought about the need for drastic short-term measures including the construction of emergency dams and dykes. With flooding predicted to become ever more acute and ever more frequent, German and Dutch governments have been forced to take more drastic long-term action to cope with rising water levels. One way of doing this is to address the storage and drainage capacity of the river Rhine. Thus, the key objective of SDF, led by the Dutch Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management), and in collaboration with 8 partners from Germany and the Netherlands, is to take steps to expand the Rhines main drainage capacity. The project envisages creating new, innovative facilities for temporary water storage. Building on assessments made during the former IIC IRMA Programme, this 5½ year project will carry out a number of investments, to bring added-value and synergies to a range of activities being carried out in the areas of flood management, multiple land use in flood plains, nature development, public consultation and the involvement of PPP. A high level of cross-sectoral integration is to be achieved transnationally, with a transfer of experience at the design and implementation stages through collaborative approaches to 9 technical investments at 7 different locations. The project addresses engineering and navigation, environmental protection and development, and communication and social action, all with a view to sustainable territorial development.