Changes in Dutch water management;Building with Nature

Bregje van Wesenbeeck

bregje.vanwesenbeeck@deltares.nl

1000 AC1250 AC1750 AC1953 AC2010 AC

Rotterdam

Antwerp

Rotterdam

Ghent

Zeebrugge

AntwerpWesterschelde

Oosterschelde

Haringvliet

Volkerak/Zoommeer

Grevelingen

Veerse Meer

CitiesHarboursDams Dams FreshwaterEstuarine gradientSalt lakeSalt sea-arm

Consequences: Algal blooms

Rijkswaterstaat

Consequences: erosion

Consequences: carrying capacity

Rotterdam

Antwerp

Rotterdam

Ghent

Zeebrugge

AntwerpWesterschelde

Oosterschelde

Haringvliet

Volkerak/Zoommeer

Grevelingen

Veerse Meer

Polluted sedimentConnection loss

Extreme eutrophicationCyanobacteriaConnectivity

Morphological unequilibriumHabitat lossInvasive speciesBird problem

StratificationBenthic C accumulationOxygen problemsHabitat loss

Eutrophication / oxygenPolluted sedimentsHabitat loss - Dredging

source: AHN

source: AHN

nourish

?

Building with Nature

Use plants and animals to fullfill water management functions (complementary to traditional engineering solutions)

Building with nature

-adds nature value

-increases landscape attractiveness

-is more sustainable

-is adaptive

-and reduces costs

Pilots

Pilots

Approach and proces: collaborate

•WINN

•vele RWS diensten en districten

•Waterschappen

•Projectbureau Zeeweringen

•Programmabureau Noordwaard

•Landschap Hoeksche Waard

•BAM-infra

•C-fix BV

•DHV

•Ecoconsult

•SMIT

•Havenbedrijf Rotterdam

•Heijmans

• IMARES

•INTRON

•NIOO-CEME

•RUN

•SHELL

•TU Delft

•UTwente

•Vandermeerconsulting

•Ecoshape

Approach and process: monitor

Approach and process: implement

Implement concepts in toolboxes, manuals and policies

Future challenges

Make Building with Nature common practice:

-large-scale applications

-generalization of examples and principles

-quantification and validation