Meers - Floodplain lowering

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Meers - Floodplain lowering


Factsheet: Meers - Floodplain lowering

General
Country NL
River Name Meuse
Site Name Meers - Floodplain lowering
River Characterisation
    River typology
    Location (Lat Lon) 50.9585, 5.7246
    Altitude lowland: < 200 m
    Catchment area medium: > 100 - 1000 km2
    Geology Organic
    National code/
    River type name
    R7
    Hydromorphological quality elements

    Biological quality elements
    Ecosystem Services
    EU Directives
    Pressures
    Measures
    Other
    Project size 53 ha
    Approximate costs
    Synergy flood protection, gravel mining
    Status Realised
    Period of realization 1998
    Evaluation Ecological change
    Implemented by Consortium Grensmaas


    Key features of the case study

    Site description

    The site near the village of Meers is home to a very dynamic stretch of the Meuse river. The river has a strong declining slope near the current exit of the pool. This leads to a rapid in the river which has led to the formation of both the 'old' and the 'new island'. At the same time the river's dynamics have, in the past, led to the river trying to cut off the meander near Meers. This led to dangerous situations for the nearby inhabitants. To protect the village dikes were build to restrain the river. The banks and floodplain of the area are used for gravel mining.

    Measures selection

    To restore the dynamic character of the river a cooperation between the Dutch Water Authority (Rijkswaterstaat), a nature protection organisation (Natuurmonumenten) and the local gravel mining company (L'Ortye) was initiated. The dykes were lowered to allow more inundation of the floodplain. At the same time the gravel mining company started to lower the area by undeep mining of the gravel in the floodplain. This was done in such a way that a slow rising gradient was created in the landscape; the area being lowest near the river slowly rising. Also, a high water channel was dug as a safety measure during peak discharges. The area held an old pool which originated from earlier gravel mining activities. This pool was partially filled with excess materials of the site. This to make the pool more shallow and through this a more suitable habitat. All this work has led to dynamic landscape with many different habitats and river dynamics. The main advantage was that part of this project could be carried out by making arrangements with a gravel mining company in such a way that both the company and the ecological state of the area benefited.

    Success criteria

    No clear success criteria were found, perhaps because this was a trial project.

    Ecological response

    Hydromorphological response

    Monitoring before and after implementation of the project

    Socio-economic aspects

    Contact person within the organization

    Extra background information

    References


    Related Measures

    Related Pressures