Bouxweerd - Artificial pool
Bouxweerd - Artificial pool
Key features of the case study
Site description
The Bouxweerd area is situated on the floodplain of the canalized Meuse river. Most of the area has seen a good deal of mining of both clay and gravel. The gravel mining started as early as the 1940's. A part of the area was filled up with sand and debris after the gravel was extracted. A gravel pit was also left behind however; this filled up with water and serves as an artificial pool which is characteristic to the area. In the northern part of the area a small wetland forest is situated. The forest is fed by upwelling groundwater. A ditch which was used for the hydro management of the area for agricultural use is situated near this forest.
Measures selection
The large pool was dug for non-nature restorative reasons. It was a side-product of the economically profitable gravel mining. In 2003 measures were taken to ensure that the floodplain was inundated more often. A adjustable weir was installed in the ditch in 2003 to control the water flow from the wetland forest. Later on in 2008 it became apparent that the forest was still drying out and the ditch was closed off near the forest to avoid water loss. The weir was removed as it no longer served a function.
Success criteria
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
- Lower river banks or floodplains to enlarge inundation and flooding
- Reduce groundwater extraction
- Remove or modify in-channel hydraulic structures
- Set back embankments, levees or dikes
- Restore wetlands
