Buiten Ooij - Sluice operation
Buiten Ooij - Sluice operation
Key features of the case study
Site description
The area of Buiten Ooij is a floodplain area along the river Waal, a major tributary of the Rhine in the Netherlands. The area is part of a larger nature area, the Geldersche Poort. The area is situated between the summer and the winter dyke. In the area there are a number of pools that originated from historical gravel and sand mining pits. A remainder of an old river arm, the Oude Waal, is located in the south-west corner of the area. This old arm is permanently filled with water, but not connected to the current river. The summer dyke around the area was constructed in multiple phases, leading to differences in height in comparison to the water level. It is also outfitted with a sluice which was historically used to let in water during peak discharges. The dyke is higher on north-eastern part of the area. Flooding of the area is rare; an active water flow through the area is even rarer due to the height differences in the summer dyke. This leads to an unnatural situation in the floodplain where flooding occurs only sporadically and incompletely.
Measures selection
To improve flooding of the area and stimulate the formation of floodplain marshland an experiment was started with letting water into the area through the sluice during winter and closing the sluice during summer to retain the water in the area. This was both a cheap and easy way to improve the inundation of the area. This measure by no means fully removes the pressures acting upon the system, but it is a first step. Plans are being made to further improve the area by means of floodplain lowering and active side channel constructions.
Success criteria
The project was carried out as an experiment, no clear success criteria were formulated though the goal was to create wet natural habitat.
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
- Improve water retention
- Increase flood frequency and duration in riparian zones or floodplains
- Adjust land use to develop riparian vegetation
- Retain floodwater
- Improve backwaters
