Future-proofing the Dutch coastal system

We have too much sand and silt in the waterways in the Dutch Wadden Sea and Westerschelde. To keep these waterways accessible for ships and ferries, a lot of dredging is done. At the same time, we want the coast to be able to grow with the sea level when it will rise faster in the next century, for which we need sand and silt. Many projects and interventions for coastal safety, accessibility and nature work in terms of years. But it is not well known how these projects affect each other, which in turn leads to questions for current management and nature conservation. We also do not yet have a good grasp of how current interventions may respond on the long term and the consequences of faster rising sea levels.

The science doesn’t get more fundamental, and at the same time the project has an immediate impact: how cool is that?

2.8 million for WadSED project

To make better predictions, a large consortium led by Utrecht University will develop models and tools over the next six years. It was announced today that their project WadSED will be awarded 2.8 million euros from NWO's Perspectief funding programme.

Maarten Kleinhans, coastal researcher at Utrecht University and project leader of WadSED, is enthusiastic about the grant award and the research. We will design how we can better manage the Wadden and Westerschelde. To do so, we are developing new models of how these areas will work over the next 10 to 100 years.

Fundamental research with big impact

To better understand the system, we need to start recognising and measuring patterns in current datasets. For example, patterns of moving gullies and sandbanks, Kleinhans explains. With that, we can build a new model for predictions that can be used by managers as well as scientists. The science doesn’t get more fundamental, and at the same time the project has an immediate impact: how cool is that?

Working smarter with sand and silt

When the project is complete, the consortium hopes that we will make smarter use of sand and silt in current waterways management whilst keeping our coast safer when sea levels start to rise, and our nature healthy. Policy makers will be provided with tools for effects of interventions and of climate change.

About the project

WadSED - Wadden Sea and estuaries: system dynamics and sediment management under climate change. Utrecht University, with co-leaders Rijkswaterstaat and Arcadis, is working together with various other stakeholders active in the Wadden Sea and Westerschelde: knowledge institutes, governments, nature organisations and companies.