Management of mud flats in the Scheldt estuary

Rubble infill is one of the methods for strengthening the embankment along a river and protecting it against erosion. The focus is completely on safety, and no account is taken of the fragile riverbank habitats. The banks of the Sea Scheldt are systematically disrupted by the use of rubble infill. No support is provided for the need for such infill and maintenance, as a result of which ecologically valuable banks characterised by low dynamism are also infilled. Such practices tend to be systematic where mudflats occur. The goal of this project is to ensure that the process of rubble infill in the Sea Scheldt occurs more efficiently and reflects the natural characteristics of the bank more closely. To this end, the sensitivity to erosion of the banks along the Sea Scheldt is first being mapped, and this will provide the basis for determining where bank protection is needed. At the same time, vulnerable zones (mud with low dynamism) are being mapped. For locations that are both sensitive to erosion and vulnerable habitats, alternative forms of bank protection are being sought.