Monitoring and analysing processes (sedimentation/erosion, vegetation development, colonisation by biota) in estuarine restoration projects (De Vlaamse Waterweg nv - ANB)

The managers of the Scheldt estuary implement numerous measures to improve the ecological status of the system. These interventions are varied: examples include alternative bank protection, dike relocations and depoldering. Often, the work is done within the framework of the Scheldt Long Term Vision – concretised in the updated Sigma Plan. Small-scale estuarine restoration projects provide a good learning experience for the design and management of the planned larger-scale projects in the Sea Scheldt. In this project, previously implemented (small) estuarine restoration measures are being closely monitored, and an attempt is being made to identify key factors in estuarine restoration processes. The manager wishes to perform effective interventions with optimum returns. The knowledge needed to describe these returns needs to be researched and described.