Presentation for Worldbank Delegation. Focusing on application of BwN concepts in the field.

1. Build safety against flooding with
Nature
From concepts to practical BwN solutions
April 2011
Mindert de Vries
Specialist eco-engineering at Deltares
Professor Building with Living Nature Hogeschool Zeeland

2. Building with Nature
challenge =
use the
dynamics and services of the ecosystem
to
realize safety, function combinations
with economic feasibility

3. Building with nature by reef, marsh, dune creation and
hard structures….
g h?
ou
en
fe
t sa
No
fe
sa
marshes
reefs
fe
Long term safety: sa
Marshes grow
with SLR

4. Dutch historical large scale land reclamation =
Marshland kwelders
building with nature
Foto paesens-moddergat
Effective low cost
low tech saltmarsh
produces safety
& large natural value

5. Delivers continuum of concepts and designs
multi partner, multi system
Soft solutions Hybrid hard-soft mix Hard solutions
more space, more BwN, no dike less space, more BfN, more dike
more flexible, cost-effective (?) less flexible, extra investment
oysterreef-
dike combi
non tidal/ tidal
Rich ‘Levees’
Wadden Sea Oosterschelde!
Markermeer/Friese
IJsselmeerkust
forest-dike combi

6. Examples of practical solutions 2007-2010
• They are generic and practical,
• They are cost-effective,
• They fit within legal constraints.
• They have been realized with numerous partners from
government, engineering and construction and
research organizations
• Main sponsors: RWS-WINN, Ecoshape consortium

7. Examples of soft solutions 2009-2010

8. Wadden Sea Soft Safe Dike: saltmarsh/dune/dike hybrid
Existing dike Debate:
•Technical feasibility
Wave reducingals golfremmer
Vegetatie •Cost-benefit
saltmarsh •Conflict with Natura 2000
Scale 500m wide
30km long
Super storm
stable vegetated
dune
Lake
Saltmarsh grows with sea level and maintains stability and safety IJsselmeer
Flexible, low tech, low maintenance cost, longshore connectivity
Wadden
Sea
Afsluitdijk

9. 2010, HHNK, RWS-WD, Deltares, Haskoning: ‘bankdike’,
soft safe green flexible dike
Nature development
with longshore connectivity and
regional relevance depth and material variations
along and perpendicular to
the dike create diversity,
enhanced by natural settling
and compaction.
50m wide, many km, large wave reduction, high nature value, along lake shore

10. Examples of hybrid hard-soft solutions 2007-2010

11. 2010, Ecoshape: foreshore protection with reef
large scale oyster reef experiment (2x 200m x 20m)
Reduce erosion of intertidal areas
in Eastern Scheldt

12. 2009 RfR programme Noordwaard
Wavereducing forest-dike combi ‘fort Steurgat’
Clay dike
will be lower than
traditional design
100m wide
Wave reducing
willow-tree plantations
Low cost low tech
Deltares/RWS concept achieves
required 1/2000 safety standards and
will be constructed before 2015

13. Application: Floating wavereducing marsh, Houtrib
sinking marsh for Zeeburg, EVZ (NMIJ, gem Amsterdam)
Da
re
to
try
!
We need an improved floating design!

14. Examples of hard solutions 2007-2010

15. 2007-2010 Rich Revetment ‘Rijke Dijk’ pilots
1
1. IJmuiden
2. Haven van Rotterdam
3. Oosterschelde
4. Westerschelde
4
2
3

16. Hula’s in the harbour of Rotterdam
(Deltares, HbR, EcoConsult)
Monitoring shows that biomass en
biodiversity is enhanced a lot when
compared to smooth structures.
Wave action in a harbour can be a problem
that is reduced by using the hanging hula
structures.

17. Applications: Rijke Dijk Maasvlakte 2

18. Applications: underwater forests harbors

19. Application beyond pilot scale

20. Cyclic approach with co-operating partners
is effective, urgent need for more pilots and applications
Test Pilot
proof principle small scale
researchers consultants
builders monitor,
5-10yr incentives & analyze
alliances
cycle? and adapt
system
managers
Conceptual Real scale
design application

21. Approach and process: integrate thinkers, do’ers and
managers, stimulate interactions
Da
Rijkswaterstaat Ecoshape consortium
Water Boards
re
Projectbureau Zeeweringen
(Van Oord, Boskalis, DHV,
to
Arcadis, Witteveen en Bos,
Room for River Noordwaard Imares, Deltares)
Sh
Port of Rotterdam
NIOO-CEME
Heijmans
ar
RUNijmegen
BAM-infra
TU Delft
e!
SMIT
SHELL UTwente
Hogeschool Vandermeerconsulting
Zeeland Ecoconsult
GiMaRis

22. Research must go on, we want proof of principle and
predictive capability

23. New thinkers and do-ers: The next generation being
trained at Delta Academy in Zeeland

24. Building with Nature projects overview
2010
2009
2008
2007
The Netherlands are leading in
eco-engineering applied for
USA!? safety against flooding
SNG

25. Linked to WWF/Conservation International
Green Adaptation concepts:
• make use of ecosystem functioning to enhance
safety, food and freshwater security, and
protect livelihoods
• include and enhance ecosystem functions in an
integrated approach to adapt to climate
threats

26. We can build cost-effective safety with nature!
Need for different thinking and different acting = Green
Adaptation
• What can the project do for the ecosystem, what can the
ecosystem do for the project? Think beyond compensation and
mitigation;
• Allow dynamics and accept site specific nature of the BwN
solutions;
• Think in cycles and allow adaptive designs and management;
• Accept and manage involvement of new parties into the
development, implementation and maintenance process;
• Provide adequate training, tools, guidelines and protocols;
• SLR/Climate Change: We have time and space to work with nature
and increasing knowledge/experience: use it!

27. Thank you!
You can contact me at
mindert.devries@deltares.nl