Sand nourishment project is good for nature
Deltares in The Netherlands reports that the Galgeplaat sand nourishment trial in the Eastern Scheldt was completed recently and the result is highly positive.
“Nourishment stops the Galgeplaat tidal flat eroding as quickly. Nature is recovering well,” said Deltares in a statement, noting that the renourishment had not had any adverse effect on mussel farming in the area.
The nourishment operation is intended to mitigate the negative impact of ‘sand starvation’ in the Eastern Scheldt, which is home to intertidal flats that are dry during ebb tides. However, more and more sand from the flats is being lost to the tidal channel of the Eastern Scheldt, eroding them so that they disappear underwater. That has a negative impact on biodiversity because the flats are a source of food to many birds and other organisms. They also act as natural breakwater and mitigate the impact of waves on nearby dikes.
“The trial provided us with more information about nourishment as a possible way of counteracting the negative impact of sand starvation in the Eastern Scheldt,” said Deltares.
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