AA true story of the Scheldt estuaryA true story of the Scheldt estuaryy f y

Sven Smolders1 Stefaan Ides3 Yves Plancke2 3 Patrick Meire1 and Stijn Temmerman1Sven Smolders1, Stefaan Ides3, Yves Plancke2,3, Patrick Meire1 and Stijn Temmerman1, , , j

Flanders Hydraulics Research, Antwerp Port Authority, Havenhuis, 2 3Antwerp University (UA), Department of Biology, 1 Flanders Hydraulics Research, Berchemlei 115,

Antwerp Port Authority, Havenhuis, Entrepotkaai 1,

2 3Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium Berchemlei 115,

2140 Antwerp BelgiumEntrepotkaai 1, 2000 Antwerp Belgium

p , j , gE-mail: sven.smolders@ua.ac.be 2140 Antwerp, Belgium 2000 Antwerp, BelgiumE mail: sven.smolders@ua.ac.be

I d iIntroductionIntroductionSome basic questions about the Scheldt estuary: Some basic questions about the Scheldt estuary: -The estuary is a way for storm surges to reach the -The estuary is a way for storm surges to reach the hi t l d A t t d h?hinterland. Are we protected enough?p g

Th t i l t ti l t t d NATURA 2000-The estuary is almost entirely protected as NATURA 2000y y parea Can port expansion on one of thearea. Can port expansion on one of the

di t hi i h d i Mcrowdiest shipping ways go hand in Macoma pp g y ghand with nature preservation?The Western balthica likes lowhand with nature preservation?The Western

Scheldt is one ofbalthica likes low 

d i i t tid lScheldt is one of dynamic intertidal areas. 

- Larger and larger container shipsthe crowdiest Its abundance decreasesLarger and larger container ships i iti th t f A t

the crowdiest shiping way s in the

Its abundance decreases ith d iare visiting the port of Antwerp. shiping way s in the with decreasing 

Has the estuary reached itsworld. In 2011 the salt levelsHas the estuary reached itsli it et?

world. In 2011 the port of Antwerp was

salt levels 

limits yet?port of Antwerp was visited by 15.240

Figure 1: Map of the Scheldt estuaryy

seagoing ships andseagoing ships and

M t i l d th d59.428 barge calls.

Material and methodsg

Material and methods

l i l d lMorphological Ecological modelMorphological Potential habitat map perEcological model 

( )Salinity (t)scenario X:Potential habitat map per 

(Matlab)‐ Salinity (t)scenario X: benthos speciesTelemac 2Dh

(Matlab)‐ Flow velocity (t)River discharges

benthos speciesTelemac 2Dh  ‐ Flow velocity (t)‐ River discharges

hydrodynamical ‐ Depth (t)‐Water level sea hydrodynamical  Depth (t)M h l i l

‐Water level seaS di i / imodel ‐ Water level (t) Morphological‐ Bathymetry Sedimentation/erosion mapmodel Water level (t)

S di D

Morphological d l

Bathymetry Sedimentation/erosion map i‐ Sediment D50 model per scenario50 model per scenario

Morphology of systemMorphology  of  system

Results and discussionResults and discussionFlood defense / SafetyFlood defense / Safety

Based on water level results of different scenariosBased on water level results of different scenarios the risk on flooding can be estimatedthe risk on flooding can be estimated

Port accessebility / Navigation channelPort accessebility / Navigation channel

Based on sedimentation and erosion patterns forBased on sedimentation and erosion patterns for pdifferent scenarios the flow conditions in thedifferent scenarios  the flow conditions in the 

i ti h l b ti i d t inavigation channel can be optimized to improve g p pi ill d d i i tscouring on sills and decreasing maintenance g g

d d iFigure 2: Flow velocity field in area around Hansweert showing some streamlines

dredgingg y g

C l ig g

ConclusionsConclusionsEcological value of the systemEcological value of the system

The morphology of the system that ensures a WIN WIN WINd f l h b f

The morphology of the system that ensures a  WIN‐WIN‐WINIncrease or decrease of potential habitat for asituation between safety accessebility and ecology can be Increase or decrease of potential habitat for a situation between safety, accessebility and ecology can be specific morphological scenario up to species level.found based on the specific needs of the system (dictated by specific morphological scenario up to species level.found based on the specific needs of the system (dictated by Difference maps between current situation andits partners: ports nature humans) Difference maps between current situation and its partners: ports, nature, humans).different scenarios are made to estimate evolutionLiving together means mutual respect for each other and different scenarios are made to estimate evolutionLiving together means mutual respect for each other and g g p

accomodation space for each partneraccomodation space for each partner.p p

Sven Smolders is a bio‐engineerAcknowledgments: the authors like to thank the university of Sven Smolders is a bio engineer with a taste for water and ecology

Acknowledgments: the authors like to thank the university ofAntwerp who is funding this research through a Dehousse with a taste for water and ecology

svensmolders@gmail com

p g gscholarship. Further a great deal of gratitude goes to the Port of

This study is supported by the Antwerp Port Authority

svensmolders@gmail.com 0032 479 68 94 98

Antwerp and Flanders Hydraulic Research without whom thisresearch would also not be possible This study is supported by the Antwerp Port Authority 0032 479 68 94 98research would also not be possible.