Damming deltas: A practice of the past? Towards nature-based flood defenses

Wesenbeeck, Bregje K. van; Mulder, Jan; Marchand, M.; Reed, Denise J.; Vries, Mindert de; Vriend, H.J. de; Herman, Peter M. J.

doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2013.12.031

Cited by 101 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Integration of ecosystems in coastal protection schemes is increasingly mentioned as a valuable supplement to conventional engineering methods (Jones et al, 2012;Temmerman et al, 2013;Van Wesenbeeck et al, 2014). Coastal ecosystems like sand dunes can fulfil the same function as man-made flood defences, such as dikes and dams.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nature-based flood protection: The efficiency of vegetated foreshores for reducing wave loads on coastal dikes

Vuik

Jonkman

Borsje

et al. 2016

Coastal Engineering

219

212

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This paper analyses the effect of vegetation on wave damping under severe storm conditions, based on a combination of field measurements and numerical modelling. The field measurements of wave attenuation by vegetation were performed on two salt marshes with two representative but contrasting coastal wetland vegetation types: cordgrass (Spartina anglica) and grassweed (Scirpus maritimus). The former is found in salty environments, whereas the latter is found in brackish environments. The measurements have added to the range with the highest water depths and wave heights presented in the literature so far. A numerical wave model (SWAN) has been calibrated and validated using the new field data. It appeared that the model was well capable of reproducing the observed decay in wave height over the salt marsh. The model has been applied to compute the reduction of the incident wave height on a dike for various realistic foreshore configurations and hydraulic loading conditions. Additionally, the efficiency of vegetated foreshores in reducing wave loads on the dike has been investigated, where wave loads were quantified using a computed wave run-up height and wave overtopping discharge. The outcomes show that vegetated foreshores reduce wave loads on coastal dikes significantly, also for the large inundation depths that occur during storms and with the vegetation being in winter state. The effect of the foreshore on the wave loads varies with wave height to water depth ratio on the foreshore. The presence of vegetation on the foreshore extends the range of water depths for which a foreshore can be applied for effective reduction of wave loads, and prevents intense wave breaking on the foreshore to occur. This research demonstrates that vegetated foreshores can be considered as a promising supplement to conventional engineering methods for dike reinforcement.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nature-based flood protection: The efficiency of vegetated foreshores for reducing wave loads on coastal dikes

Vuik

Jonkman

Borsje

et al. 2016

Coastal Engineering

219

212

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“…A promising alternative for conventional coastal protection practices is greening flood protection (GFP). 1 Such forms of protection, for example, by means of mangroves forests, wetlands or sand nourishments, use natural characteristic and dynamics to mitigate wave energy, stabilize coastlines and serve as flood protection barriers (Gedan, Kirwan, Wolanski, Barbier, & Silliman, 2011;Van Wesenbeeck et al, 2014). In addition, GFP expands and improves ecosystem environments and can provide substantial coastal ecosystem services, such as fisheries production or carbon sequestration (Hale et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Damming estuaries and building dikes have unforeseen degrading effects on coastal ecosystem environments (Van Wesenbeeck et al, 2014). The construction costs of artificial structures are high and are accompanied by significant maintenance expenditures (Smits, Nienhuis, & Saeijs, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Greening Flood Protection—An Interactive Knowledge Arrangement Perspective

Janssen

Tatenhove

Otter

et al. 2014

Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning

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In flood protection, the dominant paradigm of 'building hard structures' is being challenged by approaches that integrate ecosystem dynamics and are 'naturebased'. Knowledge development and policy ambitions on greening flood protection (GFP) are rapidly growing, but a deficit remains in actual full-scale implementation. Knowledge is a key barrier for implementation. To analyse conditions for the implementation of GFP, a knowledge-arrangement perspective is developed. The knowledge-arrangement perspective is applied on a case study of successful implementation of GFP in the Netherlands, the pilot Sand Engine Delfland, a large-scale (21.5 Mm 3 ) sand nourishment project. This project confirms that an integrated knowledge arrangement enables GFP as it allows for multifunctionality. Effectiveness of the integrated arrangement in this project is explained by its 'flexible' nature providing ample design space. This was possible because core values in flood protection and nature were not part of the integrated arrangement. More generally the case study demonstrates the difficulties of implementing GFP in existing mainstream flood protection routines. These are not (yet) geared to incorporate uncertainty, dynamics and multifunctionality, characteristics associated with GFP. The Sand Engine project can be regarded as a 'field laboratory' of physical and institutional learning and an innovation for mainstream flood protection.

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“…Uncertainty on how this risk will manifest requires flexible measures that can easily be adapted to changing external conditions (Ranger et al 2013;van Wesenbeeck et al 2014). Current flood risk mitigation strategies focus on hard engineering measures that are not adaptive and have additional negative impacts (Winterwerp et al 2013;van Wesenbeeck et al 2014).…”

Section: O R I G I N a L A Rt I C L Ementioning

confidence: 99%