A true storyy off the Scheldt estuaryy
2 3, Patrick Meire1 and Stijn
Sven Smolders1, Stefaan Ides3, Yves Plancke2,3
j Temmerman1
1 Antwerp University (UA), Department of Biology,
Universiteitsplein
p
1,, 2610 Wilrijk,
j , Belgium
g
E-mail:
E
mail: sven.smolders@ua.ac.be
2
Flanders Hydraulics Research,
Berchemlei 115,
2140 Antwerp
Antwerp, Belgium
3
Antwerp Port Authority, Havenhuis,
Entrepotkaai 1,
2000 Antwerp
Antwerp, Belgium
I
d i
Introduction
Some basic questions about the Scheldt estuary:
-The estuary is a way for storm surges to reach the
hi t l d A
hinterland.
Are we p
protected
t t d enough?
gh?
-The
y iis almost
protected
Th estuary
t
l
t entirely
ti ly p
t t d as NATURA 2000
area Can port expansion on one of the
area.
y g
crowdiest
di t shipping
hippi g ways
go h
hand
d iin
The Western
hand with nature preservation?
Scheldt is one of
the crowdiest
- Larger and larger container ships
shiping way s in the
i iti
th
t
are visiting
the portt off A
Antwerp.
world. In 2011 the
Has the estuary reached its
port of Antwerp was
li it yet?
et?
limits
visited by
y 15.240
seagoing ships and
59.428 barge
g calls.
Macoma M
balthica likes low balthica
likes low
d
dynamic intertidal areas. i i t tid l
Its abundance decreases
Its abundance decreases with decreasing ith d
i
salt levels salt levels
Figure 1: Map of the Scheldt estuary
Material and methods
Material
M t i l and
d methods
th d
Morphological Morphological
scenario X:
scenario X:
Telemac 2Dh Telemac
2Dh
hydrodynamical
hydrodynamical model
‐ River discharges
River discharges
‐ Water level sea
Water level sea
‐ Bathymetry
‐
‐
‐
‐
‐
Salinity (t)
Salinity
(t)
Flow velocity (t)
Flow velocity (t)
Depth (t)
Depth (t)
Water level (t)
Water level (t)
S di
Sediment D
D50
Ecological model Ecological
l i l model
d l
(
(Matlab)
)
Morphological M
Morphological
h l i l
model
d l
Potential habitat map per Potential
habitat map per
benthos species
benthos species
SSedimentation/erosion map Sedimentation/erosion
di
i /
i map
per scenario
per scenario
i
Morphology of system
Morphology of system
Results and discussion
Results
and discussion
Flood defense / Safety
Flood defense / Safety
Based on water level results of different scenarios Based
on water level results of different scenarios
the risk on flooding can be estimated
the risk on flooding can be estimated
Port accessebility / Navigation channel
Port accessebility / Navigation channel
Based on sedimentation and erosion p
Based on sedimentation and erosion patterns for patterns for
different scenarios the flow conditions in the
different scenarios the flow conditions in the navigation channel can be optimized to improve ig ti
h
l
b pti i d t i p
i g
ill
dd
i g
i t
scouring on sills and decreasing maintenance dredging
d dgi g
g
Figure 2: Flow
velocityy field in area around Hansweert showingg some streamlines
C l i
Conclusions
The morphology of the system that ensures a WIN‐WIN‐WIN
The
morphology of the system that ensures a WIN WIN WIN
situation between safety accessebility and ecology can be
situation between safety, accessebility and ecology can be found based on the specific needs of the system (dictated by
found based on the specific needs of the system (dictated by its partners: ports nature humans)
its partners: ports, nature, humans).
Livingg together
Living together means mutual respect for each other and g
means mutual respect
p for each other and
accomodation space
accomodation space for each partner.
p
for each p
partner
Acknowledgments: the authors like to thank the university of
Antwerp
p who is fundingg this research through
g a Dehousse
scholarship. Further a great deal of gratitude goes to the Port of
Antwerp and Flanders Hydraulic Research without whom this
research would also not be possible.
possible
Ecological value of the system
Ecological value of the system
This study is supported by the Antwerp Port Authority
This study is supported by the Antwerp Port Authority
Increase or decrease of potential habitat for a Increase
or d
decrease off potentiall h
habitat
b
ffor a
specific morphological scenario up to species level.
specific morphological scenario up to species level.
Difference maps between current situation and
Difference maps between current situation and different scenarios are made to estimate evolution
different scenarios are made to estimate evolution
Sven Smolders is a bio
Sven
Smolders is a bio‐engineer
engineer with a taste for water and ecology
with a taste for water and ecology
 svensmolders@gmail.com
svensmolders@gmail com
 0032 479 68 94 98
0032 479 68 94 98