110
5 Challenges: Sectoral Descriptions
one hand, vessel movement is seen as not so worse for the protected areas (yellow boxes).
On the other hand, dredging activities are seen as positive for vessel movement (green
boxes).
In general, the matrix could be interpreted that the red boxes indicate severe conflicts,
yellow boxes negative impacts but less severe. Green and light green boxes indicate positive influences of uses and/or management tools. Grey boxes indicating no or neutral impact
on each other. The conflict matrix shows that most conflicts exist between navigation and
other uses (red frame) and that nature conservation is mostly threatened by all other uses
(blue frame). This statement is neither remarkable nor new but visually indicates that the
main driver for changes in estuaries is linked to transport. The situation is slightly different
for the other estuaries under investigation in the TIDE project – see Cutts and Hemingway
(2013). The important step is now to consider this result when planning new adaptations
of fairways posed by an increasing demand of the transport sector. The integration of the
consequences either on the natural environment (degradation) or for consequential costs
to reduce, to minimize or to avoid negative effects.
Example: Current Situation of Water Management at the Weser With regard to the
previous section the current situation for water management in general will now be outlined. If the transport sector is one of the major drivers one key for solving conflicts lies
in the comprehensive and integrated treatment of future plans and a thorough reprocessing
and reassessment of past activities and their consequences.
Flood Protection
As an example, in Fig. 5.39 the flood protection measures at the Weser after the severe
storm surge in 1962 are illustrated. All tributaries were closed off either by barriers or
sluices. The concept was to protect the low-lying marsh lands against flooding by storm
tides. In case of a storm surge these barriers and sluices will be closed and the high
water levels won’t penetrate further inland. But, storm surge events sometimes are accompanied by heavy rain fall events which led to a higher run-off in the hinterland.
Caused by the closed barriers the inland water can not be drained if necessary, thus,
the water level in the discharge system is increasing. The risk of flooding by fluvial
high water could increase. Therefore, additional flood control measures have been installed behind the closed barrier, for example, retentions ponds that could be flooded
during high water to protect covered area against flooding. The same development can
be observed at the rivers Schelde and Elbe. Side channels either were closed off or
reduced in their shape, barriers and sluices are controlling the water level of the tributaries. Sea walls and dikes have been built and are continuously heightened along the
estuaries.
Drainage and Watering of Low-Lying Areas
The consequence of flood control measures is the necessity to install infrastructure to drain
the low-lying marsh land. At some places these features are solely tidal gates, sometimes
5 Challenges: Sectoral Descriptions
one hand, vessel movement is seen as not so worse for the protected areas (yellow boxes).
On the other hand, dredging activities are seen as positive for vessel movement (green
boxes).
In general, the matrix could be interpreted that the red boxes indicate severe conflicts,
yellow boxes negative impacts but less severe. Green and light green boxes indicate positive influences of uses and/or management tools. Grey boxes indicating no or neutral impact
on each other. The conflict matrix shows that most conflicts exist between navigation and
other uses (red frame) and that nature conservation is mostly threatened by all other uses
(blue frame). This statement is neither remarkable nor new but visually indicates that the
main driver for changes in estuaries is linked to transport. The situation is slightly different
for the other estuaries under investigation in the TIDE project – see Cutts and Hemingway
(2013). The important step is now to consider this result when planning new adaptations
of fairways posed by an increasing demand of the transport sector. The integration of the
consequences either on the natural environment (degradation) or for consequential costs
to reduce, to minimize or to avoid negative effects.
Example: Current Situation of Water Management at the Weser With regard to the
previous section the current situation for water management in general will now be outlined. If the transport sector is one of the major drivers one key for solving conflicts lies
in the comprehensive and integrated treatment of future plans and a thorough reprocessing
and reassessment of past activities and their consequences.
Flood Protection
As an example, in Fig. 5.39 the flood protection measures at the Weser after the severe
storm surge in 1962 are illustrated. All tributaries were closed off either by barriers or
sluices. The concept was to protect the low-lying marsh lands against flooding by storm
tides. In case of a storm surge these barriers and sluices will be closed and the high
water levels won’t penetrate further inland. But, storm surge events sometimes are accompanied by heavy rain fall events which led to a higher run-off in the hinterland.
Caused by the closed barriers the inland water can not be drained if necessary, thus,
the water level in the discharge system is increasing. The risk of flooding by fluvial
high water could increase. Therefore, additional flood control measures have been installed behind the closed barrier, for example, retentions ponds that could be flooded
during high water to protect covered area against flooding. The same development can
be observed at the rivers Schelde and Elbe. Side channels either were closed off or
reduced in their shape, barriers and sluices are controlling the water level of the tributaries. Sea walls and dikes have been built and are continuously heightened along the
estuaries.
Drainage and Watering of Low-Lying Areas
The consequence of flood control measures is the necessity to install infrastructure to drain
the low-lying marsh land. At some places these features are solely tidal gates, sometimes