1.4 Different Types of Land Use
7
and values against damage generates new and innovative types of land use in addition to
existing ones such as agriculture, trade and shipping. But the closure of the single dike
line at the coast demands for innovation in water management, especially in drainage
management (see Chap. 5).
1.3.2 Drainage Management
The consequence of closing the dike line demands for innovation in drainage management.
Prior to the closure most ditches and rivers were able to discharge gravitationally into
the sea (Fig. 1.3). The land was higher than the water level. After closing the dike line
wooden tubes and wooden tidal gates were built in the dike line to discharge the inland
water. Artificial installations were necessary to drain the hinterland. The area behind the
dike was not further supplied by sediment and was drained; thus, the soil surface began
to subside. At a certain point the elevation of the land was lower than the water level
outside of the drainage means. A further innovation was demanded; the wind mill was
installed to actively pump the water from low-lying areas into higher ditches and canals.
Consequently, high efforts in draining demand even higher efforts in draining because the
land dropped continuously (and sea level rises). Today, large areas of the southern North
Sea coast would only be inhabitable with major restrictions.
Thus, drainage management is the second necessary interests and needs for people
living and working in low-lying coastal areas (Fig. 1.4). The term water management is
used ambiguously: sometimes it encompasses all aspects of water management such as
surface, sea and ground water. Sometimes it touches only the quantity (mainly too much
water, e.g. risk at flooding) but also the quality of water (pollution by toxic or fertilizing
substances). Sometimes it contains besides the draining of low-lying areas also coastal
protection (i.e. the protection against flooding from the sea with all its aspects, e.g. building
dikes, fighting erosion) and, additionally, the irrigation of arid areas. Nevertheless, the
management of the water is essential at the coast to enable safe living and working. That’s
why this textbook on ICZM concentrates mainly on water-related issues, but does not lose
sight of other interests and needs at the coast.
1.4 Different Types of Land Use
Based on the previous description further interests and needs were established at the coast
with the growing safety against flooding and the supply guarantee of essentials of life
such as fresh water and food. Hereafter, only a selection of interests and needs is briefly
described. The intention is to outline a short overview of aspects which should be kept in
mind when talking about the management in the water sector. Some of these land uses are
mutually dependent such as agriculture and drainage management. Some of these land uses
7
and values against damage generates new and innovative types of land use in addition to
existing ones such as agriculture, trade and shipping. But the closure of the single dike
line at the coast demands for innovation in water management, especially in drainage
management (see Chap. 5).
1.3.2 Drainage Management
The consequence of closing the dike line demands for innovation in drainage management.
Prior to the closure most ditches and rivers were able to discharge gravitationally into
the sea (Fig. 1.3). The land was higher than the water level. After closing the dike line
wooden tubes and wooden tidal gates were built in the dike line to discharge the inland
water. Artificial installations were necessary to drain the hinterland. The area behind the
dike was not further supplied by sediment and was drained; thus, the soil surface began
to subside. At a certain point the elevation of the land was lower than the water level
outside of the drainage means. A further innovation was demanded; the wind mill was
installed to actively pump the water from low-lying areas into higher ditches and canals.
Consequently, high efforts in draining demand even higher efforts in draining because the
land dropped continuously (and sea level rises). Today, large areas of the southern North
Sea coast would only be inhabitable with major restrictions.
Thus, drainage management is the second necessary interests and needs for people
living and working in low-lying coastal areas (Fig. 1.4). The term water management is
used ambiguously: sometimes it encompasses all aspects of water management such as
surface, sea and ground water. Sometimes it touches only the quantity (mainly too much
water, e.g. risk at flooding) but also the quality of water (pollution by toxic or fertilizing
substances). Sometimes it contains besides the draining of low-lying areas also coastal
protection (i.e. the protection against flooding from the sea with all its aspects, e.g. building
dikes, fighting erosion) and, additionally, the irrigation of arid areas. Nevertheless, the
management of the water is essential at the coast to enable safe living and working. That’s
why this textbook on ICZM concentrates mainly on water-related issues, but does not lose
sight of other interests and needs at the coast.
1.4 Different Types of Land Use
Based on the previous description further interests and needs were established at the coast
with the growing safety against flooding and the supply guarantee of essentials of life
such as fresh water and food. Hereafter, only a selection of interests and needs is briefly
described. The intention is to outline a short overview of aspects which should be kept in
mind when talking about the management in the water sector. Some of these land uses are
mutually dependent such as agriculture and drainage management. Some of these land uses