CHAPTER 12
Managing the Ecology and Economy of Modified
Estuaries: The Delta Project in The Netherlands
Aad C. Smaal . Aile van der Hoek
12.1
Introduction
The Delta Project
Like most delta-estuarine environments, in its natural state the Dutch Delta region, in
which the Rhine, Meuse and ScheIdt have their estuaries, contains various complicated
ecosystems. These reflect the complex hydrodynamic regime, with fast-flowing water
masses in tidal channels, changing estuarine configurations, inhomogeneous tidal and
subtidal sediments and salt marshes that flood periodically (Fig. 12.1). The history of
o
NORTH SEA
~ dunes
",
IIIIIIIIIII tida l flats
-
marches
-,
20km
"-~~-====
Fig. 12.1. Delta area of the rivers Rhine (Rijn), Meuse (Maas) and Scheidt (ScheIde) in the south-west
Netherlands in 1950 with salt- and freshwater marshes, tidal flats and dunes
Managing the Ecology and Economy of Modified
Estuaries: The Delta Project in The Netherlands
Aad C. Smaal . Aile van der Hoek
12.1
Introduction
The Delta Project
Like most delta-estuarine environments, in its natural state the Dutch Delta region, in
which the Rhine, Meuse and ScheIdt have their estuaries, contains various complicated
ecosystems. These reflect the complex hydrodynamic regime, with fast-flowing water
masses in tidal channels, changing estuarine configurations, inhomogeneous tidal and
subtidal sediments and salt marshes that flood periodically (Fig. 12.1). The history of
o
NORTH SEA
~ dunes
",
IIIIIIIIIII tida l flats
-
marches
-,
20km
"-~~-====
Fig. 12.1. Delta area of the rivers Rhine (Rijn), Meuse (Maas) and Scheidt (ScheIde) in the south-west
Netherlands in 1950 with salt- and freshwater marshes, tidal flats and dunes