Tidal nature as a climate buffer Flood control area
Turning the tide together with nature e
riv
© Y. Adams (Vilda)
Hoogtij, festivities in the Scheldt Valley! Discover all the Scheldt Valley has to offer while sailing, cycling and walking during the annual Hoogtij event. www.hoogtijscheldevallei.be
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www.life-sparc.eu
mud flat
river
CO2
marsh
Carbon storage. Mud flats and marshes store carbon from the air. Habitat for water birds and migratory birds. Birds find shelter in the willow tidal forests and reed beds in the marshes and food in the mud flats.
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The Scheldt has one of the largest estuaries in Europe, a funnel-shaped river mouth where river water and seawater meet and where tides are distinctively clear. In the last few centuries, we have forced the Scheldt and its tributaries into a straightjacket by impoldering areas and straightening the rivers. This has resulted in less room for them to overflow their banks, affecting the risk of flooding. This risk is also increasing as a result of climate change: sea levels are rising, storms are increasingly intense and flooding more frequent. Other consequences are hot summers and droughts.
Flanders Hydraulics Research
CO2
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Climate change: a challenge for the Scheldt Valley
Together with these partners, we are creating a climate-resilient and future-proof Scheldt Valley:
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Spawning and breeding ground for fish. Fish find a quiet spot to breed and their young can grow in a protected location. Levee protection. The marshes reduce the strength of the river water. The waves no longer batter the river levees as hard, thereby preventing erosion.
Better protection against flooding
Higher oxygen level. The water here is relatively shallow. This ensures considerable contact between the water and air, resulting in more oxygen in the water. Sunlight is also well able to penetrate the water, enabling algae to create more oxygen.
Nature as an ally Tidal nature consists of low-lying mud flats and higher-lying marshes that flood either in full or in part during high tide. In the past few decades, a tremendous amount of tidal nature has disappeared, while wetlands are a necessary ally against the consequences of climate change. A resilient river with a sufficient amount of mud flats and marshes can protect the entire region from extreme weather conditions. Tidal nature subdues tidal waves and the strength of the tides. But investing in this type of nature offers far more advantages - for people, plants and animals. This is explained in the drawing above.
Flanders has formulated the Sigma Plan to create a climate buffer against rising sea levels and extreme weather conditions. How? By offering the Scheldt and its tributaries more space through flood control areas (to capture excess river water) and depoldering (to slow down storm water). The European LIFE project Sparc – Space for Adapting the River Scheldt to Climate Change – includes the creation of eight Sigma areas (see map on back) with funding from the European Union.
Transfer and intake of nutrients and source of silicon. Mud flats and marshes filter out excess nitrogen from the water, while enriching it with silicon. This helps repair the food chain. Tidal nature as a sponge. At high tide, the nature absorbs water and, during dry periods, releases it gradually into the surroundings. This is crucial during long droughts. LIFE Sparc is being carried out on behalf of the European Union as part of the LIFE Climate Action programme.
© Y. Adams (Vilda)
© Y. Adams (Vilda)
Hedwige Prosper Project
Depoldering Lillo
North and Middle Doel Polder
Netherlands
Sch
Belgium
Antwerp Scheldt Quays Antwerp
Burchtse Weel Klein Broek
Waasmunster
Durme valley Durme Hamme E17
Scheldt Meander Ghent Ghent Wetteren
Lippenbroek
Vlassenbroek
Vlassenbroek
Kalkense Meersen Cluster Scheldebroek Ham Wetteren Bastenakkers
Kleine Nete
Herentals E313
Schouselbroek Temse
Lier
Groot Schoor
Rupel
Bornem Cluster Bornem
E19
Nete
De Bunt
Albert Canal
The LIFE Sparc project lets us jointly work towards better protecting the Scheldt Valley from climate change. The project is based on four pillars:
Grote Nete
Dyle Estuary
Room for the river
Grote Nete Valley
Mechelen
A12
Dyle
Groot Schoor
Upper Dyle
Uiterdijk
Aarschot
Dorent Brussels-Scheldt Maritime Canal
Sigma Plan project areas
© Y. Adams (Vilda)
Westerlo
Demer
E40
Sparc project areas
Nete Canal
Scheldt
Dender
Scheldt Valley River Park
Nete and Kleine Nete
Polders of Kruibeke
Wal-Zwijn Wal-Zwijn Dendermonde
E34
Scheldt
E34
Groot Broek
E19
el d e
Demer Valley
Diest
Nature development
Zenne
Vilvoorde
Leuven-Dyle Canal
Depoldering
E314
Flood control areas
LIFE Sparc in numbers 8 climate buffers
Visit the Sparc areas!
428 hectares
90 Scheldt Valley ambassadors:
30 recreational businesses, of freshwater tidal nature 30 'climate parents’ and 30 guides Budget of
Come explore these areas in the company of an enthusiastic guide. The Sparc project runs until 2022 and will offer more and more to experience as it progresses: birdwatching, cycling, walking, climate experience trails, pubs and more. In other words, something for everyone! This approach enables LIFE Sparc to tie in perfectly with the goal of the Rivierpark Scheldevallei (Scheldt Valley River Park) to make the Scheldt region a ‘green’ attraction that is perfect for a day out.
We depolder and create flood control areas. The flood control areas collect water during storms, while depoldering helps reduce the strength of the tides, as well as the pressure on the levees.
8,5 million euros including a European subsidy
3 climate trails
We restore the original tidal nature: mud flats, marshes, channels and creeks, which form a habitat for numerous species of animals and plants. We explore ways to make this nature more resilient against rising sea levels, higher temperatures, longer droughts and more severe storms.
Knowledge sharing We share these unique solutions with custodians of other tidal areas in Europe through, for example, workshops and site visits. Sharing our experiences lets us combine our strengths.
Runs from
2017 to 2022 6000 visitors
expected for cycling, walking and sailing during the annual Hoogtij event
Discovery Visitors can enjoy all the Scheldt Valley has to offer. The annual Hoogtij event, nature experience trails, ‘climate parents’, school packages and other initiatives provide a unique experience. Our ambassadors welcome all visitors with open arms!
More info on the Rivierpark Scheldevallei can be found at www.rivierparkscheldevallei.be/en. © ID/ Daniel Geeraerts
LIFE Sparc is being carried out on behalf of the European Union as part of the LIFE Climate Action programme.