The Environmental Perspective of the Rhine

Transcription

1 The Environmental Perspective of the Rhine Navigation and EU Water Framework Directive Margriet Schoor, Rijkswaterstaat, The Netherlands

2 The Dutch Rhine The Environmental Perspective of the Rhine 2 Connects Port Rotterdam with rest of Europe Rotterdam Navigable rivers in western Europe

3 The Rhine Delta The Environmental Perspective of the Rhine 3 Rotterdam 2/3 1/3 Germany

4 Navigation on the Rhine The Environmental Perspective of the Rhine 4 Busiest river in Europe 165,000 ships/year (max 6-barge tugs) 160 million ton goods/year St. Andries 260 m photo: B. Boekhoven

5 Dutch Government policies on main river interests Increase flood protection levels The Environmental Perspective of the Rhine 5 Increase inland water transport potentials AND increase ecological potentials Today the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) plays a structuring role Doesburg

6 EU Water Framework Direction The Environmental Perspective of the Rhine 6 What s in the law? Make water quality (chemical & ecological) as good as possible, Maintaining navigation, flood control and water supply. Before 2015 (delay 2027)

7 Biological Water Quality The Environmental Perspective of the Rhine 7 What s it about? algae fish macro invertebrates water plants

8 The Rhine in the Netherlands The Environmental Perspective of the Rhine 8 Groynes prevent lateral migration Main channel incises no shallow flowing water levees Floodplains aggrade photo: B. Boekhoven

9 The Rhine in the Netherlands The Environmental Perspective of the Rhine 9 Hagestein Levees weirs and sluices bank hinder fish migration reinforcement bend cut-offs increase slope photo: B. Boekhoven

10 2 major effects of navigation The Environmental Perspective of the Rhine Lack of shallow flowing water (due to straightening and deepening) St. Andries High exposure to waves and suction photo: B. Boekhoven

11 Biological needs The Environmental Perspective of the Rhine 11 Shallow and clear water with low turbulence River bed with low turbulence Sandy banks & woody debris & water plants Slow flowing water for resting and young fish, Spawning grounds like flooded grassland and sand bars Free migration in river basin Current situation few amounts of specific riverine species

12 Perspective of the Rhine The Environmental Perspective of the Rhine 12 Navigation channel suitable for migration and dispersion of species Conditions: fish passages in weirs, annual flood pulse in floodplain Navigation channel is not a good habitat Improve habitats near banks and in floodplains HOW?

13 Fish passages The Environmental Perspective of the Rhine 13 constructed For upstream migration of fish Amerongen photo: B. Boekhoven

14 Side channels The Environmental Perspective of the Rhine 14 3 pilots show good results Slow flowing water, natural banks Controlled discharge (max 3%) to prevent sedimentation in navigation channel Inflow in outer bend to prevent sanding up side channel klompenwaard

15 Small channel in groyne fields The Environmental Perspective of the Rhine 15 Stop bank erosion x x x x x Slow flowing water, no waves Lots of (young) fish Opijnen photo: B. Boekhoven

16 Removal of bank revetment The Environmental Perspective of the Rhine 16 New groynes (right bank) Sandy banks, tolerated bank erosion Eroded sediment is transported, no accretion in navigation channel photo: B. Boekhoven IJssel Engelse werk

17 Removal of rip rap The Environmental Perspective of the Rhine 17 There is a lot to be done Also needed: better connection with streams -> fish migration from sea to source IJssel Doesburg Voorster beek flowing into IJssel

18 Future challenges in river management The Environmental Perspective of the Rhine 18 Lower Rhine, Germany Need for deeper and wider navigation channel due to bigger ships Climate change: increase of low & high discharges Stop river bed degradation (instability constructions) Improve Ecology Idea for 35 km parallel dams, with good chances for ecology

19 The environmental perspective of the Rhine The Environmental Perspective of the Rhine 19 Monitoring of side channels, rip rap removal and fish passages show fortifying results Amount of specific riverine specific species is growing, due too creating habitats near banks and floodplain It is not enough yet Possible win-win situation is crucial in financing ecology navigation (parallel dams) ecology flood protection (side channels)

20 Thank you for your attention! The Environmental Perspective of the Rhine 20 photo: B. Boekhoven