The role of mud flats, salt marshes and nature development areas along the Scheldt as 'accomodation space' for sludge

The present project proposal aims to map the accommodation space in the Scheldt, and to characterize the processes and mechanisms that determine its dynamics. The following 2 groups of questions will be discussed:1. What is the current role of (intertidal) habitats as sink for sludge? Has it decreased over time? What role can habitats play in the future as a possible sink for sludge? Linked to this can be determined what the role of those habitats for storage of carbon (the so-called blue carbon).2. Is the addition of accomodation space a possible measure to reduce SPM concentrations when this is desired? Is this possible, for example, by adding extra tidal areas (eg GOG-GGG), or via specially constructed sludge catchment areas (inspired by the enormous quantities of sludge that ended up in Burchtse Weel?) Is a combination of nature development and sludge collection possible with possibly useful use? of the sedimented grout?

Keywords:SCHELDT

Disciplines:Ecology, Environmental science and management, Other environmental sciences