Building safety with nature

Salt marshes for flood risk reduction

Doctoral thesis (2019)

Authors

V. Vuik Coastal Engineering - CEG
Research Group
Coastal Engineering (CEG) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2019 V. Vuik
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4233/uuid:9339474c-3c48-437f-8aa5-4b908368c17e
Vegetation Flood risk Foreshore Nature-based solutions Salt marsh
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Published Date

2019

Language

English

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Faculty

Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Department

Hydraulic Engineering

Research Group

Coastal Engineering

Abstract

Flood risk reduction in coastal areas is traditionally approached from a conventional engineering perspective, where dikes and dams are built to withstand the forces of tides, surges and waves. Recently, a nature-based approach to flood risk reduction is increasingly promoted, in which the benefits of coastal ecosystems for reducing the impact of extreme weather events are utilized. Ecosystems such as salt marshes, mangrove forests, coral reefs and sand dunes are preserved, enhanced or even created, in order to reduce flood risk in coastal areas. Nature-based flood defenses can work stand-alone, like sand dunes, but can also function in combination with engineered defenses, for example when vegetated foreshores reduce wave loads on dikes or dams.