Print Email Facebook Twitter How natural processes contribute to flood protection Title How natural processes contribute to flood protection: A sustainable adaptation scheme for a wide green dike Author Marijnissen, Richard (Wageningen University & Research) Esselink, Peter (PUCCIMAR) Kok, M. (TU Delft Hydraulic Structures and Flood Risk; HKV Lijn in Water) Kroeze, Carolien (Wageningen University & Research) van Loon-Steensma, J.M. (TU Delft Coastal Engineering; Wageningen University & Research) Date 2020 Abstract Effective adaptation to sea-level rise is critical for future flood protection. Nature-based solutions including salt marshes have been proposed to naturally enhance coastal infrastructure. A gently sloping grass-covered dike (i.e. Wide Green Dike) can be strengthened with clay accumulating locally in the salt marsh. This study explores the feasibility of extracting salt-marsh sediment for dike reinforcement as a climate adaptation strategy in several sea-level rise scenarios, using the Wide Green Dike in the Dutch part of the Ems-Dollard estuary as a case study. A 0-D sedimentation model was combined with a wave propagation model, and probabilistic models for wave impact and wave overtopping. This model system was used to determine the area of borrow pits required to supply clay for adequate dikes under different sea-level rise scenarios. For medium to high sea-level rise scenarios (>102 cm by 2100) thickening of the clay layer on the dike is required to compensate for the larger waves resulting from insufficient marsh accretion. The model results indicate that for our case study roughly 9.4 ha of borrow pit is sufficient to supply clay for 1 km of dike reinforcement until 2100. The simulated borrow pits are refilled within 22 simulation years on average, and infilling is projected to accelerate with sea-level rise and pit depth. This study highlights the potential of salt marshes as an asset for adapting flood defences in the future. Subject Clay miningClimate adaptationFlood riskNature-based solutionsSalt marshSea-level rise To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:4a4c236d-0dda-4a3b-85ff-6e085bba299d DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139698 ISSN 0048-9697 Source Science of the Total Environment, 739, 1-17 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2020 Richard Marijnissen, Peter Esselink, M. Kok, Carolien Kroeze, J.M. van Loon-Steensma Files PDF 1_s2.0_S0048969720332186_main.pdf 2.89 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:4a4c236d-0dda-4a3b-85ff-6e085bba299d/datastream/OBJ/view