Beneficial and nature-based sediment use - Experiences from Dutch pilots

The natural sediment cycle is disrupted and impacted by human interventions world-wide, such as dams in rivers, port developments in estuaries, dredging activities for the maintenance of existing ports and waterways, and pollution from industrial activities. Coasts, shores, lakes and rivers suffer from an imbalance in sediment quantity and poor sediment quality. This impacts human industrial activities (e.g. navigation, logistic and tourism), life and safety (e.g. space for living, flood safety, food security and loss of productivity). In addition, shortage of sand cause by excessive sand mining or lack of sand in the environment in many locations of the world brings a special focus on fine and soft sediment, generally considered an unsuitable resource if not a contaminated waste. In line with this world-wide demand, EcoShape - Building with Nature is executing various pilots in the Netherlands and Indonesia to improve knowledge and demonstrate practical nature-based solutions regarding management, use and reuse of (fine and soft) sediments. These pilots are bonded in the EcoShape Living Lab for Mud initiative. These pilots cover the entire range from sediment in suspension to sediment as building material, embedding ecology, operations as well as socio-economic considerations. This presentation will focus on two of these pilots located in the Netherlands: the Mud Motor and de Kleirijperij (also part of the Eems-Dollard 2050 program). The Mud Motor explored potential for beneficial use of dredge sediments to feed salt marshes, through strategic disposal and optimal use of natural processes. The Kleirijperij studies the technical and financial feasibility of turning dredge sediments into clay-soil for dike construction. During the presentations we will focus on technical results as well as governance challenges and triggers critical for the realization of sustainable beneficial sediment use projects. These pilots and this presentation tight also to the 2017 CEDA and the 2018 PIANC working groups on Beneficial Sediment Use