The Sigma Plan 3 integrated approaches 1 An integrated project The four principles of the Sigma Plan
Flood protection
Nature
Economy
Leisure The Sigma Plan
Scheldt estuary
Area covered by the Sigma Plan
Flood protection Good protection against flooding
Robust embankments and flood barriers
Flood control areas
Depoldering Flood control areas in the updated Sigma Plan
Polders of Kruibeke Kruibeke 600 hectare
Schouselbroek Polder van Lier Temse Lier Potpolder IV 127 hectare Waasmunster 25 hectare 82 hectare
Tielrodebroek Oudbroek- Bastenakkers Temse Schellandpolder Anderstadt II Wetteren en 93 hectare Bornem Lier Destelbergen 133 hectare 11 hectare 100 hectare
Bergemeersen Wichelen Bovenzanden 40 hectare Willebroek Lippenbroek 33 hectare Hamme 10 hectare
Wijmeers 1 Grote Vijver Berlare Mechelen Grote Wal, 140 hectare 100 hectare Kleine Wal en Zwijn Hamme 145 hectare
Tien Zennegat Vierendelen Mechelen Willebroek 65 hectare Vlassenbroek 37 hectare Dendermonde Ham Paardeweide 240 hectare Wetteren Berlare en 23 hectare Wichelen 84 hectare Depoldering in the updated Sigma Plan Heights embankments updated Sigma Plan
ZONE 1 – 11,00 m TAW
ZONE 2 – 9,25 m TAW
ZONE 3 – 8,35 m TAW
ZONE 4 – 8,00 m TAW Proven effectiveness
Cyclone Xaver in 2013
Sigma project Kalkense Meersen Cluster (Paardeweide) Proven effectiveness
Storm surge in 2016 and 2017
Sigma project Dyle Estuary (Zennegat) Nature Sigma plan – objectives for favourable state
• Extra 500 ha mudflats, 1500 ha tidal marshes
• 500 à 900 ha marsh and reed lands
• Minimum areas of subtypes (8-12 ha of 3150) • 600 - 1200 ha qualitative grassland
• Minimum areas of 38 - 69 ha (6430), 232 - 476 ha (6510)… • 400 ha alluvial forest
• Viable populations of breeding species (both ‘European’ and ‘locally’ important species) …
• Minimum numbers of overwintering birds
• Chemical parameters: oxigen, silicate, ...
• ... Nature & flood control 645 kilometer of embankments
18 Large ‘space for water’ projects
260 km tidal river
900 MIO Euro
69 projects
Sigma in numbers 14 European + 3 regionally important habitats
37 European + 36 regionally important species
extra nature
5300 hectares total 1500 hectares ready 1800 hectares in realisation
together 14.000 ha nature 1 solution for 3 problems
elaborate nature restoration program
higher priority
more budget
more cooperation and combined know-how
more goodwill between administrations Issue 1 Integration = highly effective, but also slow and complex and only as strong as the weakest part Issue 2 Integration = open for new partnerships (leisure, tourism) 2 Integrated management How does a flood control area work? How doesOntpoldering depoldering work? How does a flood area with controlled reduced tides work? Flood control area and fish migration
Remove bottlenecks with
(tide semi-independent) fish-friendly locks and fish ladders Mud flats and marshes the river’s lungs (natural capital)
Carbon storage Habitat for birds
Protection against flooding
Spawning place for fishes
Higher percentage of oxygen
Exchange and in-take of nutrients and source of silicium
Benefits
Climate proof against rise of sea level No inudation of tidal marshes No rise in dynamics (high food levels)
Climate proof against summer draught Meadow birds
Fish nurseries Issue 3 Integration = answer to multiple management problems 3 Integrating your project Beautiful islands in a hostile environment … • No food in the surrounding fields, no marsh harrier…
• No connection, no migration, no mallow skipper … Issue 4 High quality nature can only fully function with a sound integration on a landscape scale