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Policy planning in the Oosterschelde estuary

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Abstract

During the execution of the Delta project the awareness of the environmental values of estuaries was growing strongly. This awareness has led to a reconsideration of the original proposal to close off the Oosterschelde, and to an alternative view of the management of the estuarine areas and of the civil engineering structures. Now, the completed storm-surge barrier and two compartmentation dams, together with the reinforced dikes, guarantee a sufficient safety against flooding.

After the decision to build a storm-surge barrier it was soon recognized that a coherent plan would be needed for the management and development of the Oosterschelde. A policy plan was accordingly produced in which the broad outlines of the policy were set out regarding the various potential uses of the estuary and the possible means of effecting them. Because of the periodic improvement and adjustment of the policy plan an environmental research programme was set up. Also, environmental research played a significant role in the decision-making processes for the completion of the barrier and the compartmentation dams as well as for the management of the storm-surge barrier.

The coping-stone of the Delta Project marks the beginning of a new period in the water management of the Netherlands: the period of integrated water management.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute for Coastal and Marine Management/RIKZ, P.O. Box 8039, 4330 EA, Middelburg, The Netherlands

    C. J. van Westen

  2. Province of Zeeland, Department of Environment, Transport, Public Works and Water Management, P.O. Box 165, 4330 AD, Middelburg, The Netherlands

    C. J. Colijn

Authors
  1. C. J. van Westen
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  2. C. J. Colijn
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van Westen, C.J., Colijn, C.J. Policy planning in the Oosterschelde estuary. Hydrobiologia 282, 563–574 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00024656

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