Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

On the feasibility of managed retreat in the Wadden Sea of Schleswig-Holstein

  • Published:
Journal of Coastal Conservation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Sea embankments along the mainland coastline in the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea safeguard 130,000 people and 19 billion € of capital assets from flooding during storm surges. Due to climate change induced sea-level rise, these defences will become exposed to higher storm surges and adaptation becomes inevitable. As an alternative to strengthening, managed retreat is discussed in literature as a coastal risk management option for climate change adaptation. Based on an evaluation of examples from the Wadden Sea, this paper elaborates managed retreat as alternative climate change adaptation from a coastal risk management perspective. This paper concludes that, conform the principles of integrated coastal zone management, one precondition for successful implementation of managed retreat is local acceptance. With respect to natural resilience to sea-level rise, managed retreat may counteract the loss of Wadden Sea structures and habitats due to coastal squeeze. However, the effectiveness depends on the surface elevation in the opened polder. If large volumes of sediment are needed to restore a natural elevation, regional resilience against SLR-induced drowning may deteriorate. With respect to coastal flood risk management in Schleswig-Holstein, opened polders have no significance as flood retention rooms and managed retreat does not reduce the hazard of flooding in surrounding polders. Further, removal of primary embankments requires large efforts to secure flood safety in adjacent polders. Under certain conditions, removal or opening of embankments may constitute sustainable coastal risk management, e.g., if retreat leads to a shorter line of defence or if other win-win-situations like securing of NATURA 2000 coherence arise.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

CCA:

Climate change adaptation

CRM:

Coastal risk management

LKN.SH:

Schleswig-Holstein State Agency for Coastal Flood Defence and Protection, the National Park and Marine Protection

MHW:

Mean tidal high water level

SLR:

Sea-level rise

References

  • ABPmer (2017) UK Marine Habitat Creation Schemes, A summary of completed managed realignment and regulated exchange projects (1991–2016). ABPmer White Paper Report R. 2781

  • Arns A, Dangendorf S, Jensen J, Talke S, Bender J, Pattiaratchi C (2017) Sea-level rise induced amplification of coastal protection design heights. Nat Sci Rep. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep40171

  • Barkowski J, Kolditz K, Brumsack HJ, Freund H (2009) The impact of tidal inundation on salt marsh vegetation after de-embankment on Langeoog Island, Germany – Six years’ time series of permanent plots. J Coast Conserv 13(4):185–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Becherer J, Hofstede JLA, Gräwe U, Purkiani K, Schulz E, Burchard H (2017) The Wadden Sea in transition - consequences of sea level rise. Ocean Dynamics https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-017-1117-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CPSL (2001) Final Report of the trilateral working group on coastal protection and sea level rise - CPSL. Wadden Sea Ecosystem 13:1–63

    Google Scholar 

  • CWSS and World Heritage Nomination Project Group (2008) Nomination of the Dutch-German Wadden Sea as world heritage site. Wadden Sea Ecosystem 24:1–200

    Google Scholar 

  • DEFRA (2004) Maintenance of Uneconomic Sea Flood Defences: A Way Forward. London: Environment Agency, Flood Management Division https://jeremyshiers.com/downloads/maintenanceOfUneconomicSeaFloodDefences.pdf. Accessed 31 March 2018

  • English Nature (1992) Coastal Zone Conservation, English Nature’s rationale, objectives and practical recommendations. English Nature, Peterborough

    Google Scholar 

  • Grinsted A, Jevrejeva S, Riva REM, Dahl-Jensen D (2015) Sea level rise projections for northern Europe under RCP8.5. Clim Res 64:15–23. https://doi.org/10.3354/cr01309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hagge A, Thiel H, Peters CP, Lüdemann K (1998) Hydrobiologische Untersuchungen im Beltringharder Koog und in den vorgelagerten Wattgebieten – Abschlussbericht 1987–1997, Teil 3: Salzwasserlagune. Gutachten Universität Hamburg im Auftrag des Amtes für Land- und Wasserwirtschaft, Husum

  • Het Groninger Landschap (2013) Brakwatergebied Polder Breebaart; Eindrapportage duurzame instandhouding slib-huishouding. Stichting Het Groninger Landschap, Haren pp 1–16

  • Hofstede JLA (2007) Entwicklung des Meeresspiegels und der Sturmfluten: ist der anthropogene Klimawandel bereits sichtbar? Coastline Reports 9:139–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofstede JLA (2015) Theoretical considerations on how Wadden Sea tidal basins may react to accelerated sea level rise. Annals of Geomorphology 59(3):377–391

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hofstede JLA, Hamann M (2002) Integrated management of coastal defence in Schleswig-Holstein: experiences and challenges. In: Schernewski G. and U. Schiewer (Eds): Baltic Coastal Ecosystems. CEEDES, Springer-Verlag, Berlin 377–388

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hofstede JLA et al (2009) Küstenschutzstrategien - Bericht einer FAK-Arbeitsgruppe. Die Küste 76:1–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofstede JLA, Stock M (2016) Climate change adaptation in the Schleswig-Holstein sector of the Wadden Sea: an integrated state governmental strategy. J Coast Conserv 22:199–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2014) Climate Change 2014 – Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Core Writing Team, R.K. Pachauri and L.A. Meyer (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland. ISBN: 978–92–9169-143-2

  • Kwakernaak C, Lenselink G (2015) Economische en ecologische perspectieven van een dubbele dijk langs de Eems-Dollard. Alterra-rapport 2635, Deltares-rapport 1209046.000.BGS.0009

  • MELUR (2013) Generalplan Küstenschutz des Landes Schleswig-Holstein – Fortschreibung 2012. Ministerium für Energiewende, Landwirtschaft, Umwelt und ländliche Räume des Landes Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel

  • MLR (2001) Generalplan Küstenschutz – Integriertes Küstenschutzmanagement in Schleswig-Holstein 2001. Ministerium für ländliche Räume, Landesplanung, Landwirtschaft und Tourismus des Landes Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel

  • Morris RKA (2012) Managed realignment: A sediment management perspective. Ocean Coast Manag 65:59–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2012.04.019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niemeyer HD (1983) über den Seegang an einer inselgeschützten Wattküste. BMFT-Forschungsbericht MF0203

  • NPV (Hrsg., 2016) 30 Jahre Nationalpark Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer - Einzigartiges gemeinsam schützen. Schriftenreihe der Nationalparkverwaltung „Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer“ 15:1–122

  • Pethick J (2002) Estuarine and Tidal Wetland Restoration in the United Kingdom: Policy Versus Practice. Restor Ecol 10(3):431–437

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Probst B (1998) Leitbild und Ziele des Küstenschutzes in Schleswig-Holstein. Wasser und Boden 50(12):19–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Reise K (2015) Kurswechsel Küste: Was tun, wenn die Nordsee steigt? Wachholtz Murmann Publishers, Kiel

    Google Scholar 

  • Reise K (2017) Facing the third dimension in coastal flatlands: global sea level rise and the need for coastal transformations. GAIA 25(4):89–93. https://doi.org/10.14512/gaia.26.2.6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scherenberg R, Saggau W (1988) Der Bau der Vordeichung vor der Hattstedter Marsch im Rahmen der Kustenschutzmaßnahmen in der Nordstrander Bucht. Die Küste 47:205–243

    Google Scholar 

  • Siefert W (1974) Über den Seegang in Flachwassergebieten. Mitteilungen des LWI der TU Braunschweig 40:1–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Stive M, de Schipper M, Luijendijk A, Ranasinghe R, van Thiel de Vries J, Aarninkhof S, van Gelder-Maas C, de Vries S, Henriquez M, Marx S (2013) The sand engine: a solution for vulnerable deltas in the 21st century. Coastal Dynamics 2013, 7th International Conference on Coastal Dynamics, Arcachon pp 1537–1546

  • Stadelmann R (2008) Den Fluten Grenzen setzen – Schleswig-Holsteins Küstenschutz – Westküste und Elbe, Band 1: Nordfriesland. Husum Druck- und Verlagsgesellschaft, Husum

    Google Scholar 

  • Temmerman S, Meire P, Tj B, Herman P, Ysebaert T, de Vriend H (2013) Ecosystem-based coastal defence in the face of global change. Nature 504:79–83. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature12859

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Loon-Steensma JM, Schelfhout HA, van Hattum T, Smale A, Gözüberk I (2014) Innovatieve dijken als strategie voor een veilig en aantrekkelijk Waddengebied: Samenvatting van het Deltaprogramma Waddengebied onderzoek naar innovatieve dijken. Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Milieu, Ministerie van Economische Zaken, Landbouw en Innovatie, Den Haag

  • Van Loon T, Officer I, Slabbers S, Spijkerman A (2015) WadLAB: Haalbaarheidsstudie multifunctionele dubbele keringzone Eemshaven Delfzijl. Bosch Slabbers Landschapsarchitecten, Den Haag

    Google Scholar 

  • Wahl T, Jensen J, Frank T, Haigh I (2011) Improved estimates of mean sea level changes in the German Bight over the last 166 years. Ocean Dyn 61(5):701–715

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wamsley TV, Cialone MA, Smith JM, Atkinson JH, Rosati JD (2010) The potential of wetlands in reducing storm surge. Ocean Eng 37:59–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WWF Deutschland (2015) Klimaanpassung an weichen Küsten - Fallbeispiele aus Europa und den USA für das schleswig-holsteinische Wattenmeer. WWF-Studie ISBN 978–3–946211-03-7

  • WWF Deutschland (2016) Zukunft Dockkoog. Gemeinsam für Husum mehr erreichen. Bericht der Projektgruppe Dockkoog 2015/16. http://wwf.de/watt/dockkoog. Accessed 31 March 2018

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Schleswig-Holstein Ministry of Energy Transition, Agriculture, Environment, Nature and Digitization, Mercatorstrasse 3-5, D-24105, Kiel, Germany

    Jacobus L. A. Hofstede

Authors
  1. Jacobus L. A. Hofstede
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jacobus L. A. Hofstede.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hofstede, J.L.A. On the feasibility of managed retreat in the Wadden Sea of Schleswig-Holstein. J Coast Conserv 23, 1069–1079 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-019-00714-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-019-00714-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation