European state -of -the-art on sediment

Final Conference LIFE+ project GreenSite “Innovative Technologies for Infra-structural Efficiency and Environment Protection”, 13 December 2013, Venice

European state -of -the-art on sediment management: sediment management 2.0

Jos Brils (jos.brils@deltares.nl)www.deltares.nlexperts.deltares.nl/jos.brils

Content

My vision on:

• Sediment

• Sustainable sediment management: guiding principles

• Sediment management 2.0

• Ecosystem services as objective and common language• Ecosystem services as objective and common language

Vision based on

yes2013

trend

observed predicted

no

Vision on sediment

senzasenza sedimentisedimenti non non VeneziaVenezia--

sedimentosedimento è è unauna risorsarisorsa preziosapreziosa----

meritamerita di di essereessere ben ben gestitagestita!!

graciegracie freetranslation.com freetranslation.com fotofoto: : lag unalaguna di di VeneziaVenezia (J. (J. BrilsBrils, , graciegracie KLM)KLM)

Hidden

Different visions(Hakstege, SedNet conference 2004)

Waste

Toxic

Not sexy

Difficult

Nimby

Contradicting visions

yes (same quality)

assessed (scientific) = perceived (society)

SedNet vision(Martin, 2002)

Too little sediment

Beaches erodeRiverbanks erodeWetlands are lostRiver profile degradation

Too much sediment

Obstruction of channelsRivers fill and floodReefs get smotheredTurbidity

Sediment as resource

Construction materialSand for beachesWetland nourishmentSoil enrichmentHabitat and food for life

Sediment = no waste = essential & integral element of our river systems

What’s in a word …

Sand

ResourceHabitat

Clay

SedimentRiver bedCompost

Gravel Capping layer

FertilizerSuspended

matter

Suspended solids

LoosefillSilt

Dredged material

0,10

0,30

0,50

0,70

0,90

1,10

association (y-axis)

scientific (x-axis)positive

very non

very positive

neutral

LoosefillDredged material

DepositSludge

Mud

Waste

Mire

LeesSlurry

Dirt

DungCloth Mess

GunkFilth

Shit -1,50

-1,30

-1,10

-0,90

-0,70

-0,50

-0,30

-0,10-1,50 -1,30 -1,10 -0,90 -0,70 -0,50 -0,30 -0,10 0,10 0,30 0,50 0,70 0,90 1,10 1,30

Brils et al. (2004 ) Devine mud (290 Dutch sediment professional responses to questionnaire)

negative

very non

very negative

Sustainable sediment management:guiding principlesguiding principles

Sustainable sediment management(according to SedNet)

• in the context of the whole river system

• carefully balancing environmental and socio-economical values

• in increased interaction with stakeholders

Find solutions:

• embracing the whole soil-water system (integrated solutions)

• respecting natural processes and functioning

• not resulting in up-/downstream impacts, not now or in the future

Salomons & Brils (Eds.) (2004) Contaminated Sediments in European River Basins

Sediment management 2.0

be well informed

‘trend watched’ by

manage adaptivelypursue a participatory approach

Be well informed

System understanding is the basis

measures

ecosystem at risk

globalchange

information

policy &manage-

mentpathwayssources receptors(ES)

e.g.Triad

Brils et al. (Eds) (2014) Risk-Informed Management of European River Basins

tool type: in vitro & vivo assays field inventoryphysicochemical analysis

Triad approach

identifies:

indicates:

risk

effects ecosystem impacts

impacthazard

a.o. contaminants

causal linking: TIE orEDA

Salomons & Brils, 2004 (adapted)

modelecosystems

EPC(Effects & Probable Causes)

= =

a personal, practical experience

in trying to influence the Meuse river basin management

policy agenda

Example from practice (be well informed ...)

policy agenda

a story abouttiming & urgency of scientific knowledge

Brils. May 24th Green Week 2012. Urgency and timing: key-pillars of the science-policy bridge

One of its conclusions in 2008:

Flooding will

Once I was involved in a EU -project …

mobilize historic contamination from river banks and floodplains

Such contaminated river banks occur:

Also in the Meuse river basin …

I was aware of …

Brils et al. (2014)(inspired by Crilly, 2007)

Their (unofficial) response:• Interesting• But need a more convincing story:

LA COMMISSION INTERNATIONALE DE LA MEUSE

Thus presented results to the IMC …

“elaborate an appealing example, where clearly quantified downstream risks result from remobilized contaminants from upstream Meuse riverbanks”

• Flémalle site• Hypothetical, but

realistic, severe flood event simulation

• Using EXPOBASIN• Benzene, fluoranthene

Thus we did …

• Benzene, fluoranthene and cadmium as representative contaminants

• Funded by Deltares

Keizers-veer

“crustaceans will be affected at downstream areas were the remobilized sediments settle again”

Outcome was …

Flemalle site

Eijsden

(February 2011)

quality of deposits (fluoranthene, µg/kg dw).

Kingdon, 1992. model was used in:

Then ‘window of opportunity’ opened …

sediment at agenda of IMC annual plenary meeting (week 48, 2011)

“after an orientating discussion of the theme 'sediment'

it is decided to let the theme rest due to lacking capacity and other priorities.”

Outcome was …

LA COMMISSION INTERNATIONALE DE LA MEUSE

• It may take quite a lot of endurance to get scientific evidence noticed at policy making levels

• Timing is very important (and think our timing was right)• However, ‘sense of urgency’ is probably more crucial

My conclusions …

What can we do more – or hope for –

to get mobilization of historic contamination perceived as ‘urgent’ and thus to get it addressed in RBMPs?

Manage adaptively

Several adaptive cycli

management

global

measures

policy &manage-receptors

knowledge

apply

policy

formulate

implement

ecosystem at risk

globalchange

information

manage-mentpathwayssources receptors

(ES)

explore organize

share

update

monitor & evaluate

assess

Pursue a participatory approach

Learn together to manage together

learn-by-doing:allow for experimentation

cocreation ofknowledge

Brils et al. (Eds) (2014) Risk-Informed Management of European River Basins

Most difficult, however …

however …

“It is human nature to stay within our own

comfort zones”

Brils et al. (Eds) (2014) Risk-Informed Management of European River Basins

Peggy Guggenheim foundation, Venice

Example from pratice (Living with Dredged Material project)

Adriaan Slob, TNO, adriaan.slob@tno.nl (coördinator Living with Dredged Material)

Ecoystem servicesas objective andas objective andcommon language

Ecosystem services: the services of nature

COM (2013) Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES)

Sediment ecosystems (and their services)

high

Profit People Planet

economy:jobs & energy

Conclusions from session at SedNet conference 2013, Lisbon (chair: J. Brils)

key issues

perceivedurgency

low

safety & health

(sediment)ecosystem services

contributionecosystems work 24/7 for

you,for free! *

* Alan Covich , 2011 SedNet conference

Sediment ecosystems (and their services)

high

Profit People Planet

economy:jobs & energy

construction sandbiomass for energy

fascinating study object

flood defenseC-sequestrationwater retention

Conclusions from session at SedNet conference 2013, Lisbon (chair: J. Brils)

key issues

perceivedurgency

low

safety & health

(sediment)ecosystem services

contribution

works 24/7 for you, for free!toxics immobilization

biomass for consumptionbiodiversity to enjoy

thank youecosystem!

be well informed

To conclude: sediment management 2.0 =

ThankThank youyou forforyouryour attention!attention!

manage adaptively pursue a participatory

approach

... and ecoystem services as objective and common language