Coastal management

In 2001 the national researchprogram Kust2005 was started bij RIKZ of Rijkswaterstaat. This program is intended to provide morphological knowledge, methods and instruments to optimize coastal management.

 

Beach nourishment

We have been asked to provide knowledge about the effectiveness of a nourishment on the coast and the subsequent sediment transport in the Oostgat area.

 

Fieldwork

The nourihsment was filled with glauconitic sand. Since the glauconitic sand contains specific concentrations of the natural occurring radionuclides U and K, the material can be followed by the Medusa sensor and can be used as a tracer.

 

Results

Mulitple measurements, from the moment shortly before nourishment until one year after, show that two sand-ripples had formed which move slowly in the south-east direction. After one year only 29% of the sand had dissappeared from the suppletion-area. This research showed that a nourishment on this location can be succesfull. Moreover, information has been provided concerning the sediment transport after suppletion.