ClimASed works on a climate-proof sediment approach in watercourses

Watercourses are of strategic importance, but are increasingly affected by erosion and excess sediment as a result of climate change. This has adverse effects on water quality and storage capacity. With ClimASed, we are looking for climate-resilient solutions for sediment management in our river basins.

Climate adaptation

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What and why?

ClimASed stands for Climate change Adaptation for and with Sediments. Climate change leads to increased soil erosion and disruption of the sediment balance. This poses risks to water quality, river ecosystems, shipping and flood management. It has consequences for biodiversity, infrastructure and economies throughout north-western Europe.

ClimASed covers nine pilot areas spread across the Shannon (Ireland), Scheldt (France/Belgium) and Rhine (Germany) river basins. This supports the development of a transnational sediment strategy and action plans for different parts of rivers, from upstream to downstream, across the entire catchment area.

Goal of the project

The ClimASed project will develop climate-resilient sediment management strategies for the Scheldt (FR; BE), Shannon (IE) and Rhine (DE) river basins. Using monitoring, modelling and adaptation planning, the project aims to propose sustainable solutions for sediment management, sediment transport and water quality under changing climate conditions.

An important approach is the use of adaptive pathways, which help watercourse managers to anticipate future tipping points and implement long-term strategies. ClimASed will also apply advanced monitoring and modelling tools to assess the impact of climate change. In the video below from our launch event in Leuven, project leader Joe Harrington explains this in more detail.

Role of the VMM

The VMM, in collaboration with other partners, will estimate sediment transport and sediment balance in the Dijle and Douvebeek river basins, taking climate scenarios into account. Based on this, climate adaptation measures will be proposed to control the sediment balance.

In addition, the VMM will encourage the reuse of sediment by improving the dredged sludge so that it can be used as a soil improver on degraded farmland. This will not only help to restore the sediment balance, but also reduce the susceptibility of the farmland to erosion. Finally, we are looking into the possibility of improving the quality of the sediment on site by treating it locally with nature-based techniques (e.g. phytoremediation).

Project partners

• Belgium
• Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij
• Departement Mobiliteit en Openbare Werken
• Departement Omgeving
• Service Public de Wallonie Mobilité et Infrastructures
• ULiége
• Ireland
• Munster Technological University (lead)
• Office of Public Works
• France
• IXSANE
• Cerema
• Université de Lille
• SYMEA
• Germany
• Bundesanstalt fur Gewasserkunde