Environmental Enhancement of Infrastructure
Rich Revetments: Enhancing Hard Substrates for Ecology Zierikzee/Sint Annaland, the Eastern Scheldt, the Netherlands Many dikes and other hard coastal defense structures around the world are in need of reinforcement in order to meet the changing safety standards associated with sea-level rise. During the dike design and construction phases, increased attention is being given to sustaining the biodiversity attached to these artificial substrates. Ecologically friendly designs were implemented at various locations in the Eastern Scheldt as a part of dike reinforcement projects. For this Projectbureau Zeeweringen effort, which lasted from 2013 to 2017, designs were created from different materials to enhance the natural richness of the dike revetment, the dike foot, and the lower foreshore. For example, concrete dike revetment was designed with small holes to increase both moisture content and attachment opportunities for wildlife. This project showcased how Building with Nature techniques for enhancing species habitat during a reinforcement project can be implemented without significantly increasing the project’s costs.
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