SEDNET E-NEWSLETTER – September 2016

 

Website: www.SedNet.org
Compiled by: Marjan Euser (marjan.euser@deltares.nl)
Subscription Service: SedNet Secretariat (marjan.euser@deltares.nl)
Disclaimer: SedNet is not responsible for faults due to incorrectness of info in this newsletter
Previous issues: www.sednet.org/newsletter

 

Contents:

  • SedNet (up) to date
  • New SedNet Steering Group members
  • 10th SedNet Conference 14-17 June 2017
    with free pre-conference sessions by several European projects on 13 June 2017
  • In Memoriam Remi Laane (1949-2016)
  • 2nd International Conference on Deriving Environmental Quality Standards for the Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems (EQSPAE – 2016)
  • West African coast struggling with coastal erosion
  • Sand tracking study for Mississippi Gulf Coast Beach Management
  • Sustainable Port Management Delfzijl
  • Seaport of Emden, Germany, reducing dredging costs by 90%
  • Upcoming events

 

SedNet (up) to date

On 27-28 June 2016 SedNet held a steer group (SG) meeting in Oslo.
Main issues on the SG meeting agenda were the preparation of two upcoming SedNet key-events. The first event is the 3rd SedNet Round Table Discussion (RTD) “Elbe meets Danube” (8-9 November 2016, Budapest). The objective is to exchange experiences between both river basins, and other river basins are welcome to join, on integration of sediment management in WFD River Basin Management Plans (RBMP). Inspired by the work done by SedNet, the SedNet SG member Peter Heininger (BfG) led the process that concluded in the 1st example of full-bodied inclusion of sediment management in a RBMP, i.e. the one for the Elbe. SedNet, in close cooperation with the river basin commissions of the Elbe and the Danube, now organize this RTD.
The 2nd event is the 10th International SedNet conference “Sediments on the Move”. This conference will be held in Genoa, 14-17 June 2017 – see article further in this newsletter.

The SedNet SG was invited by the SG meeting host NGI (also a SedNet SG member) for a nice dinner in the new Olso Opera House. This is a special place for SedNet as the 5th SedNet conference was held in Olso in 2008, having as conference title “Urban sediment management and port redevelopment”. Especially the management of contaminated dredged material from the harbor in front of this Opera house was in 2008 the reason to have this conference theme. Although environmentally it was regarded the most sustainable solution to dispose this material a bit further in a very deep spot of the Oslo Fjord, action groups caused a lot of concern, delay and thus also costs increase of the dredging operations. Even today public concern and opposition hamper management of dredged material in Norway.

oslo-opera-house Oslo Opera House

Authorities investigated the case in eighteen months, and then had to withdraw charges for violation of pollution law.

green-warriors

Photo Green Warriors

SedNet continues to provide a much appreciated platform to all stakeholders, including scientists, to discuss and find generic ways forward to cope with such and other complicated European sediment management issues. Especially where these issues relate to European policies such as the WFD, MSFD, Natura 2000, Biodiversity Strategy and Waste Directive.

By Jos Brils, SedNet SG member, jos.brils@deltares.nl

  

New SedNet Steering Group members

SedNet is glad to may welcome two new members of the Steering Group:

  • Ms Mafalda Carapuço, who is a researcher at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Portugal. Mafalda’s research focuses on the development of approaches to improve the transfer of scientific knowledge to non-scientific audiences. Her goal is to contribute to a knowledge-based society, a vital step towards sustainable coastal and sediment management.
  • Ms Jasmina Obhođaš of the Ruđer Bošković Institute in Croatia. The Ruđer Bošković Institute (RBI) is a national centre for the natural sciences research . Together with her colleagues, Jasmina has founded the Laboratory for Nuclear Analytical Methods (LNAM) in 2009. The LNAM researchers have great experience in the development, integration and testing of the nuclear and atomic technologies in various fields including environmental monitoring.
    Participation in the SedNet network helps sharing of knowledge with other stakeholders.
    Jasmina looks forward to participating in discussions/initiatives on sediment quality, effects of remedial measures, climate change effects, sediments as a resource, establishing a European Atlas of Coastal Sediments, and deep sea sediment research.

10th SedNet Conference 14-17 June 2017
with free pre-conference sessions by several European projects on 13 June 2017

The 10th International SedNet conference “Sediments on the Move” will be held in Genoa, 14-17 June 2017.  The event is co-organised/hosted by the University of Genoa/DISTAV and the Port of Genoa Authority.

Conference topics are:

  • Sediments moving to land, and soil moving to water
  • Sediment balance
  • Using sediments as a resource – Sediments in a circular economy
  • Policy for sediment management: Finding the balance; “everything is contaminated”
  • Climate change; PIANC and SedNet Think Climate! ensure safe and sustainable development?
  • Sediment quality
  • Sediment quality criteria: derivation, implementation and enforcement
  • Effects of remedial measures
  • Innovative maintenance of river-delta-sea systems
  • Disposal of sediments at sea
  • Transboundary sediments

The Call for Abstract will be published by the end of September.

  

In Memoriam Remi Laane (1949-2016)

remi-laane

It is with great sadness to announce that we have lost Prof. dr. R.W.P.M (Remi) Laane on May 31st this year.
Remi was one of the founding fathers of SedNet.
The idea to start SedNet emerged from a sediment workshop organized in April 2000 at the GKSS Research Centre, in Geesthacht, Germany1. Remi was one of the workshop participants and immediately, when the idea was raised, it met Remi’s full interest. Very much due to Remi’s enthusiasm, convincing power and support, the idea could mature into a successful proposal to the European Commission for a 3-year project (2002-2004) with the aim to set up a European Sediment Network, i.e. SedNet.
In those days Remi was working as a marine expert at the Dutch, National Institute for Coastal and Marine Management (RIKZ). This institute merged in 2008 with others into the new, independent applied research institute Deltares. Here he continued working till his retirement, amongst others as an affiliate professor at the University of Amsterdam, holding a special chair in Marine Biogeochemistry.
When the SedNet project kicked-off, he put Joop Bakker – one of his younger RIKZ colleagues – at the front to participate in the project. But Joop was always fully backed-up by Remi’s on-going support and wisdom. This typically demonstrates how we will remember Remi: always recognizing and supporting good ideas, but not having to be in the lead to receive the credits. Rather giving his younger colleagues the opportunity to ‘shine’. That is what we will sadly miss.
1 GKSS workshop reference: https://sednet.org/download/Science_workshop_April_2000_(POR_II).pdf

 

2nd International Conference on Deriving Environmental Quality Standards for the Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems (EQSPAE – 2016)

From 18 to 20th June 2016 the Hong Kong University and the Swire Institute of Marine Science organized the 2nd International Conference on Deriving Environmental Quality Standards for the Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems (EQSPAE – 2016). The conference brought together scientists and environmental practitioners from government, academia and private sector to discuss on the latest developments in the science and methodology for deriving generic and site-specific environmental quality benchmarks as well as advancements in their related policy and application for water quality management in different parts of the world. The program included a one day workshop on derivation and application of sediment quality guidelines and a two days conference with talks and poster presentations dedicated to both the water and sediment compartment. More information is available at the conference website: http://www.biosch.hku.hk/eqspae/


West African coast struggling with coastal erosion

Deltares is working on the quantification of the large-scale coastal sediment budget of four countries in West Africa: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo and Benin. The main objective of the study is to quantify natural sediment transport patterns and the potential effects of major human interventions and climate change on the sediment budget and consequent shoreline changes.

coastal-erosion-at-baguida-beach-togo

Coastal erosion at Baguida beach (Togo)

The coast of West Africa consists of a narrow low-lying coastal strip maintained by sediment from rivers that is transported along the coast by waves and currents like a “sand river”. The coastal areas are home to 31% of the region’s population — which is growing at a rate of four percent annually. The coast also accounts for 56% of the region’s GDP. Today, however, much of the fluvial sand flow is blocked by river dams and/or interrupted at several locations by harbour jetties. The sandy coastal barrier is therefore eroding almost everywhere; the situation is already critical and it is likely to degenerate in the future due to climate change.
According to the Deltares project leader Alessio Giardino, the study is unique for a number of reasons. “First of all, the quantification of the large sediment budget, with one consistent set of numerical models, will make it possible to overcome the fragmentation of information between different countries. This large-scale study will also allow for the assessment of the implications of action in one country for neighbouring countries. Finally, sharing information and creating awareness are key to the success of a project of this kind and so the main output from the project will be shared in a number of consultation and validation workshops. The output will also be made publicly available in an on-line viewer and brochure backed up by a more technical report.”
The project is part of the World Bank’s West Africa Coastal Areas Program (WACA), a convening platform that aims to help countries obtain financing and expertise to sustainably manage their coastal areas. The program was established in 2015 in response to requests from West African countries to manage coastal erosion and flooding, promote climate-resilient coastal management and improve livelihoods of West Africa’s coastal communities.

offshore-wave-roses-west-africa-coastline

Offshore wave roses for the entire coastline of West Africa as calculated by the overall SWAN model

Contact persons Deltares: Alessio Giardino  and Christophe Briere

Contact person (The World Bank): Miguel Toquica

 

Sand tracking study for Mississippi Gulf Coast Beach Management

Partrac have been assisting academic staff and researchers from Mississippi State University to implement a beach sediment tracking study on Deer Island, Mississippi , the closest barrier island to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
The study was commissioned and funded by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources’ (DMR) Mississippi Tidelands Trust Fund Program. It is being undertaken to examine and better understand pathways of alongshore sediment transport, the rate of movement, and predominant direction on the foreshore of the sensitive Deer Island Mississippi Coastal Preserve, which is an official DMR Gulf Ecological Management Site (GEMS).
Dr Anna Linhoss of MSU’s hydroecology laboratory leading the study commented, “The study is being conducted as part of a wider effort to improve our understanding of sand erosion and deposition in the MS Gulf Coast. We are undertaking this initial sand tracking study for the purposes of model calibration and validation, and to feed into the wider objective of restoring the integrity of the sand transport system along the region’s coastline.”
Partrac’s role in the project was to assist with study design, deployment of their proprietary dual signature tracer material at the site, and subsequent sampling and analyses efforts.

Further information on this study can be obtained by contacting newcastle@partrac.com

 

Sustainable Port Management Delfzijl

Wiertsema & Partners together with Flanders Hydraulics Research investigated on behalf of Groningen Seaports the influence on the manoeuvrability of a vessel when sailing with a small and negative under keel clearance in the harbour of Delfzijl by performing a full scale field test. The full scale field test was performed in May 2015 during spring tide corresponding to a negative under keel clearance up to -5% UKC at low tide.
Several trials were performed during the full scale field test in the harbour entrance channel with different under keel clearances and changing from going inbound to outbound. The paper gives a summary of the full scale field test, used measuring techniques for qualifying the mud layer, an overview of interactions between involved parties and the results.
CLICK HERE for paper.

The field test is part of the overall project ‘Sustainable Port Management’ for the port of Delfzijl.
One of the primary goals of the project Sustainable Port Management is to investigate whether it is possible to optimize the tidal window of the port without a significant increase of the maintenance dredging volumes. One of the realistic approaches to increase the tidal window of the port is to implement the Keep Sediments Navigable method. This method has already been successfully applied in the port of Emden.


Seaport of Emden, Germany, reducing dredging costs by 90%

In many of the world’s largest harbors, appropriate hydrographic survey is a necessary requirement in order to keep dredging costs low. The port of Emden succeeded in reducing the dredging costs by 90% with the help of a new dredging management and hydrographic survey with the density probe admodus®USP pro.
In 1994, after many years of research, the port authority managed to maintain the fluidity of suspended sediments, which were carried into the harbor basin by the river Ems. This so called “sediment conditioning” is mainly based on the prevention of the fluid mud’s reconsolidation process by a regular treatment (recirculation). As a result, these sediments no longer have to be removed from the harbor basin and a lot of disposal costs can be saved.
Until 1994, harbor maintenance dredging at the seaport of Emden was mainly based on the costintensive removal of suspended silt. This removal was done by a cutter suction dredger.To prevent expensive shifts of this cutter suction dredger, a trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) was used to dump its dredged material right in front of the cutting head of the cutter suction dredger to provide a constant silt supply.

admodus

For further info contact Andreas Klockner <info@admodus.de>


Upcoming events

14-15 September 2016: 2nd European Dredging Summit, Hamburg, Germany. Details on European Dredging Summit

15-16 September 2016: Embracing Estuaries – Management of Natura 2000-Sites in Estuaries and Sea Ports, Hamburg, Germany. Organised by Stiftung Lebensraum Elbe in cooperation with the German Behörde für Umwelt und Energie. http://www.stiftung-lebensraum-elbe.de/eu-workshop.html 

19-22 September 2016: 13th International Symposium on River Sedimentation, Stuttgart, Germany.
Held triennially since 1980; organised under the auspices of the International Research & Training Center on Erosion and Sedimentation (IRTCES).  www.isrs2016.de

19-23 September 2016: Ecosystem Services Conference 2016 EU – Helping nature to help us, Antwerp, Belgium. This conference will be the biggest European event in 2016 that links science, policy and practice on ecosystem services and natural capital, with a strong focus on practice and implementation. The conference will include nearly 70 sessions. www.esconference2016.eu

26-27 September 2016: 5th International Conference on Natural Channel Systems, Ontario, Canada. Themes: current science and understanding, applied river management and rehabilitation, governance, asset management and education. For more info see www.naturalchannels.ca

27-28 September 2016: the 9th Rostock dredged material seminar will be held prospectively on 27 to 28 September 2016, Rostock, Germany. Documents about the previous seminar can be found at
www2.auf.uni-rostock.de/ll/baggergut/bg_orga.html

3-5 October 2016: 5th PiE Conference, Budapest, Hungary. Particle in Europe, or PiE, is a bi-annual conference on the measurement, monitoring, and managing of in situ particle size and sediment concentration in the aquatic environment. The meeting is sponsored by Sequoia and the University of Technology and Economics in Budapest, Hungary. More info on PiE-2016 Conference

19-22 October 2016: 14th International Conference “EUROPE-INBO 2016” for the implementation of the European Water Directives, Lourdes, France. Organised by the International Network of Basin.  www.inbo-news.org

6-7 October 2016: International Magdeburger Seminar on River Protection, to be held in in the city of Dresden, Germany. Main topics will be urban waters and its management. www.ikse-mkol.org

2017

9-12 January 2017: Battelle – Ninth International Conference on Remediation of Contaminated Sediments, New Orleans, Louisiana. More information at the conference website.

26-28 February 2017: International Conference on Sedimentology and Petroleum Geology (SPG 2017), Sanya, China Call for speakers is open now. www.engii.org/conf/SPG/2017Feb/

27-28 March 2017: Navigating a Changing Climate, Brussels, Belgium. An international conference exploring the implications of climate change for waterborne transport infrastructure. See pre-announcement on Newsletter Think Climate

7-11 May 2017: SETAC Europe 27th Annual Meeting, Brussels, Belgium. Event of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Info on SETAC Europe 2017

21-26 May 2017: 14th International Symposium on the Interactions between Sediments and Water, Taormina, Italy, organized by the International Association for Sediment Water Science (IASWS).  Full details are available on the conference website. Selected papers presented at the conference will be published in a Special Issue of the Journal of Soils and Sediments.

14-17 June 2017: 10th International SedNet Conference, co-organised and hosted by University of Genoa/DISTAV and the Port of Genoa Authority. Call for Abstracts will open in September.  www.sednet.org

26-30 June 2017: AquaConSoil 2017, Lyon, France. 14th International Conference on Sustainable Use and Management of Soil, Sediment and Water Resources. Call for abstracts is open now. Deadline for submission is 15 November 2016. www.aquaconsoil.org

 

 

Disseminated by: 

SedNet secretariat:
Mrs. Marjan Euser
Deltares
P.O. Box 85467
NL-3508 AL Utrecht
The Netherlands

Email marjan.euser@deltares.nl