WP7.1 – Integral design and evaluation of estuary-scale, nature-based SALTISolutions

Integral design and evaluation of estuary-scale, nature-based SALTISolutions

This subproject develops nature-based SALTISolutions, assesses their salt intrusion mitigation effectivity, along with benefits for other estuarine functions and values (input to project 8). Salt intrusion will be influenced by changing salt and fresh water mixing patterns, either by introducing phase lags in the horizontal flow regime (construction of ebb-flood channel loops, longitudinal dams or tidal lagoons) or by enhancing vertical circulations (through increased bed shear stress or landscaping of the estuary bed). Specific research questions are:

Given the driving mechanisms that drive estuary-scale mixing processes (project 2-3), what is the potential to modify these through human-induced interventions?
How to design nature-based SALTISolutions for existing heavily modified estuaries with a salt wedge intrusion problem and how to assess whether solutions meet pre-determined design criteria?
How to quantify impacts and benefits of nature-based SALTISolutions in the context of broad sustainability frameworks that go beyond the functional efficiency of isolated engineering measures.

Last modified: 17/06/2022