Jpm. Mulder et T. Louters, CHANGES IN BASIN GEOMORPHOLOGY AFTER IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OOSTERSCHELDE ESTUARY PROJECT, Hydrobiologia, 283, 1994, pp. 29-39
The completion in 1986/87 of an open storm-surge barrier in the inlet
and of secondary dams in the landward parts of the Oosterschelde tidal
basin (SW Netherlands) has had and will continue to have a significan
t impact on geomorphological developments. An analysis of historic dat
a, and of recent detailed bathymetric and morphodynamic process data,
indicates that former trends have reversed. At present the Oosterschel
de is a sedimentation basin with a degrading intertidal area and silti
ng up of channels. The continuing reduction in intertidal area, the de
creasing geomorphological gradients, the increasing fine sediment cont
ent of channel deposits, combined with a general reduction in hydrodyn
amics, imply significant ecological effects.