POLICY PLANNING IN THE OOSTERSCHELDE ESTUARY

During the execution of the Delta project the awareness of the environ mental values of estuaries was growing strongly. This awareness has le d to a reconsideration of the original proposal to close off the Ooste rschelde, and to an alternative view of the management of the estuarin e areas and of the civil engineering structures. Now, the completed st orm-surge barrier and two compartmentation dams, together with the rei nforced dikes, guarantee a sufficient safety against flooding. After t he decision to build a storm-surge barrier it was soon recognized that a coherent plan would be needed for the management and development of the Oosterschelde. A policy plan was accordingly produced in which th e broad outlines of the policy were set out regarding the various pote ntial uses of the estuary and the possible means of effecting them. Be cause of the periodic improvement and adjustment of the policy plan an environmental research programme was set up. Also, environmental rese arch played a significant role in the decision-making processes for th e completion of the barrier and the compartmentation dams as well as f or the management of the storm-surge barrier. The coping-stone of the Delta Project marks the beginning of a new period in the water managem ent of the Netherlands: the period of integrated water management.