TACKLING THE BANK EROSION - PROBLEM - (RE-)INTRODUCTION OF WILLOWS ONRIVERBANKS

River regulation and increased shipping have resulted in serious erosi on problems on the banks of the River Rhine. As an alternative for har d material or suppletion of sand, the Institute of Water Management an d Waste Water Treatment is considering the use of willows for riverban k protection. Floodplain forests in The Netherlands are almost absent, mainly due to intensive cattle grazing. Various willow species were p lanted on sandy beaches at five locations along the River Rhine in 199 0. After 2 growing seasons Common Osier (Salix viminalis) had the high est percentage survival and Grey Willow (S. cinerea) the lowest Additi onally, a survey has been planned to calculate roughness changes in th e riverbed and wave extinction caused by the vegetation. Another goal of the project is to investigate the possibilities of establishment an d development of a natural riverbank forest after excluding cattle.