Horstergrub sediment management, Belgium

General

National Id:

Belgium_02

Site name:

Gravenvoeren

Summary:

This measure is located near the village of Gravenvoeren in eastern Belgium. It was a low-cost project to retain mudstreams/erosion consequences by the building of a horizontal dyke/dams at the bottom in the valley, which will retain the water longer in the valley, so reducing runoff and sediment transport to the villages downstream. Additionally they changed crop growing from corn to grasslands to help reduce erosion.

Location description:

The site is located in a rural location on the Horstregrub stream, upstream of the village of Gravenvoeren. It is located in the catchment of the River Voer, which is itself a tributary of the Meuse.

NUTS Code:

Prov. Limburg (BE)

RBD code:

BEMaas_VL

Transboundary:

Data provider:

Heather Williams and Chris Binje, AMEC

Source(s):

Pilootprojecten Stroomgebied Voer

NWRM(s) implemented in the case study:

Meadows and pastures

Basins and ponds

Longitude:

5.7720445

Latitude:

50.7585409

Site information

Climate zone:

cool temperate moist

Mean rainfall:

800

Mean rainfall unit:

mm/year

Average temperature:

Type:

Case Study Info

Light or indepth?:

Light

Average slope range:

5-10%

Vegetation class:

Hilly grasslands

Monitoring maintenance

Monitoring impacts effects:

Performance

Performance impact estimation method:

Unknown

Performance impact estimation information:

n/a

Biophysical impacts

Information on retained water:

6000 m3 total storage volume

Information on increased water storage:

6000 m3 total storage volume, compared to zero previously

Water quality overall improvements:

Positive impact-WQ improvement

Information on Water quality overall improvements:

Reduction in transfer of sediment and associated nutrients or other pollutants downstream, by allowing sediment deposition in the storage area

Soil quality overall soil improvements:

Positive impact-SQ improvement

Information on Soil quality overall soil improvements:

The Voeren area is an area with significant erosion problems, causing mudstreams in the center of the village of Gravenvoeren. As a result of this NWRM, less good quality soil will be eroded and transported downstream.

Lessons, risks, implications...

Key lessons:

Low-cost measures can make a significant local improvement to runoff and sediment load problems.

Success factor(s):

Financing:

Barrier:

Driver:

Type	Role	Comments
Past flooding events	main driver	Past flooding events have occurred in the village of Gravenvoeren

Socio-economic

Costs investment:

55000

Compensations scheme information:

Some compensation was agreed with the landowner to change the landuse to pasture

Information on Ecosystem improved biodiversity:

The landuse upstream has been changed from crops to grassland, which allows an increase in diversity compared to the previous land use

Information on Ecosystem provisioning services:

n/a

Ecosystem impact climate regulation:

Not relevant for the specific application

Information on Ecosystem impact climate regulation:

n/a

Ecosystem erosion control:

Information on Ecosystem erosion control:

Slows runoff, allowing sediment deposition and reducing the risk of further erosion downstream

Information on Ecosystem erosion control impact:

Not quantified

Policy, general governance and design targets

Policy description:

In the area of the project a lot of erosion happens during heavy rainfall events. As there is no natural stream or other way of transporting rainwater away, surface runoff occurs over the area, causing mudstreams or floodings in the village downstream. Measures to prevent this from occurring were therefore needed.

Part of wider plan:

Policy pressure:

Policy requirement directive:

Policy impact:

Policy wider plan:

Wider plan type	Wider plan focus	Name	Comments
Regional	Water	Aquadra	Aquadra had as a purpose to strive for clean water conditions across regional and national borders. Partners in the project included the Dutch and Belgians provinces of Limburg, province of Liege, regional water authorities from these 3 provinces and the German city of Aachen.

Policy area:

Policy target:

Target purpose
Runoff control
Erosion Control

Design & implementations

Application scale:

Field Scale

Age:

Performance timescale:

Immediate

Design capacity description:

Design capacity of the retention pond is 6.000 m3.

Constraints:

There are no specific constraints to the application of this measure type, which is a simple method of runoff capture

Crop rotation:

The land cover was changed from seasonal crop rotation to grasslands under an agreement between the farmer and the local community.

Design contractual arrangement:

Design consultation activity:

Design land use change:

Design authority:

Authority type	Role	Name	Comments
Other	Initiation of the measure	Commune of Voeren	The local community of Voeren was involved as a full partner, initiating and financing the NWRM and appointing the VMM as executional officer of the program. The community of Voeren was furthermore involved in the entering into compensation agreements with local farmers.
Regional / sub-national water authority	Implementation	VMM	VMM was appointed as the executing agent of the project, including the detailed design.
Other	Other	Province of Limburg	The Belgian province of Limburg
Other	Other	WRO	The WRO (Waterschap Roer en Overmaas) is the local water authority on the Dutch side of the border. Although not directly involved, RWO Was responsible for a different pilot project upstream on the Horstergrub, also contributing to decreasing the flood risk.

Last updated: 12 Jan 2015 | Top

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Horstergrub sediment management, Belgium

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