Transnational Exchange Lab #2 - online

IMMERSE organised the second Transnational Estuary Exchange Lab (TEEL) on Tuesday 24 November 2020 online. The main theme of this TEEL was sediment management and estuary governance, in particular the development of innovative methods and how sediment management strategies can contribute to the improvement of the quality of estuarine systems. 


The Estuary Exchange Lab featured the management context of the Eems-Dollard estuary and discussed the value, role and importance of sediments in estuarine ecosystems. Through interactive online discussions, the Estuary Exchange Lab offered a platform for transnational exchange: IMMERSE partners, North Sea Region estuary managers and relevant stakeholders explored solutions and shared experiences through two dedicated break-out sessions. 

The following materials are available from the TEEL, including workshop reports summarising the main points of discussion.

TEEL Programme

Introduction Session
Introduction Session Report

Presentation: Introduction to the IMMERSE Project and TEEL Concept (Frederik Roose, IMMERSE Lead Partner - Flanders Mobiliteit en Openbare Werken

Presentation: Introduction about the management issues in the Eems-Dollard (Emiel Hakvoort – program manager Eems-Dollard 2050)

Video: Eems-Dollard 2050

Breakout session I: What works in sustainable sediment management strategies?

Sediment Management Session Report

Presentation: Assessment of strategies for an adaptive sediment management in the Elbe estuary (Victoria Ortiz - BAW)

Presentation: Exploration of new solutions to adjust the sediment management strategy in the Scheldt estuary mouth (Marco Schrijver - Rijkswaterstaat)

Presentation: From management plan to a vision for estuary resilience, case of the Upper Sea Scheldt in Flanders (Michael De Beukelaer-Dossche – De Vlaamse Waterweg)

Breakout session II: Estuary Governance: structures and processes

Governance Session Report

Presentation: Introductory presentation on main governance characteristics and structures of the Elbe and Scheldt (Marcel Taal, Deltares)

Presentation: Joint cross-border policy making and management of an estuary: the story of the Flemish-Dutch Scheldt Commission (Willem Vuylsteke, Mobiliteit en Openbare Werken)

Presentation: Integrated management of the Elbe estuary – can it actually be achieved? (Kirsten Wolfstein, Hamburg Port Authority)

This was the second in a series of region-wide events organized by the IMMERSE project. Information and outcomes from the 1st TEEL, held in June 2019, are available here.