TRAILS: TRacking Ameland Inlet Living Lab Sediment - Novel tools to assess ecosystem and societal responses to nature-based coastal management

Where does nourishment sand go?

Sand nourishment is now the preferred coastal management strategy in the Netherlands to prevent coastal erosion and drowning of intertidal areas of the Wadden Sea. Nourishments aim to enhance safety, while simultaneously promoting natural and recreational values. However, it is poorly understood how nourished sand is dispersed, and what the impacts are for diverse coastal functions like biodiversity, fisheries and safety. In this project, Ameland Inlet is our Living Laboratory to develop and test methods to determine the fate of nourishment sand, and to work with stakeholders to clarify impacts and co-assess nourishment strategies.