Handling Sediments in Dutch River Management: The Planning Stage of the Maaswerken River Widening Project

Sediment handling in Dutch river management was examined. The Dutch river widening projects were quite unique in size and occurrence, and the number of publicly documented case histories available for the planning of such works was inevitably few. The planning and decision-making process for the Maaswerken project, which was in a more advanced stage than that of the corresponding project for the Rhine, was reviewed. It was observed that in the study area, there was a conflict of interests between the extractive industry and the local communities. The level of public concern regarding the Maaswerken project suggested that the overall level of stakeholder involvement might have been insufficient, even though it complied with pertinent environmental and planning legislation.