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Hydro-ecological relations in the Delta Waters

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artificial waterflow was created after <strong>the</strong> eonstruction of a sluice itl<br />

<strong>the</strong> GreveUagendaw <strong>in</strong> 1985. This had profound ei5ecee on wa.arerqsalitp<br />

(Bann<strong>in</strong>k, et al. 1986). Large musselbeds and extensive fields of<br />

Eelgrass (Zostera marb) occvr <strong>in</strong> €he Lake. The Veerse Meer was<br />

created <strong>in</strong> 1961 after <strong>the</strong> closure of <strong>the</strong> Veerse Gat Dam and <strong>the</strong><br />

Zandkreelrdam. To imptooe trater dra<strong>in</strong>age frnm <strong>the</strong> surround<strong>in</strong>g poldezs<br />

<strong>the</strong> warerlevel is lowered about 70 cm Yn w<strong>in</strong>ter and raised aga<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong><br />

spr<strong>in</strong>s with water frbm tbe OosterseheLde. This managemt reaulted <strong>in</strong> a<br />

bnackish, wy errtf~phic lake- As a consequence searreeds. especially<br />

UWa sp., are very common and <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> deeper parts of <strong>the</strong> lake qnoxic<br />

eonaitims prevail dur<strong>in</strong>g most of <strong>the</strong> year (due to stratifieation). Be<br />

Ear<strong>in</strong>gvliet, formerly a typical estuar<strong>in</strong>e area, and <strong>the</strong> Bollands D+ep<br />

and Biesbosch, formerlg freshwater tidal areas, became freshwater lakes<br />

rsith every small tidal <strong>in</strong>fluence (abmut 20 cm) after <strong>the</strong> cpprrtructiou<br />

of <strong>the</strong> Valkerakdm <strong>in</strong> 1970 and <strong>the</strong> Bar<strong>in</strong>gvUetdam fn 1971. These basttls<br />

are important for <strong>the</strong> diseharge of <strong>the</strong> rivers Rijn and Maas.<br />

Fluctuations of <strong>the</strong> WrtterleveL are accord<strong>in</strong>&ly related to <strong>the</strong> river<br />

discharge. The reduction of current velocities after <strong>the</strong> closure<br />

resadred <strong>in</strong> a very high sedWn

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