Water
Flood management in action
The name Flanders originates from the Old Germanic word flaum, in which you can still discern the modern Dutch vloeien or the English flow. Flaum means something along the lines of “flooded land” or a region that regularly floods. In the past, we therefore dug ditches and installed drainage pipes. This was convenient for drying the land to grow vegetables and build houses. In the 1970s and 1980s, many rivers in Flanders were straightened to facilitate navigation. Today, those interventions in our landscape mean that we need to devise new and different solutions.
- Client
- Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij (VMM)
- Location
- Oostkamp, Koebroekmeers
- Expertises
- Flood and water management, nature restoration, biodiversity
Because we have become masters of draining, we discharge water too quickly through our rivers to the sea. As a result, our water savings account is literally running dry, and our groundwater table remains permanently low. At the same time, water flows faster in straight ditches and rivers, which can lead to downstream flooding. Due to climate change, we will also have to deal with flooding more frequently in the future. We know this already.
Flood management in the basin of the Brugse Polders
And no one can ignore it in the Brugse Polders basin. More specifically, the effects of flooding are clearly noticeable in Oostkamp and Ruddervoorde. In 2011 and 2012, the Rivierbeek exceeded the alarm threshold, and three years later, a storm caused critical flooding. Last autumn, several streets in Oostkamp were again flooded. Both Oostkamp and Ruddervoorde are located in a pluvial flood-prone area, which means they are particularly susceptible to flooding due to local intense rainfall.
Sustainable flood management
As experts, we strive to reduce harmful flooding. An example of this is the redevelopment of the Koebroekmeers in Oostkamp, where we are creating a controlled floodplain and improving the structural quality of the Dorpsbeek. This should reduce the flood risk for the inhabitants of Ruddervoorde during rainfall. Additional measures are necessary to prevent streets from being flooded during severe storms.
In the zone between Koebroekdreef and the Ridefort sports centre, there are open parcels that provide space for water. Three watercourses (the Dorpsbeek, the Akkerbeek, and an unclassified brook) converge here before continuing as the culverted Dorpsbeek beneath the centre of Ruddervoorde. For the construction of the controlled floodplain south of the municipality, we will excavate a surface of approximately 28,000 m², with the aim of achieving neutral earthmoving so that no soil needs to be imported or exported. This is not only more sustainable but also causes less disruption.
An offline buffer ensures that the water is retained when the watercourse level is sufficiently high. A newly designed verge with a grassed overflow allows excess water to flow into the basin, where we can retain it and then discharge it slowly. Additionally, we are raising the verges and creating a wider and safer cycling- and footpath on an elevated verge so that it can serve as a dyke for the floodplain. The renewed cycling- and footpath not only improves the connection between Koebroekdreef and the Ridefort sports centre but also creates extra recreational opportunities with benches and picnic areas.
Back to nature: ecological restoration
In addition to the infrastructure modifications, the Dorpsbeek is given a new profile. A narrow summer bed ensures sufficient water height at low flow, while a winter bed accommodates the increased water inflow and higher flow rates during the autumn. The current angular course of the Dorpsbeek will be changed to a natural, more meandering flow, which will reduce the flow rate and raise the water level. Water quality will improve, and damselflies and dragonflies will once again thrive. We will integrate existing trees into our design as much as possible and plant new native and indigenous trees where needed. The entire area will undergo a visual transformation with the strengthening of the green structure, the expansion of the birth forest, and the planting of additional shrubs.
Water management with added value
With the significant modification of the ground relief and the creation of deeper water zones that retain water for extended periods, we are creating a diversity of aquatic habitats. The redevelopment of Koebroekmeers will not only lead to fewer floods and fewer worries for the residents of Ruddervoorde, but it will also enhance biodiversity and contribute to a richer natural environment. This benefits the ecological function and the attractiveness of the Brugse Polders. Our integrated approach to water management, river restoration, and ecological added value demonstrates that sustainable solutions are possible and offers inspiration for similar projects in other regions.
