Immediately after the summer holiday, Rijkswaterstaat wants to start adding gravel to the Meuse near Meers. This is called gravel supplementation and we do this because it is beneficial for the plants and animals that belong here.
Start and Location of Work
The work is scheduled to start shortly after the summer holiday, which ends on August 11. The work will last until December 31 at the latest. The addition of gravel in the Meuse will take place north of the Julianaplas (see also the map) and will be carried out by the Maaskracht combination.
The environmental permit for this work has been applied for, and before the start of the execution, we will conduct a baseline measurement. This measurement lasts 1 day and is necessary to measure the effect of adding gravel.
Open Evening for Meuse Work
We are organizing an open evening before the summer holiday to inform the local community about the work. The date and location will be announced via the website Working Together on River Nature (under the Events tab) and via the municipalitys website.
Depot Will Disappear
In 2024, we established a depot of gravel in the floodplains near Meers. We did this in advance because gravel became available during the excavation of the side channel at Maasband. This gravel was not taken from the summer bed (the riverbed itself), but from adjacent layers in the floodplains.
This way, we can use local material for ecological improvement. This type of gravel is also known as toutvenant.
Nature Area Remains Accessible
The nature area in this vicinity is widely used by walkers. Free walking in the area remains possible. To move the gravel, transports will be necessary through the nature area. Therefore, please be aware of disturbances in the form of work traffic, noise, dust, and possible temporary or partial closures. The execution will be coordinated with Natuurmonumenten as the land manager.
Why is this Good for Nature in the Grensmaas?
The bottom of the Grensmaas is currently not ideal for the aquatic plants, fish, and small aquatic animals (macrofauna) that naturally belong there. This concerns species that depend on fast-flowing shallow water over a clean gravel bottom. At present, this habitat is not available, and the gravel that is there is covered with a layer of silt.
Due to various causes, not enough fresh gravel is supplied by the river, the quality of the existing gravel decreases, and the flow is almost absent at certain times.
Therefore, we will add gravel to the river near Meers to create suitable habitats again. This is called gravel supplementation. We will monitor the location(s) where gravel is added for the next 3 years; this way, we learn what the effects of adding this gravel are.
Agreements from the Water Framework Directive and Natura 2000
In 2000, binding agreements were made at the European level through the Water Framework Directive (WFD) to restore water quality to a chemically and ecologically good condition.
Additionally, a number of measures concerning the Dutch part of the summer bed of the Grensmaas are mentioned in the Draft Management Plan Natura 2000 . One of these is to carry out this gravel supplementation. The goal is that this also has a positive effect for the WFD.
Want to Know More or Have Questions?
For substantive questions about the measures, you can contact us or visit the Meuse page of the website Working Together on River Nature for more information.