Opportunities and limitations to restore 't Merkske lowland brook

Abstract

This study focused on opportunties and limitations for restoration of ‘t Merkske lowland brook, in order to meet the norms of the Water Framework Directive in 2015 or ultimately in 2027. For this a trend analysis of water quality has been conducted, the relation between the development of land use and these trend analysis has been studied, an overview of planned and implemented restoration measures examined and a stakeholder analysis of involved Dutch and Flemish actors has been carried out. To examine the effectiveness of possible restoration measures the Water Framework Directive Explorer is used. Based on the results it’s expected that the biology supporting parameters will achieve a Good Ecological Status in 2015 but the biological parameters won’t. We assume that the planned restoration measures until 2030, the positive effects of manure policy and the land consolidations and the expected Good Ecological Status of the biology supporting parameters will ensure that the biological parameters will improve. However, because of the non-significance of the results of the biological parameters no conclusions can be drawn whether the GES will be achieved or not in 2027.