Description of the Demonstrator
The demonstrator is centered around Seden Strandby in the Odense Fjord, designated as one of 10 flood prone area in Denmark according to the 2007/60/EC (Flood Directive).
Odense Fjord is also designated as a Natura 2000 area (Odense Fjord, Natura area nr. 110) according to the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC).
Context
Environmental and Geographic context, climate conditions and problem description concerning hydro-meterological risks.
The demonstrator is centered around Seden Strandby a suburb of Odense, the third-largest city in Denmark. Seden Strandby is located approx. 8km northeast of the Odense city center by Odense Fjord. The total project area covers 42 ha. The project area is in a humid continental climate zone. The weather is influenced by low-pressure systems from the Atlantic, which means unstable conditions throughout the year. Seden Strandby is located at Odense Fjord, one of 10 flood-prone areas in Denmark, according to the Directive 2007/60/EC on the assessment and management of flood risks. The suburban area at Seden Strandby is threatened by flooding due to the sea level rise. 142 private homes are at the direct risk of flooding as well as up to 66ha of agricultural areas.
Odense Fjord is also designated as a Natura 2000 area (Odense Fjord, Natura area nr. 110) according to the habitats directive (directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992). Odense Fjord is an important rest and nesting area for many bird species and historical a habitat for the natterjack toad (Bufo calamita). Waders as the Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) and the natterjack toad (Bufo calamita) are dependent on salt meadows in good conditions with shallow ponds to nest/breed and seek food. Many salt meadows have been converted to agricultural areas and the remaining meadows are being overgrown.
At the same time, the coastal landscape is a valuable landscape type that should be spared of buildings and other technical installations.
The project wants to demonstrate how to combine the interests of minimizing flood risk of the suburban as well as agricultural areas, improving habitats in the Natura 2000 area, and conserving the coastal landscape.
Find out more in this article
Implementation
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- Removal of the existing low coastal dikes and moving them inland (higher location);
- Promoting “self-design” rehabilitation process. Outside the new dikes the sea and the marine foreland (27ha) will undergo dynamic succession into salt meadows with interaction with a small river draining the catchment.
To promote development of 27ha of habitat nature (salt meadows -1330) on the new marine foreland the following works are necessary:
a. Removal of dikes (850m) along the streams draining the catchment and remaindering (800m) of the streams to promote interaction with the salt meadows as tidal creeks in the future.
b. Disconnecting of 1050m of the existing draining canals with soil to promote more natural hydrology on the coming salt meadows.
- Recreation of meanders of the existing stream (which will be elevated).
- Construction of a new observation tower and trail to access the site.
- The project will improve the protection of populated and agricultural areas.
- The project will improve and increase habitats within the Natura 2000 area including more room for the sea and natural meandering of local streams.
- The project will help conserving the coastal landscape from major technical installations and it will improve access to nature for the population in general.
- Odense Municipality (www.odense.dk)
- Amphi Consult (https://amphi.dk/)
- Rambøll Danmark (www.ramboll.dk)
The demonstration project has a potential for upscaling both local around Odense Fjord as well as along other protected coastlines.
