The 2021 floods showed that debris affects high water in the Geul! We need to your help to understand how and when!
On the 8th of October we installed an information board in Valkenburg. This sign will inform and invite residents and visitors to actively participate in our research. When pictures are taken and submitted, we obtain insights at a location that is difficult to monitor directly. This contributes to our knowledge of debris dynamics in the Valkenburg catchment. This knowledge can subsequently be applied to other catchments as well.
Why did we install this sign?
Debris in waterways can lead to some adverse consequences. It can cause clogging at structures such as bridges or siphons, leading to higher water levels or even flooding. In 2021, some of the flooding that occured was exacerbated by the presence of debris in the waterways. As such, we want to investigate how much debris is transported by the Geul under different environmental conditions. The debris boom in Valkenburg is the perfect place for monitoring, as the trapping of debris in one location acts as a natural debris counter.
Other locations we are monitoring include the Tungelroyse beek near Weert, the inverted siphon underneath the Julianakanaal in Bunde and a hydropower plant in Belgium. With this network we obtain information on debris transport in a variety of different streams and catchments.
What are we trying to achieve?
Upstream of Valkenburg, close to tennis club TPV, the water authority (Waterschap Limburg) has placed a debris boom. This is a floating device designed to intercept floating matter, such as wood or plastics. By intercepting this debris, it is prevented from getting stuck further downstream in the village. Periodically, this boom is cleared and items removed/disposed.
We are interested in debris dynamics at this site, so we installed a sign and created a citizen science project. This sign contains some general information on the project, including a holder where you can put your phone and take a picture of the boom with any debris that may be trapped. The QR-code that brings you to an online portal where you can upload the picture and contribute to our research. We are hopeful that residents and visitors will find the project interesting enough to contribute, especially after a large rain event or when large amounts of debris are present. Besides the scientific contribution to the project, the sign also aims to inform residents on the issues caused by debris transport and accumulation.
How can you help?
If you are in Valkenburg by chance (or not by chance) please visit the sign near TPV Valkenburg and take a picture. If you run into any trouble with the sign or the data portal, please let us know by sending an email to: M.R.Kerver@tudelft.nl.
Thank you for helping us by contributing to this research. This webpage will periodically be updated to show progress on the project.
