August 2019.
Cows in floodplain (Dutch: uiterwaard) of the river Maas (English: ‘Meuse’) near Gewande / Blauwe Sluis.

In 2016 shallow channel was dug in the floodplain along the Maas near Gewande / Blauwe Sluis. This was a joint project of Rijkswaterstaat, Waterschap Aa en Maas, provincie en gemeente Den Bosch, Natuurmonumenten en Werkplaats de Gruyter.

It has a dual function:
– The channel is a natural solution to be able process water from the river Maas to the lowlands when the river reaches a high water level. This is more expected for the future because of climate change. There already were secondary channels in the Maas before its canalization. They arose spontaneously in the wet floodplains if the river was flooded.
– The channel and natural river banks from the 2016 flood plain project ensure that plants, fish and other aquatic animals the naturally belong in the area can flourish again.