For the Scheldt estuary, an integrated monitoring program was created: MONEOS. This program includes 3 types of monitoring: system, research and project monitoring.
- System monitoring is a long term program following the base parameters for the functioning of the Scheldt-ecosystem. The monthly and 13h monitoring of OMES is an important part of the system monitoring in the estuary.
- Research monitoring contains the detailled succession of pilot projects in order to gain more information. Lippenbroek is an example of this.
- Monitoring in Bergenmeersen and Burchtse Weel are examples of project monitoring. The first three years the area is monitored, we aim to investigate the extent to which the area meets the expectations and whether it is evolving in the right direction. By keeping a finger on the pulse, potential problems are efficiently detected, which makes adaptive management and adjustments possible. The MONEOS report defines project monitoring as monitoring which - in addition to the regular monitoring system - is performed to measure certain parameters with increased frequency, limited in time and space. After a period of three years an evaluation follows. If everything goes according to plan, the project monitoring can be reduced and the area can be included in the regular system monitoring.
The monitoring in the OMES campaigns is a collaboration between the OMES monitoring and the VMM Monitoring.
Within the framework of MONEOS, OMES campaigns and data collection were analysed. There appeared to be a large overlay between OMES and VMM parameters, but techniques were somewhat different. OMES was sampling tide independent, VMM sampled tide dependent. To create a more efficient, integrated monitoring, a collaboration between VMM and OMES was necessary.
Since 2009, the overlap in measurements for water quality was cleared. Both institutes now work together and systematically exchange data.
Researching the effects of water quality and tide on flooding areas, and in particular in flood control areas with a controlled reduced tide (GGG), is the main task of sub-task 9. Initially, this section focused on mesocosm experiments in Wilrijk and Kruibeke, in preparation for the development of GGG's. Since 2006 the focus shifted to the pilot project Lippenbroek, the first GGG worldwide. The research on the mesocosm in Wilrijk was withdrawn and is no longer part of the OMES research since 2009.
In 2010 the monitoring of the "Burchtse Weel" was added to the OMES program. Fpr this area a separate monitoring was set up. In 2013, the first major GGG opened: Bergenmeersen. At first, Bergenmeersen acted as flood control area (FCA), without natural function. Since the Flemish Government in 2004 decided that one of the main objectives of the Sigma plan, in addition to safety, was nature development, Bergenmeersen was transformed into GOG-GGG. By combining nature development with safety, habitat objectives are realized in the same area. In 2012, the works started for the conversion of CPC to CPC-GGG.
The opening of the entire CPC-GGG KBR has not yet been discussed but part of the area, namely the Basel GGG, will be functional in the spring of 2014. Due to the high inlet and low outlet sluices the tide will be re-introduced in this area so that a tide dependent grassland can develop. The monitoring of these areas falls under "project monitoring", and is, within the context of MONEOS, being carried out by OMES.