Aerial view of a natural area with a large expanse of water on the Norderelbe, sand and woodland
Above water

Kreetsand shallow water area completed: 30 hectares more tidal Elbe

After around ten years of construction, the HPA has completed the Kreetsand shallow-water area, which is one and a half times the size of the Binnenalster. The additional flood storage area helps to regulate tidal currents and reduces sediment load in the tidal Elbe and the Port of Hamburg.

Aerial view of the Norderelbe near Kreetsand with green meadows, copses, dykes and houses
The Kreetsand area already diked back before construction work began
Photomontage of a large expanse of water on the Norderelbe
Photomontage to illustrate the project objective (urbanelandschaften)

Over the centuries, the tidal Elbe has lost around 90 per cent of the area that was once flooded. Today, these areas are mainly used for agriculture or commercial purposes and many areas are home to people who are well protected by dykes and barrages.

Embankments on the tidal Elbe
As of 2006. Source: Geodesy and Geoinformatics Centre of the WSV, provided in accordance with GeoNutzV

The HPA has now given the Tidal Elbe back some of its space. 30 hectares of new water surface in the constant change of ebb and flood. An oxygen-rich retreat and breeding ground for many fish, a potential nesting site for white-tailed eagles. An Eldorado for water birds, amphibians, riparian forest and soon certainly also for the Elbe water dropwort, which is only native to the Elbe.

A nature reserve with mudflats and water areas, willows and a flowering tree and a flock of wild geese
Shelducks approaching their new habitat

However, there is more behind the pilot project than just nature conservation. Due to centuries of changes and developments to the tidal Elbe, the tidal range has increased and the currents have become stronger. As a result, sedimentation in the Hamburg area has also increased and more dredging is required.

Modelling also shows that giving the tidal Elbe more space again can counteract these detrimental developments. Other estuaries such as the Scheldt in the Netherlands and Belgium or the Humber in the UK have already reopened large areas to the tide. With the Kreetsand shallow water area as a pilot project, we are also gathering experience for the tidal Elbe on how such river engineering measures can achieve improvements for nature and sediment management.

The Spadenlander Busch/Kreetsand area had already been dyked back before the construction project. However, the former flushing field was so high that it was only flooded very rarely.

The Kreetsand area was particularly suitable for this, as the dyke had already been set back as part of an earlier measure. This meant that not much changed for the residents living behind the dyke. But where there is water and mudflats today, there was a former flushing field before construction began, with some highly contaminated old Elbe sediments.

Around two million cubic metres of soil therefore had to be removed, much of it carefully transported by water. Much of the material is intended for other projects. The contaminated soil, on the other hand, was safely disposed of in landfill sites. Finally, the surface of the site was landscaped so that many birds can already find food here today. And a Elbe water dropwort had already grown, but then fell victim to a hungry deer.

A fawn on a sandy area with low and sparse vegetation
A fawn at the edge of the riparian forest

The project had already qualified as an excellence project as part of the Hamburg International Building Exhibition in 2009. In 2014, the project was awarded first prize in Los Angeles as "Best Practice in Working with Nature" by PIANC, one of the world's oldest technical and scientific associations for harbour and waterway construction and shipping.

Ten years of construction time and almost 80 million euros are a major outlay. To be honest, we will not be able to distinguish the effect on dredging volumes and the tidal range from the already large annual fluctuations. However, as the first project of its kind on the tidal Elbe, Kreetsand can provide valuable experience for further measures for the future holistic development of the tidal Elbe. A task for society as a whole for which the HPA has now made a start.

A cottage with wooden walls and a large staircase on top of a little brick dyke house
During the construction period, the dyke stand will provide information about tidal landscapes and the project.

Photo gallery: Construction progress from 2012 to 2022

Aerial view of a green area on the Norderelbe with dykes, fields, grassland and houses
2012
2013
Aerial view of an area on the Norderelbe with water areas and earthworks activities
2013
Aerial view of an area on the Norderelbe with water areas and earthworks activities
2015
2017
Aerial view of an area on the Norderelbe with large areas of water and earthworks
2017
Aerial view of an area on the Norderelbe with large areas of water and earthworks
2020
Aerial view of an area on the Norderelbe with large areas of water and earthworks
2022

Questions and answers about the Kreetsand shallow water area

 

The shallow water area Kreetsand brings several advantages:

  • With 30 hectares more water surface, the Tidal Elbe gains additional space, which improves currents and reduces the amount of sediment - so less dredging tends to take place.
  • New habitats for fish, birds and rare plants strengthen biodiversity and promote nature conservation.
  • Kreetsand serves as a model for sustainable development and provides valuable insights for future projects on the Tidal Elbe.

 

  • Construction time: approx. 10 years
  • Area: 30 hectares of new shallow water area
  • Costs: around 80 million euros
  • Measures: Removal of approx. 2 million m³ of contaminated soil and near-natural reorganisation
  • Benefits: Improvement of tidal currents, sediment balance and biodiversity, new habitat for rare species
  • Awards: Excellence Project IBA Hamburg (2009), "Best Practice in Working with Nature" PIANC (2014)
  • Monitoring: Long-term scientific observation to derive guidelines for future projects

 

 

 

The shallow water area provides a valuable habitat for numerous animal and plant species. Many fish species benefit in particular, as they find an oxygen-rich refuge and important breeding grounds there. The new water and mudflats attract waterfowl such as shelducks and wild geese, which use them as a resting and feeding area. Amphibians also find optimal conditions thanks to the near-natural remodelling. The neighbouring riparian forests provide shelter and food for deer and small game, among others. In addition, the Elbe water dropwort, a rare plant that only occurs on the Elbe, has already been identified. Last but not least, potential hunting grounds and nesting sites for birds of prey such as the white-tailed eagle are being created.

 

 

The project is important for the tidal Elbe because it restores lost flooded areas and thus promotes the natural dynamics of ebb and flood. The new water areas improve the sediment balance, which can also tend to reduce the amount of dredging work required in the Port of Hamburg. At the same time, valuable habitats for fish, water birds and rare plants are created. As a model project, Kreetsand demonstrates how nature conservation and engineering solutions can be combined and provides important insights for future renaturalisation projects along the Tidal Elbe.

 

 

After the removal of around two million cubic metres of soil, the area was modelled and made more natural. Today, Kreetsand presents itself as a varied mosaic of shallow water zones, small islands and sandbanks, young riparian forests, willow and reed beds. This landscape is now developing independently - driven by the ebb and flood tides and natural dynamics.

 

 

 

The completion of Kreetsand tends to relieve the port of Hamburg, as the new flood storage area favours tidal currents and reduces sediment deposits. This means that slightly less dredging is required, which benefits harbour operations and the natural environment. The project also provides important findings for possible future measures on the tidal Elbe.

 

 

Kreetsand combines exemplary engineering technology and nature conservation. Awards such as the IBA Excellence Project and the PIANC Prize confirm the innovative approach. The new shallow water area improves tidal dynamics and provides a habitat for many animal and plant species. At the same time, the project provides valuable experience for future river engineering and sediment management along the tidal Elbe.

 

 

 

The HPA will provide long-term ecological and hydrological monitoring of the area together with BUKEA, which is now responsible for the project. The aim is to observe the effects on water, sediments and biodiversity - and to derive findings for future projects along the tidal Elbe. Kreetsand is the starting point for further possible measures for the sustainable development of the region.

 

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