Maintained
Based on inspections and (multi-year) maintenance plans, we determine which maintenance work is necessary.
Any damage that's found is fixed by our own maintenance team or a contractor. Tenants and owners have to take care of the dike themselves, based on their contract. We want to work with you to make sure the dike is looked after as well as possible.
Possible maintenance work
Mow the dike and control weeds
Twice a year, the entire grass cover of the dike must be mowed and the clippings removed. This creates variation in plant species, which is important for the proper rooting of the protective top layer of the dike. This network of roots holds the soil firmly together, prevents slippage of the slope, and thus protects the dike. Plant species such as hogweed, butterbur, nettles, and thistles must be mowed. Otherwise, they will crowd out other species, making the root network less dense and the grass cover less cohesive.
For more information, see the Mowing page.
Prevent bald spots from forming
Bare patches can be caused, for example, by livestock damage (hoof marks, subsidence, grazing, and digging), the storage of agricultural waste, and construction work. During high water levels or extreme rainfall, there is a risk that these areas will be washed out and weaken the dike locally. Fill in the damage with clay soil, level the ground, reseed the grass, and repair your fences.
Plant or restore a reed bed or install revetment
A reed collar is the most natural way to protect the bank of a flood defense against wave action. If the water depth is insufficient (i.e., less than 1.5 m), install revetment such as untreated softwood posts with geotextile or woven willow wicker. This will prevent the bank of the dike from being washed away.
Cut away wood debris and prune trees
Trees can extract a lot of moisture from the dike locally. This can cause subsidence, which affects the water-retaining height. A tree can also pull a large amount of soil out of the dike when it blows over. By sawing away woody debris (germinated tree seeds), you can prevent small plants from growing into trees that are difficult to remove.