Editing Delta Works (section)

==== The storm-surge barrier ====
The Delta Plan originally intended to create a large freshwater lake, the ''{{lang|nl|Zeeuwse Meer}}'' (Zeeland Lake).<ref name="ley196110">{{cite magazine |last=Ley |first=Willy |date=October 1961 |title=The Home-Made Land |department=For Your Information |url=https://archive.org/stream/Galaxy_v19n06_1961-08#page/n65/mode/1up |magazine=Galaxy Science Fiction |pages=92–106 }}</ref> This would have caused major environmental destruction in Oosterschelde, with the total loss of the saltwater ecosystem and, consequently, the harvesting of oysters. Environmentalists and fishermen combined their efforts to prevent the closure; they persuaded parliament to amend the original plan. Instead of completely damming the estuary, the government agreed to build a storm surge barrier. This essentially is a long collection of very large valves that can be closed against storm surges.

The storm surge barrier closes only when the sea-level is expected to rise 3 metres above mean sea level. Under normal conditions, the estuary's mouth is open, and salt water flows in and out with the tide. As a result of the change, the weak dikes along the Oosterschelde needed to be strengthened. Over 200&nbsp;km of the dike needed new revetments. The connections between the Eastern Scheldt and the neighboring [[Haringvliet]] had to be dammed to limit the effect of the salt water. Extra dams and locks were needed at the east part of the Oosterschelde to create a shipping route between the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp. Since operating the barrier has an effect on the environment, fisheries and the water management system, decisions made on opening or closing the gate are carefully considered. Also the safety of the surrounding dykes are affected by barrier operations.