Use of a historical situation as a reference for the optimal groundwater situation in Dutch nature conservation areas

A method has been developed for application on a regional scale to determine a historical reference on groundwater level and upward seepage which can be used for the determination of optimal groundwater conditions in nature conservation areas. This ‘historical reference’ is based on fossil soil characteristics, detailed topographical information, historical land use maps, and geohydrological information. The method is especially applicable for the higher sandy, pleistocene areas of the Netherlands. Environmental agencies have a strong need for well defined historical hydrological situation in nature conservation as they were defined in this study.