The International Commission for the Hydrology of the Rhine Basin (CHR) is pleased to announce the launch of the RhineSed2028 project, marking an important milestone for strengthening (quantitative) sediment knowledge and cooperation across the Rhine basin (2026–2028). Note: the project focuses on the quantitative aspect of sediment regime in the Rhine basin (not on quality).
Within the project, the CHR aims to establish up-to-date (quantitative) sediment knowledge of the Rhine basin, while also providing relevant knowledge to the ICBR for their sediment management plan. A number of key items have been defined within the project, including:
- State of the Art Review (2026) – Basin-wide synthesis of sediment knowledge, datasets, and current research.
- Assessment of Anthropogenic Activities (2026–2027) – Evaluation of morphological effects of local sediment measures.
- Update of the Basin-Wide Sediment Balance (2026–2027) – Extension of the previous balance (1991–2010, CHR-project From Source to the Mouth https://www.chr-khr.org/en/publication/source-mouth (German)) up to 2025.
- Development information dashboard (planned) – sharing knowledge about ongoing sediment research activities in the Rhine basin
- Assess climate change on sediment regime (planned). Ambition to connect with European initiatives (Intrereg and Horizon)
- Reporting desired functionalities and requirements for a river basin-wide sediment model (2028). Actual development in a possible next project
- Close cooperation (ongoing) - under the leadership of a contracted project coordinator expertise and knowledge are shared within a so-called task force group Sediment
Rhine-Wide Collaboration
The work will be carried out with experts, our so called CHR sediment task force group, from Austria, Switzerland, Germany, France, and the Netherlands, drawing on national knowledge, monitoring programmes, research institutions, and ongoing initiatives to build a shared, transboundary sediment knowledge base. Together they provide a strong, integrated basis for basin-wide sediment work.
Strengthening Future Work
These first steps lay the groundwork for updated sediment insights supporting CHR and partner organisations such as the ICPR and CCNR, contributing to a stronger basin-wide understanding of sediment dynamics. CHR looks forward to continued cooperation as RhineSed2028 moves into implementation.
Achieved results and updates on the project will be posted on the project page.
If you are interested in joining the project, please contact our CHR project coordinator: tatjana.edler@deltares.nl