Editing Delta Works (section)

==Environmental effects==
The Delta Project of which the Delta Works are part of was originally designed in a period of time when environmental awareness and ecological effects of engineering projects were barely taken into consideration.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=d'Angremond|first1=K|title=From disaster to Delta Project: the storm flood of 1953.|journal=Terra Aqua|date=2003|volume=90|issue=3}}</ref> Although the level of awareness for the environment grew throughout the years, the Delta Project has caused numerous irreversible{{citation needed|date=November 2018}} effects on the environment in the past. Blocking the [[estuary]] mouths did reduce the length of dykes that otherwise would have to be built to protect against floods, but it also led to major changes in the water systems. For example, the tides disappeared, which resulted in a less smooth transition from sea water into fresh water. Flora and fauna suffered from this noticeable change.<ref>{{cite book|last1=de Vos|first1=Art|title=Nederland: een natte geschiedenis|date=2006|publisher=Scriptum Publishers|location=Schiedam|isbn=90-5594-487-4|page=96}}</ref> In addition, rivers experienced an increase in sedimentation by polluted sludge, since there was no longer an open passage to the sea.