Climate-Resilient Delta Systems: Developing an Integrated Assessment Model to Assess Salt Intrusion Mitigation Measures

Salt intrusion threatens freshwater availability in the Rhine-Meuse Delta, impacting drinking water, agriculture, industry, shipping, and ecosystems. To support informed decision-making, we introduce the Delta Management Game (DMG) that includes an Integrated Assessment Model (IAM). The DMG represents the estuary as a grid-based environment, where players implement adaptation measures—such as channel modifications and land-use changes—on hexagonal cells. The IAM, comprising seven modules, assesses the effects of these interventions on key indicators, including salinity, hydrodynamics, drinking water supply, navigation, ecology, and costs. By combining real-world data, predictive modelling, and interactive decision-making, the DMG fosters stakeholder engagement and enhances adaptive freshwater management in climate-vulnerable delta regions.