Ellis Penning
Dr. Ellis Penning is an expert in the field of Nature Based Solutions and ecohydraulic research. She leads the research programme on Nature Based Solutions and carries out a variety of projects related to this subject. An ecologist by training, Ellis Penning is specifically focussing on the role of vegetation in aquatic systems, both from a flood risk and environmental quality point of view.
Providing new evidence via measured data from both field and flume experiments on the interaction between vegetation and its surrounding environment helps to create a better understanding and provide the basis for better management of these systems. The linking of this experimental data with new model developments for predicting the impact of vegetation for both flood risk management and environmental quality is a key aspect of her work. She is the Deltares project lead for various projects that specifically provide this linkage, such as the Ecoshape Pilot on Vegetated Sandy Foreshores along the Houtribdijk in the large shallow Lake Markermeer and the project on the assessment of the role of woody floodplain vegetation in reducting wave impact on the dikes along parts of the Rhine river. In the Dotterproject she is developing new techniques for spatial mapping of vegetation in flowing waters using new monitoring techniques including full spectrum camera’s on Unmanned Areal Vehicles to provide water managers with more accurate insight in the amount and location of vegetation in their area to improve the management of this vegetation for both flood risk management and ecological values.
Ellis Penning active in various EU projects such as the MARS and Hydralab projects and has extensive experience in international cooperation both in Europe and Asia. At present she is the co-chair of the International Steering Committee of the River Experiment Centre of the Korean Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology and leads the Deltares contribution to the joint project on vegetated flows in this unique large outdoor flume facility.
Working experience
| 2001-2013 | Deltares | Researcher/Advisor Aquatic Ecology |
| 2007-2012 | Deltares | Part-time PhD position |
| 2013-present | Deltares | Senior advisor/researcher Aquatic Ecology |
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Establishing vegetated foreshores to increase dike safety along lake shores
2016 - Ellis Penning, Henk Steetzel, Robbin van Santen, Marieke de Lange, Sonja Ouwerkerk, Vincent Vuik, Jasper Fiselier and Jaap van Thiel de Vries, accepted paper for Floodrisk2016 in Lyon
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Stream-scale Experiments on Vegetated Flows: Flow Measurement and Analysis
2016 - U. Ji, J. Kang, Y. Ryu, S. H. Jung, W.E. Penning, V. Harezlak, K.D. Berends and C. Jang, , Accepted paper for proceedings of the IAHR River Flow Conference, july 2016 St. Louis USA
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Experimental investigation of the effects of vegetation on morphodynamics and sediment sorting,Accepted paper for proceedings of the IAHR River Flow Conference
2016 - C-L Jang, W.E. Penning, J. Kang, U. Ji, J. and Y. Ryu, Accepted paper for proceedings of the IAHR River Flow Conference, july 2016 St. Louis
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Plants, hydraulics and sediment dynamics
2014 - Paul M, Thomas RE, Dijkstra TJ, Penning WE, Vousdoukas MI ,Frostick LE, Thomas RE, Johnson MF, Price SP, McLelland SK (eds) Users Guide to Ecohydraulic Modelling and Experimentation. Experience of the Ecohydraulic Research Team (PISCES) of the HYDRALAB Network, CRC Press/Balkema, Leiden, The Netherlands IAHR Design Manual 91-116
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Integration of ecology and engineering in cost-effective nature-based flood defences
2014 - De Vries M, Van Wesenbeeck B, Penning WE, Van der Star W., Conference proceedings of Deltas in Times of Climate Change II Conference – Rotterdam 2014
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Spatially varying stem drag forces in vegetated mixing layers
2014 - Buckman LJ, Uijttewaal WSJ, Penning WE, Dijkstra JT. Conference proceedings River Flow 2014 - Lausanne
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The role of plant morphology in the ecosystem engineering of two contrasting aquatic environments
2014 - J Schoelynck, K Bal, V. Verschoren, W Opdekamp, E Penning, E. Struyf, T Bouma, P Meire, S Temmerman,Earth Surface Processes and Landforms in press
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Ecohydraulics in large shallow lakes: implications for management
2012 - W. E. Penning, Technical University of Delft
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Quantifying measures to limit wind driven resuspension of sediments for improvement of the ecological quality in large shallow lakes
2012 - W.E. Penning, M. Genseberger, R. Uittenbogaard, J.C. Cornelisse ,Hydrobiologia DOI10.1007/s10750-012-1026-z
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Effects of submerged tropical macrophytes on flow resistance and velocity profiles in open channels
2011 - Pham N., E. Penning, A. Mynett, Raghuraj R, Int. J. of River Basin Management 9 (3-4)
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Using aquatic macrophyte community indices to define the ecological status of European lakes
2008 - Penning WE, Dudley B, Mjelde M, Hellsten S, Hanganu J, Kolada A, Van den Berg M, S, Phillips G, Willby N and Ecke F. Aquatic Ecology 42 253–264
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Assessment of cyclic floodplain rejuvenation on flood levels and biodiversity in the Rhine river
Baptist, M.J., Penning, W.E., Duel, H., Smits, A.J.M., Geerling, G.J., Van der Lee, G. and Van Alphen, J.S.L., River Research and Applications 20 (3) 285-297
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Habitat Modelling of Rivers and Lakes in the Netherlands: An Ecosystem Approach
2003 - Duel, H., Van der Lee, G., Penning, W.E. and Baptist, M.J., Canadian Water Resources Journal 28 231-248
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Water storage: new solutions for water surplus and shortages in a small engineered country?
2004 - Penning, W.E. and H. Duel,,In Land and Water Management 8: 63-74