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The project Research mud dynamics Ems-Dollard explores the reasons for the historic increase in turbidity, and which measures can be designed to improve the water quality in the area. Numerical models have been developed, which are applied to understand mechanisms that may have contributed to a change in the suspended sediment concentration and primary production. The main results of this analysis, reported here, are that SSC in the lower Ems River increased as a result of deepening and associated reduction in hydraulic drag ; SSC in the Ems Estuary increased because of dredging strategies and deepening ; pelagic primary production is light-limited whereas benthic primary production is nutrient-limited.