The natural area has been altered by human influences of ditching, diking and roadbed construction. This is interpreted to be a diking event. The largest project of this type was the diking and reclamation of the IJsselmeer. Goudswaard was founded in 1439, simultaneously with the diking of the polder Oud Korendijk. The diking started around the year 1000 AD. By the early 1900s, ditching, dredging, and diking had become common practice.