Sediment imbalances and flooding risk in European deltas and estuaries |
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Authors: | Albert Rovira Rhoda Ballinger Carles Ibáñez Paul Parker M. Dolores Dominguez Xavier Simon Andrzej Lewandowski Boris Hochfeld Marian Tudor Liesbeth Vernaeve |
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Affiliation: | 1. Aquatic Ecosystems, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Carretera del Poble Nou, Km. 5.5, 43540-Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Catalonia, Spain 2. School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Main Building, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK 3. Environment Agency, Horizon House, Deanery Road, Bristol, BS1 5AH, UK 4. GIEEA-Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain 5. Departament Wspó?pracy Zagranicznej/Department of International Cooperation, Urz?d Marsza?kowski Województwa Pomorskiego/Marshall Office of Pomorskie Voivodship, ul. Okopowa 21/27, 80-810, Gdańsk, Poland 6. Hamburg Port Authority, Neuer Wandrahm 4, 20457, Hamburg, Germany 7. Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development, 165, Babadag Street, 820112, Tulcea, Romania 8. Province of East Flanders, Gouvernementstraat 1, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
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Abstract: | Purpose We analysed the status of current water and sediment management practices in six deltas and estuaries, which were part of the European DELTANET, INTERREG-funded network. Materials and methods These systems—the Danube, Ebro and Vistula deltas and the Elbe, Minho and Severn estuaries—represent different geographic regions of Europe. This enables comparison between the sites’ approaches to common coastal issues, notably those associated with sediment budgets, contamination and flood risk. Based on documentary analysis, workshop events and expert discussion, we employ a simple classification scheme to distinguish between levels of risk from these aspects. Results We suggest that flood risk is the most significant risk, followed by upstream sediment retention and sediment aggradation. Chemical contamination, though less severe, is not unimportant. Key management issues include a lack of environmental quality standards for sediment and suspended particulate matter, as well as the limited deployment of monitoring programmes, regular sediment sampling and associated chemical analyses. Conclusions These include both general and specific recommendations. Within these, the limited scope of integrated plans that aim for sustainability of the respective systems is highlighted. It is suggested that these do not challenge traditional, classical engineering approaches sufficiently. Nor do they address the origin of many environmental problems, especially those which are closely linked to short-term political and economic priorities. |
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