8.     Hydromorphological issues in transitional and coastal waters

8.1.        Introduction

European coastline comprises rich biodiversity, at the same time being vulnerable and sensitive environment. Simultaneously, coast of Europe faces strong anthropogenic pressures. The European coastline is of the most altered coastlines in the world (Kull et al. 2006:251). Human activities have altered significantly natural coastal landscape, since coastal areas are favourable living environments due to several advantages. Although coasts have been altered by human activities for centuries, there are still areas with natural coast left. Coastal zones are densely inhabited by a large percentage of the EU citizens (Figure 1.).

Figure 1. Coastal regions population density, by country, 2005 (from 47/2009 — Statistics in focus, EUROSTAT)

Anthropogenic pressures cause different impacts in different coastal environments due to special features of habitats (Viles and Spencer 1995:13). Those are also a major source of food and raw materials, and a vital link for transport and trade.  Some of our most valuable habitats as well the most favoured destinations for our leisure time are in the coastal zones. Coastal zones are facing serious problems due to a number of human pressures, such as water contamination, coastal erosion, habitat destruction and resource depletion.

The importance of coastal tourism in a country implies an interest in the maintenance of beaches (Figure 1b, c) (DEDUCE, 2011).

Human are causing hydromorphological changes in the coastal zone that are both due to pressures in the marine as well as in the terrestrial side of the coastal zone. Hydromorphological changes, such as construction of harbours, urban dwelling and developments, underwater constructions for energy activities, dredging for navigation as well as abstraction of gravel and other materials from the sea bed are leading to increasingly frequent conflict between uses, such as between nature protection and development for urban dwellings and other human activities.

Important long term goals for the EU coastal zones are the sustainable development of coastal zones and the conservation of dynamic habitats, especially on the remaining undeveloped coast. This requires a protection, and in many cases restoration of, the natural habitats and functioning of the coastal system and hence sustaining the natural resilience of coastal zones to impacts of hydromorphological changes, such as erosion.

Anthropogenic pressures cause changes to coastal hydromorphology affecting the physical features as geomorphology and hydrological regime. Often these pressures become more obvious along with population growth, urbanization, and development of tourism and industry (Kull et al. 2006:252). Coastal defence constructions are becoming more common in European coastal zone due to sea level rise, erosion and concentration of economic activities to the coasts. Flood protection constructions have negative impacts on coasts by fragmenting continuous coastline and changing habitats (Laukkonen, 2011).

Across Europe, economic development has physically altered coastal and transitional waters for navigation, trading activities, flood and erosion control, urbanisation and tourism. These activities are driving forces for hydromorphological alterations. Natural structural and functional elements such as habitat composition, sediment and water flow of coastal and transitional waters have been modified with bank and flood protection structures, dams, land reclamation, dredging, port and marine facilities construction.

The impact of global warming and climate change is becoming increasingly important in coastal areas due to expected  sea level rise and due to increased probability of storm surges and associated coastal floods. People are increasingly occupying low-lying areas that are exposed to flooding, thus exacerbating the vulnerability of coastal systems to extreme events. The importance and scale of coastal defences will thus increase, with potentially commensurate environmental impacts (OSPAR Commission, 2009:14).

Note: An overview of coastal erosion management techniques (hard and soft) is presented in EC DG ENV publication of EUROSION project (Annex II), 2004. Data from this project is used in this report. 

8.2.        European Overview

See chapter 4

8.3.        Case studies

Missing

We hope that Member States and RBDs can provide case studies on hydromophological pressures and alterations in coastal and transitional waters.