LONG TERM REMEDIAL MEASURES OF SEDIMENTOLOGICAL IMPACT DUE TO COASTAL DEVELOPMENTS ON THE SOUTH EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN COAST

Coastal developments in the 20th century in the South-eastern Mediterranean coast have already induced sedimentological impacts, expressed as coastal erosion, silting of marinas and other protected areas, and cliff retreat. New development activities are underway or planned for implementation in the near future. The forecasted future sea-level rise (already apparently detected in the last decade in the Eastern Mediterranean) and storm statistics change due to global warming, as well as future diminishing of longshore sand transport in the Nile cell, add to the increased sensitivity of coastal development in this region. This paper presents a review of the various projects underway or due to be implemented in the next few years, discusses in an integrated manner the outcome of various field and model studies on the sedimentological impacts of these developments, and presents a series of remedial measures which would have to be implemented to achieve a sustainable integrated coastal zone development in this region. Among the remedial measures discussed are sand bypassing and coastal nourishment, cliff and coastal protection by submerged ("Beachsaver Reef" TM ) and protruding detached "respiring" rubble mound breakwaters, the "WaveTrap Island" concept developed by the author and utilisation of long-term coast stabilisation using large scale crenulated beaches at artificial peninsulas derived from initial artificial islands development.