Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T09:21:55.423Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Increasing the dynamism of coastal landforms by modifying shore protection methods: examples from the eastern German Baltic Sea Coast

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 December 2007

KARL F. NORDSTROM*
Affiliation:
Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
REINHARD LAMPE
Affiliation:
Institute of Geography and Geology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University Greifswald, D-17487, Griefswald, Germany
NANCY L. JACKSON
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark NJ 07102, USA
*
*Correspondence: Professor Karl F. Nordstrom Tel: +1 732 932 6555 ext. 502 Fax: +1 732 932 8578 e-mail: [email protected]

Summary

Redesign of shore protection projects in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Germany) is allowing landforms to become more dynamic after centuries of employing structures to increase stability. Current policies are designed to maintain sediment transfers, re-establish wetlands, ensure zero net loss of coastal habitat and apply the user-pays principle for restoring damaged habitat. Projects that achieve new nature-oriented goals include (1) relocating dykes landward or allowing dykes or protective dunes to erode to expose more land to episodic inundation by the sea; (2) reinstating sediment transfers from bluffs to adjacent low-lying shores; (3) increasing sediment transport rates through groyne fields; and (4) removing exotic vegetation from dunes. These actions create new habitat, add portions of the coast to the public domain, and provide a wider buffer against accelerated sea-level rise for developed lands further inland. The management actions have been relatively small in scale, applied where there has been little threat to human facilities and done to achieve specific environmental goals, but they provide examples of workable options to increase the dynamism of stabilized landforms on other exposed coasts. The need to restore natural functions while providing some stability places emphasis on a strategy of controlling dynamism rather than preventing it.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abraham, R. (2000) Die Renaturierung des Polders Friedrichshagen – zweites Deichrückbauprojekt in Ostvorpommern. Naturschutzarbeit in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 43: 7073.Google Scholar
Arens, S.M., Slings, Q. & de Vries, C.N. (2004) Mobility of a remobilised parabolic dune in Kennemerland, The Netherlands. Geomorphology 59: 175188.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ausschuss für Küstenschutzwerke (2002) Empfehlungen für die Ausführung von Küstenschutzwerken. EAK 2002. Küste 65: 1534.Google Scholar
Bärens, C. & Hupfer, P. (1999) Extremwasserstände an der deutschen Ostseeküste nach Beobachtungen und in einem Treibhausszenario. Küste 61: 4772.Google Scholar
Birr, H.-D. (1999) Neue und zerstörte Sturmflutmarken an der Küste Mecklenburg-Vorpommerns. Wasser und Boden 51: 4042.Google Scholar
Brampton, A.H. (1998) Cliff conservation and protection: methods and practices to resolve conflicts. In: Coastal Defense and Earth Science Conservation, ed. Hooke, J., pp. 2131. Bath, UK: The Geological Society.Google Scholar
Campbell, T., Benedet, L. & Thompson, G. (2005) Design considerations for barrier island nourishment and coastal structures for coastal restoration in Louisiana. Journal of Coastal Research SI44: 186202.Google Scholar
Cordshagen, H. (1964) Der Küstenschutz in Mecklenburg. Schwerin, Germany: Petermänken-Verlag.Google Scholar
Council of Europe (1999) European Code of Conduct for Coastal Zones, CO-DBP (99) 11, Strasbourg [www document]. URL http://www.coastalguide.org/code/cc.pdfGoogle Scholar
De Raeve, F. (1989) Sand dune vegetation and management dynamics. In: Perspectives in Coastal Dune Management, ed. van der Meulen, F., Jungerius, P.D. & Visser, J.H., pp. 99109. The Hague, the Netherlands: SPB Academic Publishing.Google Scholar
Dietrich, R. & Liebsch, G. (2000). Zur Variabilität des Meeresspiegels an der Küste von Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Zeitschrift für Geologische Wissenschaften 28: 615624.Google Scholar
Doody, J.P. (2001) Coastal Conservation and Management: an Ecological Perspective. Dordrecht, the Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Finkl, C.W. & Khalil, S.M., eds (2005) Saving America's wetland: strategies for restoration of Louisiana's coastal wetlands and barrier islands. Journal of Coastal Research Special Issue 44.Google Scholar
French, P.W. (2006) Managed realignment – the developing story of a comparatively new approach to soft engineering. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 67: 409423.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Garbutt, R.A., Reading, C.J., Wolters, M., Gray, A.J. & Rothery, P. (2006) Monitoring the development of intertidal habitats on former agricultural land after the managed realignment of coastal defenses at Tollesbury, Essex, UK. Marine Pollution Bulletin 53: 155164.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Geinitz, E. (1905) Einwirkungen der Sylvestersturmflut 1904 auf die mecklenburgische Küste. Mitteilung Großherzoglich-Mecklenburgischen Geologischen Landesanstalt 16: 19.Google Scholar
Geinitz, E. (1914) Die Sturmflut vom 30. Dezember 1913 in ihrer Einwirkung auf die mecklenburgische Küste. Mitteilung Großherzoglich-Mecklenburgischen Geologischen Landesanstalt 27: 111.Google Scholar
Hennicke, F. (2000) Rückbau degradierter Polder im Peenetal. Zeitschrift für Geologische Wissenschaften 28: 661676.Google Scholar
Heslenfeld, P., Jungerius, P.D. & Klijn, J.A. (2004) European coastal dunes: ecological values, threats, opportunities and policy development. In: Coastal Dunes, Ecology and Conservation, ed. Martínez, M.L. & Psuty, N.P., pp. 335351. Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag.Google Scholar
Holz, R., Hermann, C. & Müller-Motzfeld, G. (1996) Vom Polder zum Ausdeichungsgebiet: Das Projekt Karrendorfer Wiesen und die Zukunft der Küstenüberflutungsgebiete in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Natur und Naturschutz in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 32: 327.Google Scholar
Jeschke, L. (1983) Landeskulturelle Probleme des Salzgraslandes an der Küste. Naturschutzarbeit in Mecklenburg 26: 512.Google Scholar
Jeschke, L. & Succow, M. (2001) Nationalpark Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft. Meer und Museum 16: 126134.Google Scholar
Kentula, M.E. & Thayer, G.W., eds (2005) Coastal restoration: where have we been, where are we now, and where should we be going? Journal of Coastal Research Special Issue 40.Google Scholar
Kohlmetz, E. (1967) Zur Entstehung, Verteilung und Auswirkung von Sturmfluten an der deutschen Ostseeküste. Petermanns Geographische Mitteilung 111: 8996.Google Scholar
Kooijman, A.M. (2004) Environmental problems and restoration measures in coastal dunes in The Netherlands. In: Coastal Dunes, Ecology and Conservation, ed. Martínez, M.L. & Psuty, N.P., pp. 243258. Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag.Google Scholar
Kraus, N.C. & McDougal, W.G. (1996) The effects of seawalls on the beach: part II: an updated literature review. Journal of Coastal Research 12: 691702.Google Scholar
Krüger, G. (1911) Über Sturmfluten an den deutschen Küsten der westlichen Ostsee, mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Sturmflut 30/31. Dezember 1904–12. Jahresbericht der Geographischen Gesellschaft zu Greifswald für 1910/11, pp. 195–294.Google Scholar
Lampe, R. (1996) Küsten und Küstenschutz in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Zeitschrift für Erdkundeunterricht 9: 364372.Google Scholar
Leafe, R., Pethick, J. & Townend, I. (1998) Realizing the benefits of shoreline management. The Geographical Journal 164: 282290.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lutz, K. (1996) Studie zum Generalplan Küstenschutz und zur Rekultivierung von Salzgrasländern. Unpublished report on behalf of the WWF Germany, Ostseeschutz project office Stralsund, Germany.Google Scholar
Martínez, M.L., Maun, M.A. & Psuty, N.P. (2004) The fragility and conservation of the world's coastal dunes: geomorphological, ecological, and socioeconomic perspectives. In: Coastal Dunes, Ecology and Conservation, ed. Martínez, M.L. & Psuty, N.P., pp. 355369. Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MBLU (no date) Generalplan Küsten- und Hochwasserschutz Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Schwerin, Germany: Ministerium für Bau, Landesentwicklung und Umwelt.Google Scholar
MBLU (1997) Küstenschutz in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Schwerin, Germany: Ministerium für Bau, Landesentwicklung und Umwelt.Google Scholar
Ministerium für Umwelt und Natur (1999) Hinweise zur Eingriffsregelungen. Schriftenreihe des Landesamtes für Umwelt, Naturschütz und Geologie 3.Google Scholar
Müller, J. & Gercken, J. (2006) Auch Tropenholz-Buhnen teilweise mit Teredo-Befall. Zwischenergebnisse eines neuen Monitorings an der deutschen Ostseeküste zeigen jedoch weiterhin keinen Kernholzbefall. Holz-Zentralblatt 132: 135.Google Scholar
Müller-Motzfeld, G., Erdmann, F. & Kornmilch, J.-C. (1998) Dynamik an Moränensteilküsten der Ostsee. Schritfenreihe für Landschaftspflege und Naturschutz 56: 7996.Google Scholar
Nordstrom, K.F. (2003) Restoring naturally functioning beaches and dunes on developed coasts using compromise management solutions: an agenda for action. In: Values at Sea: Ethics for the Marine Environment, ed. Dallmeyer, D., pp. 204229. Athens, GA, USA: University of Georgia Press.Google Scholar
Nordstrom, K.F. (2005) Beach nourishment and coastal habitats: research needs for improving compatibility. Restoration Ecology 13: 215–22.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pethick, J. (2002) Estuarine and tidal wetland restoration in the United Kingdom: policy versus practice. Restoration Ecology 10: 431437.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pilkey, O.H. & Wright III, H.L. (1988) Seawalls versus beaches. Journal of Coastal Research Special Issue 4: 4164.Google Scholar
Powell, K.A. (1992) Engineering with conservation issues in mind. In: Coastal Zone Planning and Management, ed. Barrett, M.G., pp. 237249. London, UK: Thomas Telford.Google Scholar
Rankin, K.L, Bruno, M.S. & Herrington, T.O. (2004) Nearshore currents and sediment transport measured at notched groins. Journal of Coastal Research Special Issue 33: 237254.Google Scholar
Redieck, M. & Schade, A., ed. (1996) Dokumentation der Sturmflut vom 3 und 4. November 1995 an den Küsten Mecklenburgs und Vorpommerns. Rostock: Redick & Schade: 86 pp.Google Scholar
Seabergh, W.C. & Kraus, N.C. (2003) Progress in management of sediment bypassing at coastal inlets: natural bypassing, weir jetties, jetty spurs, and engineering aids in design. Coastal Engineering Journal 45: 533–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sordyl, H., Bönsch, R., Gercken, J., Kreuzberg, M. & Schultze, H. (1998) Verbreitung und Reproduction des Schiffsbohrwurms Terredo navalis L. an der Küste Mecklenburg-Vorpommerns. Deutsche Gewässerkundliche Mitteilungen 42 (4): 18.Google Scholar
Teal, J.M. & Peterson, S.B. (2005) Introduction to the Delaware Bay salt marsh restoration. Ecological Engineering 25: 199203.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tunstall, S.M. & Penning-Rowsell, E.C. (1998) The English beach: experiences and values. The Geographical Journal 164: 319332.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
van Boxel, J.H., Jungerius, P.D., Kieffer, N. & Hampele, N. (1997) Ecological effects of reactivation of artificially stabilized blowouts in coastal dunes. Journal of Coastal Conservation 3: 5762.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wanders, E. (1989) Perspectives in coastal dune management. In: Perspectives in Coastal Dune Management, ed. van der Meulen, F., Jungerius, P.D. & Visser, J.H., pp. 141148. The Hague, the Netherlands: SPB Academic Publishing.Google Scholar
Wang, P. & Kraus, N.C. (2004) Movable-bed model investigation of groin notching. Journal of Coastal Research Special Issue 33: 342367.Google Scholar