Barcelona Field Studies Centre

Impacts of coastal development

Describe the fieldwork and research you would undertake in order to investigate the impacts of coastal development (15 marks)

Muntanyans II is a development project on the Catalan coast, 50 km south of Barcelona (see Figure 1). Over 500 homes, parks and facilities are planned to cover 173,900 m² of land on the edge of fragile coastal marshland and dunes, home to a number of endemic threatened species. This is a second phase of construction at the site, with the adjacent Muntanyans I development already completed but, because of the financial crisis, currently largely unoccupied.

Location of the Muntanyans development
Figure 1: Location of the Muntanyans development

There are a number of social, environmental and economic impacts that can be investigated. Fieldwork may include a study of the impact of the development on the fragile dune vegetation, as well as the use of field sketches, environmental impact assessments and conflict matrices. Questionnaires and interviews may be used to gather the views of local residents, businesses and the local council. A range of historical documents may be used to research the impacts, including newspaper extracts. Historic maps and photographs may be compared with recent images from Google Earth.

Fieldwork to investigate the impact of the Muntanyans development on the dune vegetation

Sand dunes close to the existing Muntanyans I development may show the impact of greater visitor numbers, since dune vegetation is very fragile and easily damaged by trampling. These dunes may be compared with dunes in a more isolated location and a number of hypotheses tested, based on the concept of vegetation succession, illustrated in Figure 2.


Succession in a sand dune ecosystem
Figure 2: Succession in a sand dune ecosystem

Hypotheses

That the more accessible (disturbed) dunes will have:
• lower vegetation diversity
• higher wind velocities
• greater erosion
• lower organic content
• less acidic pH values

Fieldwork methodology

The fieldwork would involve laying a transect line across the dunes using ranging poles. The sampling would be stratified, with vegetation sampled on the ridges and slacks where changes in species occur. To avoid bias, a table of random numbers should be used to select the sampling sites.

Vegetation should be sampled using quadrats, the quadrat size determined by an optimum quadrat size technique. The number of species should be identified and counted and recorded as a percentage of the quadrat size. The percentage of bare sand should also recorded.

Wind velocities could be measured using an anemometer, and soil samples collected for colour comparisons, pH testing and laboratory analysis of organic content and moisture content.

Research

Research using newspaper archives and maps suggests that the Muntanyans II development will eliminate the only remaining biological corridor on the coast of northern Tarragona linking the rural interior and the coastline.

Research has also revealed that in the past, flood water from the River Gibert was able to spread slowly across the Muntanyans II site and gradually infiltrate the soil. The drainage channel was ill-defined, but canalisation now concentrates and speeds the flow, directing it towards the main coastal rail link which lies a short distance between a soakaway and the sea. An impact study carried out by the University of Barcelona has concluded that the Muntanyans II site is in a high risk flood zone where flood waters from the River Gibert accumulate. The canalisation of the Gibert will not stop the flood risk since the direction of the waters "are uncontrollable and the nature of the terrain directs them towards the planned housing development".

The canalisation of the River Gibert may alter the supply of fresh water to the coastal wetlands, resulting in a water deficit in some areas, and a surplus in others. As the soakaway at the mouth of the Gibert becomes blocked by sediment, a new lake may form.

Additional research could be carried out into the possible alteration of the water dynamics in the area caused by runoff from the urbanisation. The increase in freshwater input to the system can unbalance soil salinity with subsequent modification of existing vegetation.

Research could also be carried out into the impact of the development on the extensive offshore meadows of Mediterranean seagrass (Posidonia oceanica). Seagrass forms the first trophic (feeding) level of the marine ecosystem. Seagrass meadows have other important ecological functions. They improve water quality by reducing the particle loads in the water and absorbing dissolved nutrients. Seagrass meadows dissipate wave energy and protect the coastline. In addition, a significant fraction of seagrass production accumulates on the beach, as seaweed, where it contributes to dune formation. The seagrass could be affected by runoff and pollution from the Muntanyans development.

The wider economic impact of the development is also an area that requires research. The development was built at the height of the construction boom, most of the Muntanyans I properties remain unsold, and the Muntanyans II development has been halted by legal action. It seems unlikely to be completed, given the enormous oversupply of new property (estimated 1.2 million homes) on the Spanish market.

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