Coastal erosion

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 463.

The Dnieper is the main river of Ukraine. The river fills water reservoirs that are used for several interests. When there is not enough water in these reservoirs, priorities are made. Four levels are discriminated: mers are provided with water without restrictions.

Adaptation strategies

Fresh water resources

Changing rainfall patterns and runoff indicate that future summer river flows are likely to decrease substantially, by as much as 50%, across central and eastern Europe, including the Ukraine (4). It is likely that the country will suffer increased water stress over the 21st century as severe droughts, classified today as one in 100 year events, are projected to become twice as likely by 2070 (5).

In the northern part of Ukraine annual river runoff may rise by 15-25%; winter runoff will increase and spring runoff will decrease. In the southern and southeastern part of Ukraine annual river runoff may decrease by 30-50%. Both drought risk and the frequency and magnitude of extreme floods will increase (2).

The sectors that are most vulnerable to these changes are agriculture in the south and industry and households in the south and southeast. In the south and southeast, surface water quality will deteriorate (2).

2. Zone of economic consumption. All water consumers are provided with water in accordance with norms. Restrictions of auxiliary needs are introduced.

1. Zone of strict water saving, when water reservoirs are being drawn down below navigation drawdown level not more than 1 m. Restriction for irrigation systems and for auxiliary needs of industry are introduced. River transportation is restricted to a navigation depth of 2.6 m. Ecological passing may be curtailed to 300 m³/s for short periods. Upon that everyday inspection of water quality is established.
2. Zone of all consumers' restriction. To provide for needs of inhabitants, limits and schedules for strict water supply are established.
3. Under climate change scenarios that lead to decreased Dnieper water discharge, the quality of surface waters may deteriorate. Therefore, bearing in mind the present high level of Dnieper water contamination, underground deep water horizons are recommended for near future water use to meet the demands for drinking water.
4. Managed aquifer recharge. Comprehensive management approaches to water resources that integrate ground water and surface water may greatly reduce human vulnerability to climate extremes and change, and promote global water and food security. Conjunctive uses of ground water and surface water that use surface water for irrigation and water supply during wet periods, and ground water during drought, are likely to prove essential. Managed aquifer recharge wherein excess surface water, desalinated water and treated waste water are stored in depleted aquifers could also sup­plement groundwater storage for use during droughts. Indeed, the use of aquifers as natural storage reservoirs avoids many of the problems of evaporative losses and ecosystem impacts asso­ciated with large, constructed surface-water reservoirs.

2.7% of the Ukrainian population lives less than 10m above sea level. Homes as well as industrial premises, arable land and tourist sites are already experiencing erosion problems. An increase in short, intense rainfall events combined with projected rises in sea level mean erosion could be an escalating issue for the Ukrainian coast, particularly after 2050.