A Holistic Approach for Coastal–Watershed Management on Tourist Islands: A Case Study from Petra–Molyvos Coast, Lesvos Island (Greece)

Shoreline configurations are a complex outcome of the dynamic interplay between natural forces and human actions. This interaction shapes unique coastal morphologies and affects sediment transport and erosion patterns along the coastline. Meanwhile, ephemeral river systems play a vital role in shapi...

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Main Authors: Stamatia Papasarafianou, Ilias Siarkos, Aliki Gkaifyllia, Stavros Sahtouris, Giada Varra, Antonis Chatzipavlis, Thomas Hasiotis, Ourania Tzoraki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Geosciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/14/12/326
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author Stamatia Papasarafianou
Ilias Siarkos
Aliki Gkaifyllia
Stavros Sahtouris
Giada Varra
Antonis Chatzipavlis
Thomas Hasiotis
Ourania Tzoraki
author_facet Stamatia Papasarafianou
Ilias Siarkos
Aliki Gkaifyllia
Stavros Sahtouris
Giada Varra
Antonis Chatzipavlis
Thomas Hasiotis
Ourania Tzoraki
author_sort Stamatia Papasarafianou
collection DOAJ
description Shoreline configurations are a complex outcome of the dynamic interplay between natural forces and human actions. This interaction shapes unique coastal morphologies and affects sediment transport and erosion patterns along the coastline. Meanwhile, ephemeral river systems play a vital role in shaping coastlines and maintaining ecosystem sustainability, especially in island settings. In this context, the present study seeks to develop a holistic approach that views coast and watershed systems as a continuum, aiming to investigate their relationships in an island environment, while accounting for human interventions in the river regime. For this task, the empirical USLE method was employed to quantify sediment production and transport from the catchment area to the coast, while hydraulic simulations using HEC-RAS were conducted to assess sediment retention within flood-affected areas. Moreover, coastal vulnerability to erosion was evaluated by applying the InVEST CVI model in order to identify areas at risk from environmental threats. The coastal zone of Petra–Molyvos, Lesvos, Greece, was selected as the study area due to ongoing erosion issues, with particular emphasis on its interaction with the Petra stream as a result of significant human intervention at its mouth. According to the study’s findings, the examined coastal zone is highly vulnerable to combined erosion from wind and waves, while the river’s mouth receives only a small amount of sediment from water fluxes. Evidently, this leads to an increase in beach retreat phenomena, while highlighting the necessity for integrated coastal–watershed management.
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spelling doaj-art-c9b3c7dc34f840dfbf86fbe7ccbdde932025-08-20T02:50:53ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632024-12-01141232610.3390/geosciences14120326A Holistic Approach for Coastal–Watershed Management on Tourist Islands: A Case Study from Petra–Molyvos Coast, Lesvos Island (Greece)Stamatia Papasarafianou0Ilias Siarkos1Aliki Gkaifyllia2Stavros Sahtouris3Giada Varra4Antonis Chatzipavlis5Thomas Hasiotis6Ourania Tzoraki7Department of Science and Technology, University of Napoli Parthenope, 80143 Napoli, ItalyDepartment of Civil Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, 67100 Xanthi, GreeceDepartment of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, GreeceDepartment of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, GreeceDepartment of Engineering, University of Napoli Parthenope, 80143 Napoli, ItalyDepartment of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, GreeceDepartment of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, GreeceDepartment of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, GreeceShoreline configurations are a complex outcome of the dynamic interplay between natural forces and human actions. This interaction shapes unique coastal morphologies and affects sediment transport and erosion patterns along the coastline. Meanwhile, ephemeral river systems play a vital role in shaping coastlines and maintaining ecosystem sustainability, especially in island settings. In this context, the present study seeks to develop a holistic approach that views coast and watershed systems as a continuum, aiming to investigate their relationships in an island environment, while accounting for human interventions in the river regime. For this task, the empirical USLE method was employed to quantify sediment production and transport from the catchment area to the coast, while hydraulic simulations using HEC-RAS were conducted to assess sediment retention within flood-affected areas. Moreover, coastal vulnerability to erosion was evaluated by applying the InVEST CVI model in order to identify areas at risk from environmental threats. The coastal zone of Petra–Molyvos, Lesvos, Greece, was selected as the study area due to ongoing erosion issues, with particular emphasis on its interaction with the Petra stream as a result of significant human intervention at its mouth. According to the study’s findings, the examined coastal zone is highly vulnerable to combined erosion from wind and waves, while the river’s mouth receives only a small amount of sediment from water fluxes. Evidently, this leads to an increase in beach retreat phenomena, while highlighting the necessity for integrated coastal–watershed management.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/14/12/326coastal vulnerabilitywater and sediment fluxessediment retentionhuman interventionintegrated coastal–watershed managementNE Aegean Sea
spellingShingle Stamatia Papasarafianou
Ilias Siarkos
Aliki Gkaifyllia
Stavros Sahtouris
Giada Varra
Antonis Chatzipavlis
Thomas Hasiotis
Ourania Tzoraki
A Holistic Approach for Coastal–Watershed Management on Tourist Islands: A Case Study from Petra–Molyvos Coast, Lesvos Island (Greece)
Geosciences
coastal vulnerability
water and sediment fluxes
sediment retention
human intervention
integrated coastal–watershed management
NE Aegean Sea
title A Holistic Approach for Coastal–Watershed Management on Tourist Islands: A Case Study from Petra–Molyvos Coast, Lesvos Island (Greece)
title_full A Holistic Approach for Coastal–Watershed Management on Tourist Islands: A Case Study from Petra–Molyvos Coast, Lesvos Island (Greece)
title_fullStr A Holistic Approach for Coastal–Watershed Management on Tourist Islands: A Case Study from Petra–Molyvos Coast, Lesvos Island (Greece)
title_full_unstemmed A Holistic Approach for Coastal–Watershed Management on Tourist Islands: A Case Study from Petra–Molyvos Coast, Lesvos Island (Greece)
title_short A Holistic Approach for Coastal–Watershed Management on Tourist Islands: A Case Study from Petra–Molyvos Coast, Lesvos Island (Greece)
title_sort holistic approach for coastal watershed management on tourist islands a case study from petra molyvos coast lesvos island greece
topic coastal vulnerability
water and sediment fluxes
sediment retention
human intervention
integrated coastal–watershed management
NE Aegean Sea
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/14/12/326
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