The only solution to stop the erosion of Ada Bojana beach is to switch to technology based on the latest achievements of coastal engineering. Fortunately, such solutions exist and show excellent results, do not cost "a fortune", and help preserve the wealth we have in Ada. The fact that this technology is unknown to scientists in our part of the world should not be an obstacle to getting to know it and using it. Namely, Ada Bojana is the type of beach that requires not conservative, but modern, innovative solutions, efficient and ecologically sustainable.
In this text, I give some basic features of a new technology, proven in practice and science, developed by top scientists in the field of coastal erosion protection, as the best solution for the Ada Bojana type beach for now.
It is necessary to say first that the present appearance of the entire coastline was determined by two processes over time - erosion and deposition. Erosion is caused by destructive waves whose backwash energy is stronger than the shock wave. Deposition is caused by low-energy waves, whose shock energy is stronger than the washing one. Contemporary climate changes intensify erosion, affecting, among other things, the strength and direction of waves, and the intensity and frequency of storms. The way people use coastal zones and river basins also contributes to beach erosion. The river delta is extremely dynamic due to the process of complex interaction between fluvial transport of sediments and coastal/marine erosion. The delta changes over time due to natural processes and disasters, but also human interventions in nature, such as the construction of dams in the case of Ada Bojana. Through a combination of natural and human activities, the problem of the disappearance of Ada Bojana grew over the decades, and now it has grown to a critical point.
New and innovative solutions are the only rights for Ada
In order to restore the original appearance of Ada Bojana beach, it is necessary to move from conservative to innovative, ecologically and economically sustainable methods. In a situation where the supply of Ada Bojana with fluvial material, i.e. material brought by the river Bojana was practically stopped by the construction of dams, "feeding" the beach was only possible from the sea side.
They stand out as an innovative solution derosion lattice, namely a type of anti-erosion grids. It is a flexible mesh construction of high strength, which can withstand extreme climatic conditions. This anti-erosion method originates from the most modern achievements of Taiwanese scientists. It is described in scientific article from 2015, which was preceded by six years of experimental field studies. Its application today gives exceptional results in all parameters of sustainability.
The method is based on the installation of a metal structure to which a high-strength net is attached. It is placed at an angle of maximum 30 degrees on the coastal bottom in the coastal area and at a distance of some 20 m from the shoreline, in a zone where waves carry large amounts of suspended sand. When hitting this net construction, the waves lose up to 50% of their strength, passing partly through the net and depositing sand - both behind, on the sides and in front of the construction. The gradual deposition of suspended sand from the coast creates a strong natural barrier against erosion, which leads to a gradual reduction of the slope. At the same time, it enables the increase of local biodiversity, which is one of the key advantages of this technology. By comparison, biodiversity is destroyed by the conservative method of dredging sand from other locations.
What sets this technology apart from others is its mobility. After the completion of the formation of the beach, the structure can be moved further into the sea, if necessary, until the desired surface is reached. The structure can then, if necessary, be transferred to another place where the erosion process is also intensified, such as, for example, the case with Ada Bojan at its other end, towards Albania. However, since this part of Ada is "far from the eyes" of the state/local administration and far from tourist complexes, it was less of a focus for rehabilitation.
Today, this is one of the most effective methods of revitalization and protection of sandy beaches from erosion processes, especially in parts of the world whose coasts are exposed to typhoons and hurricanes. The reason why this method is perhaps still not known in Europe and the Mediterranean is its focus on a special type of beach with a specific morphology, which are less common in Europe, and which is precisely the beach of Ada Bojane.
Lack of traditional solutions
Until the fifties of the last century, anti-erosion measures were based on the construction of hard structures, such as various types of seawalls, coastal linings and piers. In the twenties and thirties, hard constructions were most often used on private or smaller public beaches. Their effect was exclusively local, causing great environmental damage and erosion in other locations tens of kilometers away.
Due to the costs involved in building and maintaining hard structures, the focus has shifted over time to strengthening the natural defensive features of the coasts, namely the artificial formation of beaches and dune stabilization. These soft measures, such as replenishment of beaches, helped restore the natural dynamics to some extent, but they required frequent repetitions and, in connection with that, large costs, which most often led to the suspension of the project. Also, the "cementing" of drifted sediment transported from other locations was destroying the existing coastal ecosystem.
Today, it has been proven, both through practice and in science, that none of the traditional methods stabilize areas affected by erosion in the long term. Traditional methods are both ineffective and destructive to the habitat.
Conclusion
The recovery of Ada Bojana with the aim of preserving its uniqueness is only possible through modern technologies and innovative solutions. At the same time, coastal monitoring must be ensured, because it is necessary to understand the behavior of the morphology and the coastal environment. The sustainable way in which the new anti-erosion technology works, leaves at the same time the possibility of an integral approach to the problems related to the beaches and the island of Ada Bojana itself, as well as to the mouth and basin of the Bojana River.
The author is an erosion protection engineer
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