113
Deforestation was changing the hills, and wetlands, dunes, and other coastal environments saw the installation of factories, houses, and other structures. By 1902
several iron smelting facilities merged into “Altos Hornos de Vizcaya S.A.” and the
expansion of this industry led to the development of the railways to transport the
iron. At that time, there was already an “industrial fog” and water pollution was
significant. Between 1900 and 1916 two of the main shipbuilding companies were
established in the estuary. This activity resulted in other industries also coming to
the region. The major expansion of industry was really quite recent and commenced
around 1950 with intense harbor development to exploit the natural resources of the
region (mainly iron).
Maritime activities have always been important in the Bilbao estuary. Several
centuries ago, a sand spit close to the mouth of the estuary limited navigation to
high tides only. Large ships could navigate the waters only during the exceptionally
high waters during spring tides (at full or new moon). Significant modifications had
started by 1502 by changing the main channel of the Gobelas tributary. The main
channel was significantly altered in 1654 to minimize the seasonal flooding that
Bilbao suffered regularly. In 1753, quay walls and piers were built in the lower
reaches on both banks creating a single straight channel that was also dredged.
Unfortunately, this led to sand accumulation at the mouth of the estuary. The sand
spit remained until 1877 when an iron dock on the left bank at the mouth of the estuary was extended. Between 1891 and 1905, breakwaters were built, sheltering a
large section of the bay. During 1907, several areas on the left bank leading to the
fishing harbor in Santurce were artificially filled. It was not until the 1970s that El
Abra bay, seaward of the estuary, was enclosed with the construction of the breakwaters on both sides (Figs. 7.1 and 7.4).
Our project started with the basic premise that all natural and anthropogenic
changes that have affected the Bilbao estuary and environs are recorded in the sediments stored in the Bilbao estuary. The idea was that we could use industrial metal
concentrations and microfossil data to see how the history of the Bilbao estuary was
recorded in these sediments and provide guidelines for the recovery process. The
microfossils we used to reconstruct past environments and to indicate intervals of
pollution were foraminifera (Fig. 7.5), single-celled organisms whose shells are so
small that several can fit on the head of a pin.
Getting into the Mud!
We had fun (if that is the right word) when we started looking at modern sediments
within the estuary. We took many kinds of samples – surface grab samples, push
cores, percussion cores, auger cores, drill cores. In Fig. 7.6, we can see two of the
surface sampling sites. In this case, there was little equipment needed – a small ring
to select standard-sized samples, a spatula (to recover the sediment), and a jar with
a solution that prevents the degradation of the organic matter (we needed to know if
there were living organisms in the sediment). But the scientific papers we wrote do
7 The Anthropocene, Wait, What? A Basque’s Coastal Experience Helps to Figure It Out
Deforestation was changing the hills, and wetlands, dunes, and other coastal environments saw the installation of factories, houses, and other structures. By 1902
several iron smelting facilities merged into “Altos Hornos de Vizcaya S.A.” and the
expansion of this industry led to the development of the railways to transport the
iron. At that time, there was already an “industrial fog” and water pollution was
significant. Between 1900 and 1916 two of the main shipbuilding companies were
established in the estuary. This activity resulted in other industries also coming to
the region. The major expansion of industry was really quite recent and commenced
around 1950 with intense harbor development to exploit the natural resources of the
region (mainly iron).
Maritime activities have always been important in the Bilbao estuary. Several
centuries ago, a sand spit close to the mouth of the estuary limited navigation to
high tides only. Large ships could navigate the waters only during the exceptionally
high waters during spring tides (at full or new moon). Significant modifications had
started by 1502 by changing the main channel of the Gobelas tributary. The main
channel was significantly altered in 1654 to minimize the seasonal flooding that
Bilbao suffered regularly. In 1753, quay walls and piers were built in the lower
reaches on both banks creating a single straight channel that was also dredged.
Unfortunately, this led to sand accumulation at the mouth of the estuary. The sand
spit remained until 1877 when an iron dock on the left bank at the mouth of the estuary was extended. Between 1891 and 1905, breakwaters were built, sheltering a
large section of the bay. During 1907, several areas on the left bank leading to the
fishing harbor in Santurce were artificially filled. It was not until the 1970s that El
Abra bay, seaward of the estuary, was enclosed with the construction of the breakwaters on both sides (Figs. 7.1 and 7.4).
Our project started with the basic premise that all natural and anthropogenic
changes that have affected the Bilbao estuary and environs are recorded in the sediments stored in the Bilbao estuary. The idea was that we could use industrial metal
concentrations and microfossil data to see how the history of the Bilbao estuary was
recorded in these sediments and provide guidelines for the recovery process. The
microfossils we used to reconstruct past environments and to indicate intervals of
pollution were foraminifera (Fig. 7.5), single-celled organisms whose shells are so
small that several can fit on the head of a pin.
Getting into the Mud!
We had fun (if that is the right word) when we started looking at modern sediments
within the estuary. We took many kinds of samples – surface grab samples, push
cores, percussion cores, auger cores, drill cores. In Fig. 7.6, we can see two of the
surface sampling sites. In this case, there was little equipment needed – a small ring
to select standard-sized samples, a spatula (to recover the sediment), and a jar with
a solution that prevents the degradation of the organic matter (we needed to know if
there were living organisms in the sediment). But the scientific papers we wrote do
7 The Anthropocene, Wait, What? A Basque’s Coastal Experience Helps to Figure It Out