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Rodríguez et al.
since it is one of the stretches of coast that most concerns the General Coastal
Directorate at present. That concern is not only due to the regressive state in which the
area is found, but also because it was the object of a major study at the beginning of
this year, ordered by the General Coastal Directorate and undertaken by the Center for
Studies of Ports and Coasts dealing with the littoral dynamics of the Castellón coast.
The general scheme of the methodology was shaped in the meetings that
followed, being agreed that the evaluation of the alternative action steps would take
place according to four different aspects, which were:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Beach quality
Financial considerations
Social considerations
Ecological impact
After specifying the possible alternative actions for the General Coastal
Directorate in the stretch of coast between the ports of Castellón and Sagunto, the
evaluation parameters were defined, taking into account the alternative proposals and
the criteria for their assessment.
A scale between 0 and 2 was introduced in order to carry out the evaluation,
as well as the need to give each parameter under consideration its adequate weight or
importance. The methodology thus created would allow for the modification of those
weighted scores according to the requests forwarded by the authorities involved in the
election of the actions. This could be done following prior discussions with experts in
the particular fields.
Two significant aspects are worthy of comment: One is that the methodology
will be applicable to any other stretch of coast, after previous modification of the
starting parameters that will depend on the characteristics of said stretch, as well as the
possible alternative action steps. That way, the proposed method facilitates and speeds
up discussions between the different entities involved, so as to maximise the Integrated
Management of a coastal stretch.
The second aspect is that the system set forth here is not closed, allowing for
any necessary modifications that may come up as the result of conversations between
the involved entities. That way, it is simple to obtain new comparative results through
the GIS.
Location and Problem Aspects of the Castellón Coast
For the most part, the Castellón coast, between the harbours of Castellón and Sagunto,
is made up of very old marshes and dried-up coastal lagoons, whose configuration is
that of a plain behind the beach, of low altitude over the sea level, and a levee of
sediments, in many cases dune chains, of higher altitude that separates the land from
the sea. The constant erosion, and in some cases, construction, have caused such levees
to disappear, exposing the low-lying land in the plain to flooding from the sea. Higher
sea levels coincide with the storms in the area.
Rodríguez et al.
since it is one of the stretches of coast that most concerns the General Coastal
Directorate at present. That concern is not only due to the regressive state in which the
area is found, but also because it was the object of a major study at the beginning of
this year, ordered by the General Coastal Directorate and undertaken by the Center for
Studies of Ports and Coasts dealing with the littoral dynamics of the Castellón coast.
The general scheme of the methodology was shaped in the meetings that
followed, being agreed that the evaluation of the alternative action steps would take
place according to four different aspects, which were:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Beach quality
Financial considerations
Social considerations
Ecological impact
After specifying the possible alternative actions for the General Coastal
Directorate in the stretch of coast between the ports of Castellón and Sagunto, the
evaluation parameters were defined, taking into account the alternative proposals and
the criteria for their assessment.
A scale between 0 and 2 was introduced in order to carry out the evaluation,
as well as the need to give each parameter under consideration its adequate weight or
importance. The methodology thus created would allow for the modification of those
weighted scores according to the requests forwarded by the authorities involved in the
election of the actions. This could be done following prior discussions with experts in
the particular fields.
Two significant aspects are worthy of comment: One is that the methodology
will be applicable to any other stretch of coast, after previous modification of the
starting parameters that will depend on the characteristics of said stretch, as well as the
possible alternative action steps. That way, the proposed method facilitates and speeds
up discussions between the different entities involved, so as to maximise the Integrated
Management of a coastal stretch.
The second aspect is that the system set forth here is not closed, allowing for
any necessary modifications that may come up as the result of conversations between
the involved entities. That way, it is simple to obtain new comparative results through
the GIS.
Location and Problem Aspects of the Castellón Coast
For the most part, the Castellón coast, between the harbours of Castellón and Sagunto,
is made up of very old marshes and dried-up coastal lagoons, whose configuration is
that of a plain behind the beach, of low altitude over the sea level, and a levee of
sediments, in many cases dune chains, of higher altitude that separates the land from
the sea. The constant erosion, and in some cases, construction, have caused such levees
to disappear, exposing the low-lying land in the plain to flooding from the sea. Higher
sea levels coincide with the storms in the area.