The Ebro Delta is located on the Spanish Mediterranean coast about 200 km south of Barcelona. It has an area of approximately 320 km2 and a coastline length of about 50 km including the inner coast in the two main lagoons.
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The Ebro Delta was chosen because it is a low-lying coastal area protecting a deltaic plain with high environmental value and intensive agricultural use. It is particularly vulnerable to flooding; about half of the deltaic plain less than 0.5 m above the mean water level.
The site usually suffers the most from coastal storm impacts when there is a storm surge, due to the passage of low pressure systems off the Ebro delta coast, in combination with eastern wave storms. Although the entire coast is subjected to such events, the more vulnerable stretches are those with a narrow emerged beach and fronted by a “low-crested” bar or bar system.
| Examples of the impact of storms on the Trabucador beach |
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| Breaching after the impact of the October 1990 storm. |
Breaching after the November 2001 storm |
The study involves the Spanish Ministry of Environment (Government of Spain), the Department of Environment and Housing (Government of Catalonia) and the Department of Town and Country Planning and Public Works (Government of Catalonia)
Other stakeholders include the Ebro delta Natural Park Administration, the municipalities, the local rice farmers and the salt industry.
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| Large coastline retreat along the Marquesa beach |
Massive overwash deposits along the Marquesa beachafter the storm of November 2001. |
Plan of Ebro pilot study area |
The study will evaluate vulnerability, risk and defence needs against coastal storm induced impacts (erosion and flooding). The study will identify the areas most vulnerable to these impacts and will propose appropriate management strategies.
| Examples of the impact of storms in the Illa de Buda. |
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| Breaches after the impact of the October 1990 storm. |
Inundation of the beach during the October 1997 storm. |
| How will the study benefit the people of the Ebro Delta? |
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The people of the Ebro Delta will have a better understanding of the vulnerability of the delta and risk of flooding. This will be better quantified for them, rather than relying on their current (subjective) perception. They will have a better understanding of which activities and resources will be most affected and how this will evolve over time. They will also have different strategies to cope with the flooding.
Further details of this study can be found here.
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