Managing Saltwater Intrusion and Agricultural Practices along the Boğaçay River, Turkey: Effects from Excavation and Land Source Pollution

The Boğaçay is a river situated in the Konyaalti district of Antalya. In 2017, Antalya Metropolitan Municipality implemented a large project in which the river bed was excavated to 1.5 m below sea level. The aquifer is vital for meeting the drinking water needs of the city of Antalya. The goal of this research is to discover the applications that may be made to combat seawater intrusion and nutrient contamination, both of which were brought to the forefront by the Boğaçay Project. In this work, modeling was used to estimate the extent to which agricultural best management practices (BMPs) will be efficient in reducing pollutant load. In BMP modeling with the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT), a decrease of 39%, 38%, and 38% is anticipated in the 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), total phosphorus, and total Kjeldahl nitrogen loads, respectively. Sediment accumulated in the channel, and sediment transport occurred on the beach due to coastal erosion. Coastal erosion of up to 25 m was observed from the project’s beginning to the present. Substantial land base pollution because of the diffused sources was found. Saltwater intrusion in the Boğaçay River estuary functions as a catalyst in the production of poor odor and appearance, as well as the rapid expansion of algae. The municipality is attempting to remedy this problem by periodic harvesting, which is an overly expensive and ineffective option. Instead, the elevation of the riverbed should be restored to preproject levels to prevent additional environmental and geographic damages.