Some proposals for coastal management of the Nile delta coast

Although the 260 km coastline of the Nile delta is undergoing regional retreat, there are a number of localities experiencing accretion. Recent studies on the Nile delta coast have confirmed that significant erosion has affected approximately half of the coastline, with the greatest effects being adjacent to the Rosetta and Damietta promontories. Significant erosion has also occurred along the central bulge of the delta coast at Burullus. On the whole, the eroded sand is carried along the shore eastward, or locally to the west, migrating from the Nile promontories. The sand is then deposited in areas of beach accretion within the saddles or embayments between these promontories. Recognition of long-term trends of shoreline changes along the delta coast provides a basis for proposing a coastal management scheme for new resort beaches. In this study, five presently unused accretionary coastal stretches have been identified for development possibilities to serve the northern delta region. Evaluation of these coasts was based on rates of annual coastline encroachment, littoral drift and morphodynamic status, all of which would provide information on management of these beaches. A database management system, using remote sensing and conventional field survey methods in combination with a geographical information system (GIS) tool, is proposed for implementing an integrated coastal zone management plan for multiple uses of the Nile delta coastal zone, and the identified unused beaches in particular. This system would help in carrying out activities related to coastal and marine management, including holiday resort beach industry, tourism, marine recreation, fisheries, land reclamation, human settlement and planning infrastructures.