Effect of hydrodevelopments in Western Georgia on the Black Sea coastal strip

Conclusions

• 1. Erosion of the coastal strip of the Black Sea within Georgia, which is of unique value for resort use, occurs under natural conditions of the runoff of rivers emptying into the sea. It is due mainly to the steady wave regime of the sea.

• 2. Since the sediment transported into the sea plays a significant role in protecting the coastal strip from erosion, the construction of hydraulic structures retaining these sediments on the rivers will lead to an intensification of erosion if appropriate protective measures are not taken.

• 3. Artificial replenishment of the eroded stretches by imported beach material should be considered the main method of protecting the seashores from erosion within Georgia, and only due to a lack of borrow areas or owing to the uneconomical character of this method can the construction of engineered shore-protecting structures be undertaken. Their types, location, and dimensions should be substantiated by investigations and laboratory modeling.

• 4. The method of artificial replenishment of the coastal strip was adopted in the schemes of energy utilization of the Bzyb’ and Kodori rivers, and in view of the profitability of the method it has won the approval of the commission of experts and higher authorities. The protective measures along the stretch of the coastal strip in the region of the Inguri mouth (Anaklia village) can be planned validly after completing the investigations, which are to be carried out for 2–3 years during operation of the Inguri station. Measures related with the construction of the Namakhvan hydrodevelopment on the Rioni River must be worked out when designing this development.

• 5. Erosion of the coastal strip of the Black Sea cannot serve as the cause for rejecting the construction of hydrodevelopments on rivers of Western Georgia having high energy indices, since the danger of intensification of erosion of the shore can be prevented reliabily by protective measures.