Groundwater Development and Management of Coastal Aquifers (including Island Aquifers) through Monitoring and Modeling Approaches

Abstract

More than half the world’s population now lives within 80 kilometres of a shoreline and human population in these regions is growing exponentially, such that it is expected to double or triple in the next two decades in North America alone. Human activities on coastal and island watersheds provide the major sources of nutrients and pollutants entering shallow coastal ecosystems. Contamination loadings from watersheds are the most widespread factor that alters structure and function of receiving aquatic ecosystems. Surface water in the coastal and island watersheds interacts with adjacent subsurface water. Subsurface water discharges are recognized as potentially significant contaminant pathway from the land to the coast by human activities. This interaction affects the water quality and quantity in both surface and subsurface waters. The diversity, in combination with the range of disciplines and of time and space scales involved; complicate the use of data for purposes other than those envisioned by the original investigators. As land and water resource development increases in the coastal watersheds, it is becoming readily apparent that subsurface and surface waters interaction must be considered in establishing water management policies. On a more regional scale, human activity has already demonstrated heavy impacts on coastal zones and further demands are increasingly threatening the integrity and health of biologically rich aquatic ecosystems, including coral reefs, mangroves, sea grass beds, lagoons, wetlands, bays and near shore waters.