Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Shoreline Evolution and its Management Implications in Beaches Along the Catalan Coast

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Spanish Coastal Systems

Abstract

The Catalan coast is located in the NE Spanish Mediterranean (Fig. 32.1). It has about 600 km long coastline, with about 270 km of beaches. It has a wide variety of temperate coastal systems comprising considerable geo- and biodiversity which is represented in cliffs, rocky coasts, sandy beaches, coastal plains, estuaries, and river deltas. In spite of this natural richness, it can be considered as a paradigm of the highly developed areas of the Mediterranean coastal zone. Accordingly, one of its main characteristics is its high susceptibility to change/damage due to the accumulation of human-induced pressures.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aragonés, L., García-Barba, J., García-Bleda, E., López, I., & Serra, J. C. (2015). Beach nourishment impact on Posidonia oceanica: case study of Poniente Beach (Benidorm, Spain). Ocean Engineering, 107, 1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ariza, E., Jiménez, J. A., & Sardá, R. (2008a). A critical assessment of beach management on the Catalan Coast. Ocean and Coastal Management, 51, 141–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ariza, E., Sardá, R., Jiménez, J. A., Mora, J., & Ávila, C. (2008b). Beyond performance assessment measurements for beach management: application to Spanish Mediterranean beaches. Coastal Management, 36, 47–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ariza, E., Jiménez, J. A., Sardá, R., Villares, M., Pintó, J., Fraguell, R., et al. (2010). Proposal of integral quality index for urban and urbanized beaches. Environmental Management, 45, 998–1013.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ballesteros, C. (2017). The coastal risk landscape. Application on the Catalan coastal zone (Ph. D. Thesis). Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ballesteros, C., Roca, E., Jiménez, J. A., & Villares, M. (2016). Assessing the coastal risk landscape in the Maresme region (NW Mediterranean). In ECSA 56 Coastal systems in transition: From a ‘natural’ to an ‘anthropogenically-modified’ state. Bremen, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ballesteros, C., Jiménez, J. A., Valdemoro, H. I., & Bosom, E. (2018a). Erosion consequences on beach functions along the Maresme coast (NW Mediterranean, Spain). Natural Hazards, 90, 173–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ballesteros, C., Jiménez, J. A., & Viavattene, C. (2018b). A multi-component flood risk assessment in the Maresme coast (NW Mediterranean). Natural Hazards, 90, 265–292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bosom, E., & Jiménez, J. A. (2011). Probabilistic coastal vulnerability assessment to storms at regional scale—application to Catalan beaches (NW Mediterranean). Natural Hazards Earth System Sciences, 11, 475–484.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CEDEX. (2014). Estrategia de Actuación en el Maresme. Ministerio de Fomento, Madrid: Informe Final.

    Google Scholar 

  • CIIRC. (2010). Estat de la zona costanera a Catalunya. Barcelona: Dept. Política Territorial i Obres Públiques.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooke, B. C., Jones, A. R., Goodwin, I. D., & Bishop, M. J. (2012). Nourishment practices on Australian sandy beaches: A review. Journal of Environmental Management, 113, 319–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dean, R. G. (2003). Beach nourishment: theory and practice. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing Company.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Defeo, O., McLachlan, A., Schoeman, D. S., Schlacher, T. A., Dugan, J., Jones, A., et al. (2009). Threats to sandy beach ecosystems: A review. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 81, 1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Franco, A., Graziano, M., Franzitta, G., Felline, S., Chemello, R., & Milazzo, M. (2011). Do small marinas drive habitat specific impacts? A case study from Mediterranean Sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62, 926–933.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Escartín, F. J., Vidaor, A., Castaneda, A. M., & Lupon, N. (1996). Nourished beach control between balis and arenys harbours (Spain). In Proceedings 25th International Coastal Engineering Conference (pp. 4014–4023). ASCE.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernández-Salas, L. M., Durán, R., Mendes, I., Galparsoro, I., Lobo, F. J., Bárcenas, P., et al. (2015). Shelves of the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands (I): Morphology and sediment types. Boletín Geológico y Minero, 126(2–3), 327–376.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galofré, J., Montoya, F., Enríquez, J., & Jiménez, J. A. (2003). Calafell-Vendrell beach nourishment evolution: is the ‘‘coastal box’’ closed or open? In Coastal Sediments 2003 (CD-ROM). Corpus Christi: World Scientific Publishing Corporation and East Meets West Productions.

    Google Scholar 

  • González-Correa, J. M., Torquemada, Y. F., & Lizaso, J. L. S. (2008). Long-term effect of beach replenishment on natural recovery of shallow Posidonia oceanica meadows. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 76, 834–844.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guillén, J., & Palanques, A. (1997). A historical perspective of the morphological evolution in the lower Ebro river. Environmental Geology, 30, 174–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanson, H., Brampton, A., Capobianco, M., Dette, H. H., Hamm, L., Laustrup, C., et al. (2002). Beach nourishment projects, practices, and objectives—A European overview. Coastal Engineering, 47(2), 81–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hinkel, J., Aerts, J., Bown, S., Jiménez, J. A., Lincke, D., Nicholls, R. J., et al. (2018).  The ability of societies to adapt to 21st century sea-level rise. Nature Climate Change, 8, 570–578.

    Google Scholar 

  • Houston, J. R. (2008). The economic value of beaches: A 2008 update. Shore and Beach, 76(3), 22–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hsu, J. R., Uda, T., & Silvester, R. (1993). Beaches downcoast of harbours in bays. Coastal Engineering, 19, 163–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiménez, J. A., Sánchez-Arcilla, A., Valdemoro, H. I., Gracia, V., & Nieto, F. (1997). Processes reshaping the Ebro delta. Marine Geology, 144, 59–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiménez, J. A., Gracia, V., Valdemoro, H. I., Mendoza, E. T., & Sánchez-Arcilla, A. (2011). Managing erosion-induced problems in NW Mediterranean urban beaches. Ocean and Coastal Management, 54, 907–918.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiménez, J. A., Sancho, A., Bosom, E., Valdemoro, H. I., & Guillén, J. (2012). Storm-induced damages along the Catalan coast (NW Mediterranean) during the period 1958–2008. Geomorphology, 143–144, 24–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiménez, J. A., Valdemoro, H. I., Bosom, E., Sánchez-Arcilla, A., & Nicholls, R. J. (2017). Impacts of sea-level rise-induced erosion on the Catalan coast. Regional Environmental Change, 17, 593–603.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiménez, J. A., Sanuy, M., Ballesteros, C., & Valdemoro, H. I. (2018). The Tordera Delta, a hotspot to storm impacts in the coast northwards of Barcelona (NW Mediterranean). Coastal Engineering, 134, 148–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klein, M., & Zviely, D. (2001). The environmental impact of marina development on adjacent beaches: A case study of the Herzliya marina, Israel. Applied Geography, 21, 145–156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liquete, C., Canals, M., Ludwig, W., & Arnau, P. (2009). Sediment discharge of the rivers of Catalonia, NE Spain, and the influence of human impacts. Journal of Hydrology, 366, 76–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lloret, J., Zaragoza, N., Caballero, D., & Riera, V. (2008). Impacts of recreational boating on the marine environment of Cap de Creus (Mediterranean Sea). Ocean and Coastal Management, 51, 749–754.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lozoya, J. P., Sardá, R., & Jiménez, J. A. (2014). Users expectations and the need for differential beach management frameworks along the Costa Brava: Urban Versus natural protected beaches. Land Use Policy, 38, 397–414.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luo, S., Liu, Y., Jin, R., Zhang, J., & Wei, W. (2016). A guide to coastal management: Benefits and lessons learned of beach nourishment practices in China over the past two decades. Ocean and Coastal Management, 134, 207–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manzanera, M., Pérez, M., & Romero, J. (1998). Seagrass mortality due to oversedimentation: An experimental approach. Journal of Coastal Conservation, 4(1), 67–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manzanera, M., Alcoverro, T., Jiménez, J. A., & Romero, J. (2014). The large penumbra: Long-distance effects of artificial beach nourishment on Posidonia oceanica meadows. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 86, 129–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marchand, M., Sánchez-Arcilla, A., Ferreira, M., Gault, J., Jiménez, J. A., Markovic, M., et al. (2011). Concepts and science for coastal erosion management—An introduction to the CONSCIENCE Framework. Ocean and Coastal Management, 54, 859–866.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Micallef, A., & Williams, A. T. (2002). Theoretical strategy considerations for beach management. Ocean and Coastal Management, 45, 261–275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente. (2012). Estrategia marina. Demarcación marina Levantino-Balear. Evaluación inicial. Parte II: Análisis de presiones e impactos. Madrid.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newton, A., Carruthers, T. J. B., & Icely, J. (2012). The coastal syndromes and hotspots on the coast. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 96, 39–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peña, C., & Covarsi, M. F. (1994). Project, works and monitoring at Barcelona Olympic beaches. In Proceeding 24th International Coastal Engineering Conference (pp. 3564–3578). ASCE.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peña, C., Carrión, V., & Castañeda, A. (1992). Projects, works and monitoring at Barcelona coast. In Proceeding 23rd International Coastal Engineering Conference (pp. 3385–3398). ASCE.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petrosillo, I., Vassallo, P., Valente, D., Mensa, J. A., Fabiano, M., & Zurlini, G. (2010). Mapping the environmental risk of a tourist harbor in order to Foster environmental security: Objective Versus subjective assessments. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 60, 1051–1058.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piehlet, M. F., Maloney, J. S., & Paerl, H. W. (2002). Bacterioplanktonic abundance, productivity and petroleum hydrocarbon biodegradation in marinas and other coastal waters in North Carolina, USA. Marine Environmental Research, 54, 157–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roca, E., & Villares, M. (2008). Public perceptions for evaluating beach quality in urban and semi-natural environments. Ocean and Coastal Management, 51, 314–329.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roca, E., Riera, C., Villares, M., Fraguell, R., & Junyent, R. (2008). A combined assessment of beach occupancy and public perceptions of beach quality: A case study in the Costa Brava. Spain. Ocean and Coastal Management, 51, 839–846.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rovira, A., & Batalla, R. J. (2006). Temporal distribution of suspended sediment transport in a Mediterranean basin: The Lower Tordera (NE SPAIN). Geomorphology, 79(1–2), 58–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rovira, A., Batalla, R. J., & Sala, M. (2005). Response of a river sediment budget after historical gravel mining (the lower Tordera, NE Spain). River Research and Applications, 21, 829–847.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez-Arcilla, A., Jiménez, J. A., & Valdemoro, H. I. (1998). The Ebro delta: Morphodynamics and vulnerability. Journal of Coastal Research, 14, 754–772.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlacher, T. A., Dugan, J., Schoeman, D. S., Lastra, M., Jones, A., Scapini, F., et al. (2007). Sandy beaches at the brink. Diversity and Distributions, 13, 556–560.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Syvitski, J. P. M., & Milliman, J. D. (2007). Geology, geography, and human battle for dominance over the delivery of fluvial sediment to the Coastal ocean. Journal of Geology, 115, 1–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UNEP. (2009). State of the environment and development in the mediterranean. Athens: UNEP/MAP-Plan Bleu.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valdemoro, H. I., & Jiménez, J. A. (2006). The influence of shoreline dynamics on the use and exploitation of Mediterranean tourist beaches. Coastal Management, 34, 405–423.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Villares, M., Roca, E., & Oroval, L. (2015). El análisis de la percepción del riesgo costero: una herramienta para la GIZC. In VIII Jornadas de Geomorfologia Litoral. Málaga: Universidad Pablo de Olavide.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walling, D. E. (2006). Human impact on land-ocean sediment transfer by the world’s rivers. Geomorphology, 79, 192–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work has been done in the framework of the PaiRisClima (CGL2014-55387-R) and M-CostAdapt (CTM2017-83655-C2-1-R) research projects (MINECO/AEI/FEDER, UE).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratori D’Enginyeria Marítima, Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya, BarcelonaTech, C/Jordi Girona 1-3, Campus Nord Ed. D1, 08034, Barcelona, Spain

    José A. Jiménez & Herminia I. Valdemoro

Authors
  1. José A. Jiménez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Herminia I. Valdemoro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to José A. Jiménez .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Huelva, Huelva, Spain

    Juan A. Morales

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Jiménez, J.A., Valdemoro, H.I. (2019). Shoreline Evolution and its Management Implications in Beaches Along the Catalan Coast. In: Morales, J. (eds) The Spanish Coastal Systems. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93169-2_32

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation