The necessity of environmental impact assessment (EIA) in implementing coastal projects: lessons learned from the Egyptian Mediterranean Coast

Abstract

Rapid and uncontrolled coastal development, together with improperly designed projects, have had a damaging impact on the Egyptian coastal ecosystem. This study evaluates 13 selected projects pertaining to their negative environmental reactions on the coastal zone of the Mediterranean Sea. These projects involve harbors/marinas, recreational centers, protective structures, estuaries, and lagoon inlets. The implementation of such projects has caused significant impacts on the coastal zone. These impacts include: changing the depositional-hydrodynamic regime as a result of blocking littoral currents by protruding structures; creating down-drift erosion to the neighboring beach; creating sedimentation problem in lagoon inlets, estuaries, and harbor channels; changing water quality; and increasing the likelihood of property losses and damage. The remedial actions that have been made to some of these projects to avoid and reduce future environmental impacts are also incorporated in this study. These include impact mitigation, the development of alternate solutions, and modification of the original project. The experiences gained from this study may provide practical lessons for future environmental impact assessment (EIA), as well as aid in better planning of the coastal zone in Egypt and elsewhere.