Catchment Zone Research Articles

Mobile stroke units services in Germany: A cost-effectiveness modeling perspective on catchment zones, operating modes, and staffing.

Investigating the cost-effectiveness of future mobile stroke unit (MSU) services with respect to local idiosyncrasies is essential for enabling large-scale implementation of MSU services. The aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness for varying urban German settings and modes of operation. Costs of different operating times together with different personnel configurations were simulated. Different possible catchment zones, ischemic stroke incidence, circadian distribution, rates of alternative diagnoses, as well as missed cases were incorporated to model case coverage and patient numbers. Based on internationally reported clinical outcomes of MSUs, a 5-year Markov model was applied to analyze the cost-effectiveness for the different program setups. Compared with standard stroke care, MSUs achieved an additional 0.06 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) over a 5-year time horizon. Assuming a catchment zone of 750,000 inhabitants and 8 h/7 day operation resulted in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of €37,182 per QALY from a societal perspective and €45,104 per QALY from a healthcare perspective. Lower ICERs were possible when coverage was expanded to 16 h service on 7 days per week and larger populations. Sensitivity analyses revealed that missing ischemic strokes significantly deteriorated economic performance of MSU. Major determinants of cost-effectiveness should be addressed when setting up novel MSU programs. Catchment zones of more than 500,000-700,000 inhabitants and operating times of at least 12-16 h per day, 7 days per week could enable the most cost-effective MSU services in the German healthcare system.

Effects of river flooding on human population: A case study of Kyarumba Sub-county along River Nyamuhasana in Kasese District

A natural occurrence that can have catastrophic effects on human populations is river flooding. This study looked at how the flooding of the Nyamuhasana River affected the livelihoods of those who lived close to the river in Kyarumba sub-county. The primary aim of the research was to evaluate the effects of alterations in land use in the catchment areas of the Nyamuhasana River in Kyarumba sub-county, Kasese district. The study also aimed to determine the degree of awareness among the community regarding their impact on the rising frequency of flooding in the Nyamuhasana River. The study also assessed the effectiveness of flood mitigation strategies being implemented by Kyarumba sub-county residents near the Nyamuhasana River. The study used both primary and secondary data and the methods used for data collection were; interviewing, observation, use of questionnaire, focus group discussion, and use of geographical information system (GIS) and remote sensing. The study’s conclusions showed that changes in land use within the river Nyamuhasana catchment zones have greatly raised the frequency and severity of flooding incidents. The community’s lack of awareness of its impact on the rising frequency of Nyamuhasana flooding was another finding of the study. The study also discovered that the flood mitigation strategies used by the people living in the Kyarumba sub-county, which is next to the Nyamuhasana River, are mainly ineffective. The study suggests that to lessen the negative effects of river Nyamuhasana flooding on the way of life for people living in the Kyarumba sub-county, a thorough flood control plan should be created and put into action. Reducing land use changes within river catchment zones, increasing community understanding of flooding causes, and putting in place practical flood mitigation strategies should all be part of the strategy.

Sustainable Water Provision Model for Morowali Industrial Area: A System Dynamics Model


 
 
 This study aims to investigate the availability of clean water in KI Morowali through a dynamic system analysis, considering the key strategic area's (Morowali Industrial Area, MIA) role in providing water for industrial and residential purposes. By 2026, the traditional water sources are expected to fall short of meeting the increasing demands from both sectors. To address this challenge, the study proposes integrating regional water supply sources, dam utilization, and promoting green open spaces (GOS) within the industrial park area. The method utilized involves analyzing the relationships between various variables impacting water availability. The results highlight the potential for significantly improving MIP's water supply by optimizing catchment zones, increasing GOS in private areas, and adopting a holistic approach to sustainable water management. This comprehensive strategy aims to ensure resilient water resources for Morowali's future needs, mitigating water scarcity challenges effectively.
 
 

Acute oncology care at home for post-chemotherapy monitoring in patients with multiple myeloma.

58 Background: Hospitalization at Home (HaH) has demonstrated clinical efficacy and improved patient experience in general medicine inpatients. Mount Sinai Health System (MSHS) HaH enrolls oncology patients with active disease admitted for acute general medical conditions and for active chemotherapy. We performed a case-control study of our institution’s experience with HaH in multiple myeloma (MM) patients admitted for elective chemotherapy. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of MM patients who received inpatient chemotherapy with dexamethasone, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and cisplatin with or without bortezomib ((V)-DCEP) and then enrolled in HaH from September 2020 to May 2023. HaH eligibility required meeting established institutional HaH admission criteria, including geographical limitations. The control group were randomly selected MM patients admitted for (V)-DCEP who lived in a zip-code excluded from HaH’s catchment zone. Demographics, social situation, indication for inpatient stay, and HaH admission were extracted from the electronic health record. Primary endpoint was 30-day readmission from final place of discharge. A key secondary endpoint was rate of successful HaH admission, defined as discharge from HaH for complete recovery from the acute condition. Results: Twenty-two patients with MM, with 24 episodes of care, enrolled on HaH for post-chemotherapy monitoring. Our control cohort had 32 patients with 32 episodes of care. In the HaH population, the median age was 57, 73% (n = 16) male, 23% (n = 5) White, 41% (n = 9) Black, 14% (n = 3) Asian, 18% (n = 4) Hispanic, and 55% (n = 12) had either Medicaid or were dual Medicare/Medicaid eligible. In the HaH ineligible group, the median age was 67.5, 63% (n = 20) male, 56% (n = 18) White, 13% (n = 4) Black, 6% (n = 2) Asian, 19% (n = 6) Hispanic, and 32% had either Medicaid or were dual Medicare/Medicaid eligible. In the HaH population, the median inpatient length of stay was 6.5 days compared to 17.5 days in the HaH ineligible cohort (p < 0.001). Mean length of HaH stay was 8.83 days, which saved our health system 212 inpatient-bed days. In the HaH cohort, there were 33% (n= 8) 30-day readmissions, 38% (n = 3) of which were unplanned; similarly, in the HaH ineligible population, there were 38% (n = 12) 30-day readmissions, with 33% of these readmissions unplanned (p = 0.97). Successful HaH admissions occurred for 92% of care episodes. No significant adverse outcomes or issues related to the care delivery or social support. Conclusions: The MSHS HaH program demonstrated safety and feasibility in caring for oncology patients admitted for elective chemotherapy. Hospital readmission frequency was the same across both cohorts. We were able to successfully care for the majority of patients with MM and had significant inpatient bed day savings. HaH should be expanded to other groups of specialized patients, leveraging disease-specific clinical pathways.

A follow-up evaluation of a coordinated police-social services response to recidivist family violence

Coordinated multi-agency approaches are a key strategy for responding to recidivist family violence. This paper presents a follow-up quantitative evaluation of Alexis: a coordinated police-social services approach to recidivist and high-risk family violence piloted in Victoria, Australia. State-wide police data was collected for 75 perpetrators 20 to 36 months since case closure following Alexis intervention. Results indicated that 38 perpetrators (51%) had no further recorded incidents of family violence. The remaining non-mutually exclusive categories indicated that 17 (22%) had perpetrated family violence against the original Alexis victim in another location (outside the pilot catchment zones); 28 (37%) had perpetrated family violence against a different victim; and 8 of the prior two groups (11%) had perpetrated violence against both Alexis and non-Alexis victims. Those classified as low recidivists before intervention were less likely to have a further recorded incident of family violence during the follow-up period compared to high recidivists. Implications for police and policy-makers are discussed with reference to intimate partner violence and parent abuse by adult children.

Do We Need Public Green Spaces Accessibility Standards for the Sustainable Development of Urban Settlements? The Evidence from Wrocław, Poland.

Public green spaces (PGSs) have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of urban residents. However, their accessibility can be limited due to high urbanisation pressures and inadequate or insufficient regulatory provisions. This problem has been recognised for Central European cities, of which Wrocław is an example, where the provision of PGS accessibility has not received major attention in recent decades, and the planning system has been in constant transformation since the transition from a centrally planned to a free-market economy. This study therefore aimed to examine the distribution and accessibility of PGSs in the expanding area of Wrocław today and upon implementation of the plans under the proposed standards. These analyses were performed using the QGIS application, network analysis, and the ISO-Area as polygon algorithm. The findings revealed a conspicuous lack of available PGSs, which includes areas above 2 ha, such as district and neighbourhood parks. New PGSs are now being planned, but even so, part of the residential areas will remain outside their catchment zone. The results obtained provide strong evidence that it is essential that standards should be a tool implemented in urban planning, and that the adopted procedure can be transferred to other cities.

Contribution of pollution gradient to the sediment microbiome and potential pathogens in urban streams draining into Lake Victoria (Kenya).

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), urban rivers/streams have long been subjected to anthropogenic pollution caused by urbanization, resulting in significantly altered chemical and biological properties of surface water and sediments. However, little is known about the diversity and structure of river microbial community composition and pathogens, as well as how they respond to anthropogenic inputs. High-throughput 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and PICRUSt predictive function profiling were used in this study to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the spatial bacterial distribution and metabolic functions in sediment of two urban streams (Kisat and Auji) flowing through Kisumu City, Kenya. Results revealed that sediment samples from the highly urbanized mid and lower stream catchment zones of both streams had significantly higher levels of total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorous (TP) than the less urbanized upper catchment zone, and were severely polluted with toxic heavy metals lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and copper (Cu). Differential distribution of Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Verrucomicrobia in sediment bacterial composition was detected along stream catchment zones. The polluted mid and lower catchment zones were rich in Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria, as well as a variety of potential pathogenic taxa such as Corynebacterium, Staphylococcus, Cutibacterium, Turicella, Acinetobacter, and Micrococcus, as well as enteric bacteria such as Faecalibacterium, Shewanella, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Enterococcus, Prevotella, Legionella, Vibrio and Salmonella. Furthermore, PICRUSt metabolic inference analysis revealed an increasing enrichment in the sediments of genes associated with carbon and nitrogen metabolism, disease pathogenesis, and virulence. Environmental factors (TOC, Pb, Cd, TN, pH) and geographical distance as significant drivers of sediment bacterial community assembly, with the environmental selection to play a dominant role. In polluted river catchment zone sediment samples, Pb content was the most influential sediment property, followed by TOC and Cd content. Given the predicted increase in urbanization in SSA, further alteration of surface water and sediment microbiome due to urban river pollution is unavoidable, with potential long-term effects on ecosystem function and potential health hazards. As a result, this study provides valuable information for ecological risk assessment and management of urban rivers impacted by diffuse and point source anthropogenic inputs, which is critical for future proactive and sustainable urban waste management, monitoring, and water pollution control in low-income countries.

Bicycle-Oriented Development: How the Dutch Railroad Shaped Urban Planning and Discovered Cyclists along the Way, 1960-1990

Scholars often describe the history of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) from an exclusive urban development perspective (linear or finger cities) or from a limited mobility perspective (Public Transit). In these histories, walking is described as the yardstick for a station’s catchment area. Using primary sources, this article shows how between 1960 and 1990 the Dutch railroads played a forgotten but key and unique role in enriching the TOD concept in the densely populated Western Netherlands with the bicycle as a feeder mode. This created a spatial model of a belt with compact bicycle towns along railroad lines. In the process, the railroad reinforced by local and national policies since then helped create cycling-based rather than walking-based fifteen-minute cities that generated larger catchment zones.

Levels of microplastics and their characteristics in molluscs from North-West Mediterranean Sea: Human intake

Microplastics (MPs) are accessible for organisms with active filter feeding strategies, as are many marine molluscs, which live attached or semi-buried in sediments. In the present study, MPs (from 0.02 to 5 mm) concentration, morphology, and composition were determined in consumed mollusc species of the Catalan coast (NW Mediterranean Sea). Microplastic concentrations, morphologic characteristics and composition were studied according to species, catchment zones and depuration condition. Finally, human intake of MPs through molluscs' consumption was determined. >2300 individuals were analysed, being 1460 MPs extracted and their size, and polymeric composition registered. Big oysters and mussels showed the highest MPs concentration by individual, with levels of 22.8 ± 14.4 and 18.6 ± 23.0 MPs/individual, respectively. Mean annual MPs (≥20 μm) consumption for adult population was estimated in 8103 MPs/year, with a 95th percentile of 19,418 MPs/year. It suggests that the consumption of molluscs is an important route of MPs exposure for the Catalan population.

The Response of Runoff Pollution Control to Initial Runoff Volume Capture in Sponge City Construction Using SWMM

Source facilities can manage stormwater runoff pollutants while also limiting runoff volume in China’s sponge city construction. However, there is no apparent link between source volume control and runoff pollution reduction. This research uses SWMM to develop a model based on the basic data of a city’s catchment zone in northern China in order to statistically examine the response relationship between the initial runoff volume capture of sponge city construction and the reduction effect of stormwater runoff pollution. Based on the dimensionless constant of the runoff pollution control curve, we suggested a novel approach for evaluating runoff pollution control effectiveness. This method was used to examine the response relationship between runoff volume control and runoff pollution control in three typical initial runoff volume capture facilities in the study area, namely bioretention, permeable pavement, rain barrels, and terminal storage tanks, under various design rainfall conditions. The dimensionless constant (Dc) has good practical application value and can quantitatively quantify the control effect of various facilities on stormwater runoff pollution. The Dc value of the source facilities is higher than that of the terminal control facilities, indicating that the source facilities have a higher ability to reduce rainwater runoff pollution than the terminal facilities, particularly the infiltration facilities. The research ideas and evaluation methods proposed in this paper provide an alternative approach for selecting and optimizing facilities during the planning and designing stages of sponge city construction, which can also be used in the monitoring and evaluation stage after completion to carry out a more effective evaluation of sponge facilities’ effects.

How the International Slave Trades Underdeveloped Africa

I use newly-developed data on Africa to estimate the effects of the international slave trades (circa 1500–1850) on the institutional structures of African economies and societies (circa 1900). I find that: (1) societies in slave catchment zones adopted slavery to defend against further enslavement; (2) slave trades spread slavery and polygyny together; (3) politically centralized aristocratic slave regimes emerge in West Africa and family-based accumulations of slave wealth in East Africa. I discuss implications for literatures on long-term legacies in African political and economic development.

Codeword for Getting Whiter: Parent Experiences and Motivations for Choosing Schools in a Gentrified Washington, D.C

ABSTRACT The prevailing argument for school choice in metropolitan cities has been that children from economically disadvantaged communities need opportunities to access better quality schools than the traditional public schools assigned to them based on their address. However, as these cities experience gentrification, more economically advantaged parents are taking advantage of school choice policies for their children - despite already living in the catchment zones for highly desirable traditional public schools. This study explores the intersection of community and school gentrification and the motivations for supporting and participating in the school choice process for parents in Washington, D.C., a highly gentrified city with a robust school choice landscape. Leveraging a relatively robust school choice system, the author interviewed 25 professional-class, low-income, and working-class parents in Washington, D.C. who completed applications for the citywide school lottery. The findings show that parents have vastly different priorities when choosing schools, depending largely on race, class, and whether they are a gentrifier or native Washingtonian. The findings reveal contradictions between the stated values and the actions among White professional-class parents, a pursuit of equality of conditions for low-income and working-class Black parents, and tensions between gentrifying and native parents in communities as gentrification changes the complexion and culture of schools.

Phytoplankton dynamics in a drinking water catchment zone at the Amazon River mouth

Phytoplankton is formed by photosynthesizing microorganisms that act as primary producers in distinct water bodies. These include microalgae and cyanobacteria. It is essential to know the phytoplankton in water catchment areas intended for drinking water treatment once their excessive density may result in problems, such as taste and odor in the water, toxin production, filter clogging, and other damages. This study investigated the phytoplankton dynamics and the environmental factors that may influence phytoplankton density in the drinking water catchment zone of Macapá, a city located on the Amazon River mouth. The sampling was carried out monthly from April/2015 to March/2016. The study reports the first detailed information on the phytoplankton in the study area since previously published studies regarded only cyanobacteria. The species Limnothrix planctonica and Aulacoseira granulata may substantially influence the water treatment due to their great abundance in the study area, especially in July and November, when their density peaks occur, respectively. Nevertheless, Aulacoseira granulata is the primary constituent of the phytoplankton biovolume. This study provides biological and sanitary information to guide public administration towards improving the quality and safety of water supply services, and also to increase the biodiversity knowledge of Amazonian phytoplankton.

Soil erosion and sediment transport in Tanzania: Part I – sediment source tracing in three neighbouring river catchments

AbstractWater bodies in Tanzania are experiencing increased siltation, which is threatening water quality, ecosystem health, and livelihood security in the region. This phenomenon is caused by increasing rates of upstream soil erosion and downstream sediment transport. However, a lack of knowledge on the contributions from different catchment zones, land‐use types, and dominant erosion processes, to the transported sediment is undermining the mitigation of soil degradation at the source of the problem. In this context, complementary sediment source tracing techniques were applied in three Tanzanian river systems to further the understanding of the complex dynamics of soil erosion and sediment transport in the region. Analysis of the geochemical and biochemical fingerprints revealed a highly complex and variable soil system that could be grouped in distinct classes. These soil classes were unmixed against riverine sediment fingerprints using the Bayesian MixSIAR model, yielding proportionate source contributions for each catchment. This sediment source tracing indicated that hillslope erosion on the open rangelands and maize croplands in the mid‐zone contributed over 75% of the transported sediment load in all three river systems during the sampling time‐period. By integrating geochemical and biochemical fingerprints in sediment source tracing techniques, this study demonstrated links between land use, soil erosion and downstream sediment transport in Tanzania. This evidence can guide land managers in designing targeted interventions that safeguard both soil health and water quality.

If you build it, they will change: Evaluating the impact of commuter rail stations on real estate values and neighborhood composition in the Rotterdam–The Hague metropolitan area, the Netherlands

In many metropolitan regions, transit-oriented developments are built to motivate the use of sustainable travel by promoting urban growth within walking distances of public transport stations. Changes in residential property values are a common way to assess the success of transit-oriented developments. However, studies that focus on property values alone have reported mixed effects. This paper attempts to evaluate the land value impact around commuter rail stations by analyzing the change in property values within the context of the transformation of socio-spatial neighborhood attributes. The study sets out to estimate the effect of Randstad Rail stations using real estate transaction data of residential properties and neighborhood socio-spatial attributes in the Rotterdam–the Hague metropolitan area of the Netherlands covering a period from 1985 to 2018. Adopting a quasi-experimental design, the effect is estimated for properties within different catchment zones around three commuter rail stations using a Difference-in-Differences Model and Multivariate Analysis of Variance. The results demonstrate the overall negative effect of the Randstad Rail on the value of residential properties at a distance equal to or less than 400 meters from the selected rail stations in the range of -18.8% to -11.5%. In contrast, a positive effect is observed for the residential properties located within a radius of 400 to 800 meters from the rail stations, which is estimated to be +15% to +33.2%. The findings also indicate a considerable socio-spatial transformation in the neighborhood composition after the opening of the rail stations in terms of neighborhood population density, land-use density, housing characteristics, and car ownership, which significantly affect the magnitude and direction of the impact.

School Catchment Zone Mergers and Housing Wealth Redistribution

This study investigates how perceived school quality affects housing values, using a new estimation method. Our empirical design takes advantage of the mergers of school catchment zones initiated by the government to develop quasi-experiments. We find that, in zones that gained sudden access to higher ranked schools, housing prices increased by 1.3 to 4.1 percent. Larger and more expensive houses appreciated more in response to the improvement in perceived quality of available schools. The findings generate important policy implications regarding housing wealth redistribution and housing expenditures among different households. The study also enriches the literature on the capitalization effect of school quality.

Elemental geochemistry of surface sediments from Manakudy estuary, south‐west coast of India: Inferences to sources of elements and their accumulation

Manakudy estuary is located in the southernmost tip of the Indian sub‐continent, which is essential to study the sediment geochemistry as it receives limited input of sediments during the rainy season from its catchment zones. The elemental geochemical variation of sediments is to understand the mechanism influencing the estuarine environment, and it becomes baseline data to assess the environmental impact in the near future. Twenty surface sediments samples were collected at different seasons, and the grain size results showed that the estuary sediments were carpeted by the mixture of sand, silt, clay, organic matter (OM), and CaCO3. The seasonal variation of elements is slightly more in the pre‐monsoon than in the post‐monsoon season. Fe showed maximum variation, while Cd showed minimum variation in total heavy metal concentrations of detrital sediments. The order of abundance of metals based on their mean values is as Fe > Mn > Cr > Zn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Co > Cd in pre‐monsoon and Fe > Mn > Zn > Cr > Ni > Co > Cu > Pb > Cd > in post‐monsoon, respectively. Different elemental ratios and enrichment factors were used to assess the abundance of major and trace elements in both seasons. The ecological risk assessment clearly shows the higher concentration of a few metals in the estuarine sediments during post‐ monsoon. Correlation and factor analysis show that from geogenic along with the anthropogenic input of industrial effluents, agriculture, urban, municipal wastes and slum sewage are the major sources for derived metals in the estuarine sediments.

Conducting community rehabilitation review sessions via videoconference: A feasibility study.

To determine the feasibility of conducting a single videoconferencing session (telerehabilitation) instead of a face-to-face home visit for a review appointment in a community rehabilitation program. A feasibility study based on Bowen's framework was used to determine demand, acceptability, limited efficacy and practicality of telerehabilitation. The study involved qualitative and quantitative data analysis. Two Victorian community rehabilitation programs providing services to large geographical catchment zones in the outer fringe of a metropolitan area. Ten adult clients receiving home-based therapy and 5 allied health clinicians working in the program. Clients participated in a single review therapy appointment (telerehabilitation) from physiotherapy, dietetics or speech pathology using the health network's videoconferencing platfrom and the client's own electronic device. Demand was assessed by calculating the percentage of eligible clients able to participate compared to total number of home-based clients. Acceptability, practicality and limited efficacy were explored through qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews. Nearly one quarter of clients screened met eligibility criteria, indicating a large potential demand for telerehabilitation. Telerehabilitation was highly acceptable for clinicians and clients participating in speech pathology and dietitian sessions as these contain targeted education and talking-based therapy. It was less accepted in physiotherapy, where there is a more hands-on approach. Telerehabilitation was practical and efficient for both clinicians and clients, especially when time was allowed for training and initial troubleshooting. Telerehabilitation is a feasible modality for review sessions in community rehabilitation and helps improve efficient use of clinician and client time. It is more appropriate for disciplines that use education and talking-based therapy compared with hands-on therapy. Older clients are accepting of new technology with support and education.

School deserts: Visualizing the death of the neighborhood school

The purported purpose of school choice policies is to increase students’ access to “good schools.” There is little discussion, however, of where those good schools are located, nor of the ways in which the distribution of good schools mirrors broader patterns of uneven development in the United States. Given that schools are neighborhood assets and that the distance which students travel to get to school affects their success, the locations of schools matter tremendously and are inextricable from questions of social and spatial justice. We introduce and argue for the explicit use of the term “school desert” as a way for scholars to understand and describe the spatial injustice of school closures and for activists to argue the importance of effective local schools. Spatial visualization and rendering of social problems is an invaluable strategy for effecting policy change. As cities move increasingly to a “de-spatialized” geography of schooling where catchment zones are less determinate of where a student attends school, it is important to consider where the desirable schools are and where they are not. A more nuanced visualization of school locations than neighborhood demographics offers a new lens through which to examine the (un)intended effects of school closures on students, communities, and development. Using Pennsylvania as a case study, we use a geographic information system (GIS) to evaluate the broader reverberations of school choice policies and determine who, demographically, has access to high-quality schools. In light of this research, we also propose an innovative analytic and methodology that describes the educational inequity which is caused by spatial relationships between students’ homes and high-quality schooling. Through the concept of a school desert we explore the (un)intended spatial implications of school closures. School deserts occur as a result of school choice policies that justify school closures. Closures and the location of good schools are geographically uneven, tempered by the federal and local policies that ensure income and racial segregation in US housing. Our analysis of Pennsylvania reveals the uneven distribution of access to good schools in the same way that mapping food deserts displays how market forces have failed to evenly distribute quality food. We find that areas with high-quality schools are significantly wealthier and whiter than school deserts, a conclusion which mirrors those concerning other low-quality neighborhood assets. School deserts as a methodology demonstrate that if students do not have geographic access to good schools, then school choice policies do not, in fact, offer choice.

Assessing the success of integrated shoreline management in the Tordera Delta, northeastern Spain

Coastal catchment zones have undergone enormous changes during recent decades that have compromised their resilience. As a consequence of largely fragmented coastal management frameworks in the delta region of the Tordera River, the beach of S’Abanell, located on the northern arm of the delta, was in a critically degraded condition by the end of 2006. To remedy this situation, the beach was artificially nourished with sand during the period 2007–2009. After nourishment, we observed a general trend of recovery of the width of the beach, in its northern and central parts, and the reappearance of a pattern of seasonal oscillation. This tendency was not observed in its southern part, near the river mouth, where the situation is still critical today. Tracing the decadal evolution of the problem, we strengthen the knowledge base by compiling a history of past human decisions responsible for the present situation. We promoted stakeholder engagement and participation aimed at reducing human pressures affecting the evolution of the beach and the loss of ecosystem services. The overall idea was to take the initial steps needed to shift the management of this coastal region towards ecosystem-based management principles. This research demonstrates that, under certain conditions, artificial nourishment can contribute to restoring beach health on a decadal scale.