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Assessing the restoration potential of the Albufera Wetland

Versaen, Amaury
(2023)

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Versaen_15891800_2023.pdf
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Details

Supervisors
Hanert, Emmanuel
Faculty
Faculté des bioingénieurs
Degree label
Master [120] : bioingénieur en chimie et bioindustries, à finalité spécialisée
Abstract
Mediterranean coastal lagoons, like many other water lagoons, are on under increasing pressure with many of them affected by processes such as eutrophication. This over-enrichment of the water by nutrients is coupled with a high phytoplankton proliferation and raises many concerns on the water quality, biology and functioning of the affected water bodies. Improving the water circulation as well as its quality are the main envisaged solutions. We assessed the effects of restoration methods on the Albufera Wetland (Valencia, Spain). First, a multi-scale ocean 2D model (Second-generation Louvain-La-Neuve Ice-ocean Model (SLIM)) was used to simulate the hydrodynamics of the Albufera lagoon in three scenarios. Scenario 1 represented the current situation (with gates regulating the outflows of the lagoon), scenario 2 corresponded to an open connection to the sea (no gates) and scenario 3 included an additional dredging as well as the opening of the gates. It was found that the mean residence time would be reduced from 62.72 (scenario 1) to 37.63 days (scenario 3), improving the water circulation in the lagoon. Furthermore, it was proposed to turn the surrounding rice fields (1500 ha) into constructed wetlands, nature-based filters. Based on previous literature, it was concluded that, while that would significantly decrease the nutrients concentrations and phytoplankton populations, a complete restoration of the lagoon would only be possible if this improvement of the water quality is coupled with an improved water circulation.