Shoreline changes in three groin fields on the Eastern Black Sea coast

Abstract

The objectives of this study are to evaluate and compare the sediment capture characteristics in three T-head groin systems. 31 T-head groins evaluated are located at Kiyicik (13), Eskipazar (10), and lyidere (8) which are on the Eastern Coast of Black Sea in Turkey. in this study, interactive effects of the groins, groin fill characteristics, and variations in sediment depths between the left and right heels of the groins were evaluated. Since their construction in 2000, there has been a significant sediment accumulation at each groin system. Sediment accretion analyses show that the Kiyicik and lyidere groin systems have the most significant sediment accretion characteristics. the comparison of the sediment depth profiles indicates that sediment depth in the groin fields is still increasing. However, at the Eskipazar groin system the sediment depth in the groin field has not showed a significant change since 2009. At the Eskipazar groin system there are significant variations in the sediment levels amongst the individual groins due to the frequent and uncontrolled removal of the sediments. the groin system in lyidere is the most balanced in terms of sediment depths at the left and right heels and also has the minimum human interference due to the limited access to the coastline.