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The method of coastal recreational potential estimation (for the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland)

M.S. Lazareva Russian State Hydrometeorological University

195196 Malookhtinsky prospect 98 Saint-Petersburg, Russia e-mail: lazareva@rshu.ru

Abstract - The most important quality criterion of

beaches estimation is presence of the Blue Flag (BF). There are 60 countries including Russia, which participate in program BF. There are quite a number of methods estimate the parameters of the beach, one of which is a program of BF. However, it’s difficult to apply the program on the Russian beaches because of incompatibility of systems caused by the lack of Russian legislative base and others reasons. As a result the technique of the estimation and development of recreational potential of the coastal zone based on following independent parameters has been applied in the work: geological and climatic processes, socially-demographic position in region (public opinion on the basis of questioning); a policy of development of region are named ‘correcting factors’ (CF). Maximum load-carrying capacity of the beach which defines effective utilization of recreational potential has been calculated with the use of knowledge of the beach’s parameters and CF.

I. INTRODUCTION There are quite a number of methods to estimate the beach as a recreational resource. In this paper the technique of the estimation and development of recreational potential of the coastal zone is applied, that is based on independent parameters. The method for determining of the beach capacity is based on two groups of factors:

1. socially-demographic position (public opinion on the basis of questionnaire survey, table I),

2. the beach’s parameters, such as geological and climatic processes, the number of tourists, the presence and absence of infrastructure, water quality, nature of the sediment on the beach and its pollution, etc., that are called as ‘correcting factors’ (CF). See table II.

Maximum load-carrying capacity of the beach, which defines effective utilization of recreational potential, has been calculated with the use of knowledge of the beach’s parameters and CF. [1]

II. METHODS The assessment of beach perception, at the five different beaches located within the Kurort District, was carried out through field survey, in the end of June- beginning of July since 2004 till 2010. The methodology proposed was based on combination of questions to understand how the beaches were viewed in terms of general geomorphologic and ecologic situation in order to determine the weaknesses and constraints

as well as their differences regarding each other. The field trip was conducted with a group of approximately 10 Russian State Hydrometeorological University students and lecturers, using the originally developed technique to study the area and the Form for survey public opinion. Geography of exploring include: in town Zelenogorsk the “Zolotoy Beach”, in township Komarovo the “Chudny Beach”, in township Solnechnoe “Laskovy Beach” and “Sestroretsk Beach”. This is beaches situated in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland (Fig. 1).

Fig.1. Geography of exploring Each day during the investigations were made 4 types of analysis: 1. Express-analysis of the current ecological state of water quality; 2. The visual assessment of the area considering human activities impact on the study area; 3. Description of the coastal site according to the questionnaire that gave general indication about the local physical, geological and environmental features of the sites. [2] 4. Public opinion on the basis of questionnaire survey.

TABLE I RESULTS OF QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY

In order to study the physical carrying capacity of the beach, it was crucial to accurately measure the available area for recreational purposes. Using satellite images were utilized for this purpose, providing complete, detailed information in spatial scale and to identify any changes in the shoreline due to erosion/ accumulation.

III. RESULTS

The maximum carrying capacity of the beach, which determines the effective use of recreational potential was calculated, using the parameters of study area (beaches) and CF.

TABLE II LOAD-CARRYING CAPACITY OF THE BEACH

S= available area for beach use, m2. Physical Carrying Capacity (PCC) – the maximum number of tourists can physically fit onto specific area over a particular time, Total Effective Carrying Capacity (TECC) - the maximum permissible number of visitors that can sustain without influencing negatively the coastal zone, once the corrective factors (Cf) derived from particular characteristics of the site have been applied to the PCC. As a result, beaches “force of attraction” and the Sestroretsk's beaches have the biggest area, but they do not have maximum load-carrying capacity. The resources of the beaches are used incompletely, as the beaches have a greater number of CF, indicating the inefficient use of resources. However, these beaches have the largest weight number among respondents as the most good-looking and frequented. These results provide the foundation for further research.

Fig. 2. Loss in carrying capacity from Cf

The development of the resort area in the eastern Gulf of Finland is the most promising, because the coastal zone has the greatest number of favorable natural factors. In the past years recreational load on the environment increases, so the planning of recreational zone need to be carried out research in accordance with environmental constraints. To do this we should define territories with different recreational capacity for different forms of recreational activity. There are several examples of recreational activities in the eastern Gulf of Finland.

1. Komarovo (it is township, located near the beach “Chudny” ). At the pictures you may see private summer café. Pay your attention to the columns. So the owner of the cafe tries to save his property from destruction.

2. The beach “Laskovy”. It is one of the best beaches in the Eastern part of the Gulf of Finland.

Rational and sustainable development of coastal zone management depends on the successful interaction of marine management, environmental management and governance arrangements.

REFERENCES: [1]. Sytnik О.М. “Beach Carrying Capacity Assessment: case study of the Kurort District, Saint-Petersburg”. – University of Cadiz, Spain, 2011. – 81 p. [2]. Lastochkin A.N. Geomorphology. - Moscow: Publishing house “Academy”, 2005 - 528 p.