Khalid Al Zahed PhD thesis.pdf - University of St Andrews

237 Pages·2008·10.23 MB·English

COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT IN DUBAI WITH REFERENCE
TO ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION ALONG DUBAI CREEK
Khalid Al Zahed
A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD
at the
University of St. Andrews
2008
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Coastal Zone Management in Dubai with reference to
ecological characterization along Dubai Creek
Ph.D. Thesis
Khalid Al Zahed
University of St. Andrews
Scotland, United Kingdom
2007
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dedicated to environmental management and
sustainable development of Dubai
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AKNOWLEDGMENTS
I deeply convey my sincere gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, Vice President of United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai and His Highness
SheikhHamdanBinRashidAlMaktoum,DeputyRulerofDubaiandMinisterofFinanceand
Industries.Theworkconductedbymeisadmiredbyourleaders.
I would like to express my deep appreciation to His Excellency Mohammed Al Gergawi,
Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Chairman of The Executive Office, and the Executive
Chairman and CEO of Dubai Holding. The work accomplished by me is inspired by the
vision of Mr. Gergawi that education is the critical driver for the growth of the young
businessleadersofDubai.
I am grateful to His Excellency Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairmen of the Board and
Executive Director of Roads and transport authority, Government of Dubai for his
encouragementthroughoutthisstudy.Itishiskindpersonalitythatinspiredmetoaccomplish
thiswork.
I would like to express my deep thanks to my supervisor Prof (Dr) David M Paterson for his
invaluable guidance, constant encouragement and constructive criticism during the course of
investigation.Itwashisinspiringpersonalitythatledtocompletemywork.
Itake this opportunitytothanks Prof (Dr) Philip Hammond and Prof (Dr) Richard Abbott for
theirinvaluablesupportanddirectionduringtheentirestudyperiod.
I render my sincere gratitude to my co-supervisor Prof (Dr) Walid El Shorbagy, Associate
Professorforhisconstructivesupervisionandhelpduringthestudyperiod.
My thanks to Jane Williamson, James Saunders and Beccy Aspden for their kind support at
theGattyMarineLaboratory,UniversityofStAndrews,Scotland.
Last but not least, I would like to express my sincere thanks to my father Mohammed Al
Zahed, my mother, my wife and mybrothers for encouragingme constantlyandnever letting
megiveup.
KhalidAlZahed
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CONTENTS
ExecutiveSummary
ChapterI-Introduction
1.1 Background
1.2 Coastalzonemanagementanditsbenefits
1.3 AspectsofICZM
1.4 DubaiCreeksetting
1.5 ClimaticandphysicalconditionsofDubai
1.6 CharacteristicsoftheArabianGulf
1.7 GeneralcharacteristicsofDubaiCreek
1.8 SignificanceofICZMinDubaiCreek
1.9 Issuesandconstraints
1.10 ReviewofReferences
ChapterII-MaterialsandMethods
2.1 SamplingMethodology
2.2 SamplingFrequency
2.3 WaterSampling
2.4 SedimentSampling
2.5 MethodsofAnalysis
ChapterIII-WaterQuality
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Results
3.3 Correlationmatrixandscatterplots
3.4 Discussion
3.5 Conclusion
ChapterIV-EcologicalCharacterizationofAquaticSystems
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Results
4.3 Correlationmatrixandscatterplots
4.4 Discussion
4.5 Conclusion
ChapterV-HydrodynamicsandWaterQualityModeling
5.1 Introduction
5.2 ModelingObjectives
5.3 MaterialsandMethods
5.4 Scenarioforthemanagementofwaterquality
5.5 Conclusion
ChapterVI-CoastalZoneManagementStrategyforDubaiCreek
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Waterqualityandecologicalthresholds
6.3 Existingproblemsinthelagoon
6.4 SolutionandRecommendations
6.5 Conclusion
References
AppendixI
AppendixII
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ABSTRACT
Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) is a dynamic process in which a coordinated
strategyisdevelopedandimplementedfortheallocationofenvironmental,socio-cultural,and
institutional resources to achieve the conservation and sustainable multiple use of the coastal
zone.
The present study titled “Coastal Zone Management in Dubai with reference to ecological
characterization” is an effort to consider critical water quality and ecological issues in the
currentandfuturecoastalzoneofDubaiCreek.Theworkincludedwaterquality,ecologyand
numerical modeling for predicting future conditions. This study is utmost significant due to
management of critical coastal environmental issues (fish mortality, bad odour, unaesthetic
view, algal bloom etc.) in Dubai Creek besides protection of internationally recognized bird
sanctuary (Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary) and sustainable multibillion dollar of property
developments as an extension of Dubai Creek. Comprehensive attempt made to collect
primary data on water quality and ecology during 2005 and 2006 from specific monitoring
stationsspreadingalongDubaiCreek.
The pragmatic results in Dubai Creek are alarming; the upper region is susceptible to high
organic pollution which exhibits 3-122 folds high nutrients levels while biodiversity in the
same region at the seabed is almost died and non-existing. The current assessment suggests a
policy for the ICZM and an “Immediate Action Plan” for the beneficial and sustainable
developmentofDubaiCreek.
The study recommends the following mitigation as a tool for the management strategies of
DubaiCreeklagoon:-
 DredginginthelagoonofDubaiCreek.
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 Tertiary treatment of wastewater fromAwir STP prior to discharge into the Creek or
divertthedischargefromthelagoonofDubaiCreek.
 AnewGovernmentDecreeforthewaterqualitythresholdsinDubaiCreek.
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CHAPTER I
Introduction
1.0 Background
The coastal zone, including land and adjacent waters, is among the most heavily developed
and exploitedregions inthe world. Humanpopulations inthese areas use the resources from
the sea, modify the landscape, and produce large amounts of waste and chemical pollutants,
all of which are usually released into the marine environment. This exploitation can be
measured bythe effect onthe fishstocks,water quality,space,andof desirable services such
as recreation, waste disposal, and food production (Lindergarth 2004). Marine and terrestrial
ecosystems differ in significant ways that suggest that the ocean may respond to human
perturbations in a fundamentally different manner from the land (NRC 1995). Production of
goods and services inthe marine environment is toalargeextentbasedonthebiodiversityof
thesystemwithitsassociatedecologicalprocesses(Lindergarth2004).Humanexistence(and
that of most other organisms) is heavilydependentonwhatbiologistscallprimaryproducers.
5000 plant species have beenusedas foodbyhumans,butlessthan 20nowfeedthemajority
of the world's population (Plotkin 1988 and Reid & Miller 1989). The diversity of life in the
ocean is being dramatically altered by the rapidly increasing and potentially irreversible
effects of activities associated with human population expansion (NRC 1995). Therefore, to
keepcontinuityofthesupplyofcoastalresources,thediversityofspeciesandtheirassociated
functionsneedtobeprotectedandmanagedinasustainableway(Lindergarth2004).
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