Development of the Weg naar Zee Coastline : system understanding and coastal defence strategies

This report is part of the project Nature Based Solutions Weg naar Zee – Feasibility Study “Acceleration mangrove restoration through beneficial reuse of dredged material” within the framework of the Dutch Partners for Water Subsidy Scheme. The dredged material stems from the maintenance of the fairway in the Suriname River and its approach channel after its deepening in 2022. This report presents an analysis of the coastal dynamics and sediment transport processes near the mouth of the Suriname River, focussing on the Weg naar Zee conditions, and their relation to the large-scale sediment dynamics along Suriname’s coast. This study is based on extensive analyses of recent and historical satellite images, on-ground experience - in particular Prof. Naipal, a sediment sampling campaign of the Weg naar Zee foreshore, literature studies and various discussions with local and foreign experts. Based on the compiled system understanding, a matrix of strategies was proposed to stop and possibly reverse the erosion of the coastline at Weg naar Zee.