January 26, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(PHOTO AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST)

Contact: Tina Haisman, ASBPA Media Relations, 239-292-2882 or media@asbpa.org
              Lesley Ewing, State of California 626-302-9735 or lewing@usc.edu

Handling the hazards of coastal megacities
Access to water has always been a strong factor in human settlement. But today, 15 of the world's 20 megacities are along the coast. Nearly 200 million people now live in a coastal megacity; by 2015, that number is expected to grow to nearly 240 million people. What are the risks of urban living along the coast, and what can be done to mitigate them?

FORT MYERS, FL - Worldwide, urban populations are growing by almost 1 million people every week; 20 cities now have more than 10 million residents and are considered to be megacities. In the U.S., New York and Los Angeles are considered megacities.

Urban populations are growing faster than rural populations and, in 2008, the number of urban dwellers surpassed rural residents for the first time in history. Paralleling the population growth in urban centers is a growth in coastal populations. Fifteen of the world's 20 megacities are coastal; one population projection estimates that, by 2030, 50% of the global population is expected to live in the coastal zone, and a significant number will live in megacities.

"Growth in coastal megacities will put extraordinary strains on coastal ecology and amenities, such as storm water and wastewater disposal, access to fishing resources and beach recreation," said Lesley Ewing, senior coastal engineer for the state of California. "There will be an increased potential for coastal disasters through changes in risk, exposure and vulnerability." Ewing wrote a paper on the subject that was published in the Fall 2008 issue of the ASBPA's Shore & Beach magazine.

Residents in the coastal zone depend upon the area's water and wastewater services, economic growth and the inland transportation system associated with water-borne commerce.  The booming population growth in the coastal zone increases the pressures on coastal resources. It also moves development farther from the coast and away from many of the obvious amenities associated with living near the coast, such as beach access, open space, and moderating coastal climate. As a result, fewer coastal residents recognize their connections to the coast, their proximity to coastal hazards, or their responsibilities for coastal management.

At present, 11 of the world's 15 coastal megacities have offshore dead zones, areas where oxygen levels in the water are too low to support marine life. The proliferation of dead zones has been linked to the discharge of agricultural runoff and sewage. "Coastal water quality can be greatly improved by control of runoff and treatment of sewage; however, there are significant engineering and land use challenges, as well as economic costs associated with the solutions," Ewing said. "Coastal residents will only support them if they recognize the connections between their on-land actions and the offshore consequences."

Land use planners and coastal engineers will be challenged to address the new and expanding coastal hazard concerns that are developing in coastal megacities. One step in this effort is the awareness that new approaches are needed to address the impact and needs of a burgeoning and concentrated coastal population.   

Efforts to encourage people to visit the coast and learn about the coastal resources can be an important step in making people aware of the many benefits that come from proximity to the coast, and thus provide the first step to finding new opportunities to maintain and enhance the coast that adjoins their megacity.

For more information, visit www.asbpa.org.

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ABOUT ASBPA: Founded in 1926, the ASBPA promotes the integration of science, policies and actions that maintain, protect and enhance the coasts of America. For more information on ASBPA, go to www.asbpa.org, facebook or www.twitter.com/asbpa.