article · Land
Downstream sediment transport places pressure on the operations of the strategic port of Tangier Med, which sits below the R'mel watershed. Modelling using the Erosion Potential Model and the Intensity of Erosion and Outflow algorithm established an average baseline erosion rate of 13 tonnes per hectare per year across the catchment. Active quarrying operations on carbonate lithology, which covers nearly a quarter of the area, represent the primary driver of sediment generation and risk irreversible degradation. Evaluating rehabilitation options through simulated land use changes indicated that reforesting these quarries lowers the catchment erosion rate to 4.78 tonnes per hectare per year. This ecological restoration scenario achieves a much greater reduction in sediment loss than converting the quarried areas to agricultural land, demonstrating a practical catchment management approach to protect downstream port infrastructure.
High sediment accumulation threatens the operations of critical maritime hubs like the port of Tangier Med. Identifying specific industrial drivers, such as quarries, enables watershed managers to target interventions. Demonstrating that reforestation can cut soil erosion by more than half offers evidence for ecological planning to protect downstream commercial and transport assets.
This work directly informs environmental planning and watershed management for port authorities, civil engineering consultancies, and land rehabilitation agencies. The modelling approach represents applied research ready for immediate deployment in catchment risk assessments, guiding decisions on quarry reclamation strategies to protect vital maritime infrastructure from sedimentation.
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The port of Tangier Med is essential due to its strategic location, as it is an important trading center linking Europe, North America, and Africa. However, the increased rates of downstream sediment transportation put pressure on the sustainable future of the port. Thus, assessing the existing erosion rates and future improvement scenarios is imperative for planning sustainable management at the catchment level. We utilize the Erosion Potential Model (EPM) combined with the Intensity of Erosion and Outflow (IntErO) algorithm to assess the erosion and outflow intensity and to distinguish the sediment-producing areas in the R’mel watershed. The port’s proximity at the bottom of the slope opposite the R’mel Dam is relevant in this context. Initial results show an average erosion rate of 13 t/ha/year. Quarry operations were identified as the primary sediment source, as indicated by the factors contributing to erosion. The qualitative PAP/RAC (Priority Actions Program/Regional Activity Center) model was used to assess the development trends in the watershed, confirming a clear tendency toward irreversible degradation in the quarry areas. Considering that the mined carbonate lithology represents 23.77% of the total area of the catchment, the situation in the region could deteriorate if quarry operations continue. The simulation of quarry rehabilitation scenarios through land use and land cover change (LULC) with IntErO shows that reforestation of quarries can significantly reduce erosion rates (4.78 t/ha/year) compared to their conversion to agricultural land. This study underlines the effectiveness of IntErO, based on the EPM model, in quickly and effectively mapping and quantifying water erosion.
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DOI: 10.3390/land13020141
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