A Preliminary Assessment of Options to Reconnect the Razelm-Sinoe Lagoon System to the Black Sea

Abstract

Various studies emphasize the need to improve the water circulation in the Razelm-Sinoe lagoon system. A preliminary analysis on the possible effects of reopening the connection between the lagoon system and the Black Sea has been performed herein. Numerical modelling has been used to test several options to reconnect the lagoon system to the Black Sea. The analysis has been performed based on the water renewal time of the lagoon system, an indicator of the water quality. Our results show that reopening the connection to the sea is expected to lead to a lower water renewal time and, thus, to a better water circulation in the Razelm-Sinoe lagoon system, for all the considered options, while some of them are more efficient. In this way, the breeding habitats for many freshwater and marine fish species are expected to be restored. At the same time, monitoring of discharge and salinity in the lagoon system is highly needed. The present work can be considered as a first step in assessing the potential effects of several options and combinations of options to reconnect the Razelm-Sinoe Lagoon System to the Black Sea, and in demonstrating that this is an efficient way to improve the water circulation.