The effect of reclamation in areas between islands in a complex tidal estuary on the hydrodynamic sediment environment

The Oujiang Estuary is a very complex tidal estuary with many islands, which is located in Zhejiang Province, China. Reclamation of areas between islands will create a great amount of land. In this article, the feasibility of reclamation of areas between Lingkun Island and Niyu is studied from the angle of its impacts on the hydrodynamic sediment environment. First, the natural hydrodynamic and sediment conditions and the seabed evolution are analyzed according to in-situ data. Second, numerical models of tidal current and sediment movement under the combined action of wave and current are set up with irregular triangular grid to carry out numerical simulations. The following conclusions are drawn from the study. (1) The areas between Linkun Island and Niyu are not a tidal passage. Wenzhou Shoal has been aggraded gradually, a condition favorable for reclamation. (2) The reclamation is feasible as far as its effect on surrounding hydrodynamic sediment environment is concerned. (3) The reclamation has great favorable socio-economic impacts.