EVALUATION OF FLOODPLAIN CHANGES AND GEOMORPHOLOGICAL MAPPING OF THE COASTAL ZONE PLAIN OF MYZEQ (ALBANIA) USING LANDSAT TM IMAGERY P. Ciavola, U. Tessari, F. Mantovani and U. Simeoni Dipartimento di Scienze Geologiche e Paleontologiche, Università di Ferrara, Italy. E-mail: cvp@dns.unife.it





The coastal plain of Myzeq is the largest coastal plain in Albania, having a surface of about 1900 sq.km. It includes three main rivers (Shkumbini, Semani and Vjos') and two coastal lagoons of economical and ecological significance (Karavasta and Nartes). Since the end of World War II the area has been affected by reclamation of floodplains and wetlands, creation of artificial canals for irrigation, agricultural practising and considerable coastal changes. A geomorphological evaluation was carried out using Landsat TM imagery covering a 10-year period (1986 and 1996) to discriminate between areas dominated by river flooding and areas subjected to coastal processes. Further information on land reclamation and coastal erosion/accretion were obtained from historical maps and orthogonal aerial photography. The study discovered that a large part of the floodplain along rivers has been transformed into agricultural land and most of the coastalwetlands along the lagoons have been reclaimed. It was noted that the three rivers in the area have proved to be extremely active and likely to rapidly change their courses as it happened in the years 1962-1963 when exceptional floods took place. The floodplain along the rivers was divided into landscape units according to what extent is at present controlled by river processes. Buffer areas along river courses were identified to produce a flood susceptibility zonation suitable for planning purposes.