Environmental Characteristics of Imeretinka (Sochi) Coastal Hydraulic Structures

The paper overviews the design and use of the Imeretinka lowlands of Sochi hydraulic structures. These structures belong to the so-called 2014 Olympics coastal cluster. The main structures are the cargo port at the Mzymta River outflow with the annual cargo turnover of 5 million tons and the 5 km-long coastal protection dam from the port to Cape Konstantinovsky. Both structures were not initially planned and appeared at the design stage as a result of the insufficient previous research of natural processes. The article shows that the implemented seaport and coastal protection solutions do not ensure coastal stability. Hydro- and lithodynamic processes are investigated with mathematical modeling methods. Recent severe storms have significantly damaged the coastal structures, and the deterioration process may be expected will continue. The historical overview presented presents an important reference for similar problems.