Typology studies for Turkey transitional and coastal waters

There is an increasing pressure on water resources in recent years due to the global warming, climate changes, population growth and increase in economic uses of water. Increasing pressure and unsustainable use of water are becoming one of the biggest problems in the world. For this reason, establishment of a water management system that will ensure the sustainable and effective use of water resources is of great importance. The Water Framework Directive suggests the application of river basin management system aiming the protection of aquatic environments and the sustainable use of water. One of the implementation steps of the Directive is the determination of the typology of coastal and transitional waters and their separation into water bodies. In this direction, the geographical borders and typologies of Turkey's coastal and transitional waters have been determined. As a result of the studies of typology and water body determination methodologies carried out using System B which is one of the type designation systems proposed by the Water Framework Directive, water bodies were determined in 18 river basins having a coastline. Turkey's coastal waters are divided into a total of 66 coastal water bodies. Of these coastal waters, 42 belong to the Mediterranean, 7 to the Marmara and 17 to the Black Sea regional types. A total of 380 transitional water bodies were determined as a result of the studies carried out for transitional waters. A total of 181 transitional water bodies belonging to the Mediterranean, 138 of the Black Sea and 61 of the Marmara regional types were formed. Modeling and geographic information systems supported typology and water body determination methodologies have been developed and pioneering practices have been implemented for coastal and transitional waters in Turkey.