Sept 10 – 16 2006, PWTC, Kuala Lumpur

COASTAL RESOURCES RISK INDEX (CORRI) IN RELATED TO

AGRICULTURE AREA

Baharuddin Abdullah
National Hydraulic Research Institute of Malaysia

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to develop a coastal resource risk index (CORRI), which can
be used for assessing the impact of water pollution on the productivity of natural coastal
resources. Using this study the same concept can be applied to agriculture activities. The
approach was to use the concept of the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI). CORRI can
employ a quantitative risk assessment approach for the assessment of the potential impact
of water pollution on the productivity of natural coastal resources.

For the purpose of developing the index, the coastal resource was categorized into two
components, namely, natural coastal resource environment and socio-economic resource
environment. The information from these two components is supported by the decision support
system, which can be used for assisting in decision-making and the assessment of the potential
risk to the coastal resources.

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COASTAL RESOUCES RISK INDEX ( CORRI) IN RELATED TO

AGRICULTURE AREA
Baharuddin Abdullah
National Hydraulic Research Institute of Malaysia

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to develop a coastal resource risk index (CORRI), which can
be used for assessing the impact of water pollution on the productivity of natural coastal
resources. Using this study the same concept can be applied to agriculture activities. The
approach is to use the concept of the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI). CORRI can
employ a quantitative risk assessment approach for the assessment of the potential impact
of water pollution on the productivity of natural coastal resources.

For the purpose of developing the index, the coastal resource is categorized into two components,
namely, natural coastal resource environment and socio-economic resource environment. The
information from these two components is supported by the decision support system, which
can be used for assisting in decision-making and the assessment of the potential risk to the
coastal resources.

1) INTRODUCTION

Coastal ecosystems represent one of the most productive natural resources of any country.
Mangrove forests, coral reefs, sea grass beds, intertidal flats and estuaries are the spawning
and nursery grounds of many aquatic organisms. The saline and brackish environments form
the prefect living condition for such organisms. However, development pressures in the resource-
rich and flat lands of the coastal zone have resulted in increased in increased pollution of
the coastal and estuarine waters. Factories and townships discharge their wastes into rivers,
expecting the seas to dilute and remove the pollution to some remote area. Unfortunately the
effects of tides in estuaries and slow moving currents along muddy coasts result in much of
this pollution remaining in the near shore waters.

Water pollution impacts on the coastal systems can reduce the usefulness of the systems
to man. Productivity can decrease; organisms may become contaminated with toxic
substances. Economic activities, such as fisheries and coastal tourism, which depend on
the health of coastal systems, can be affected.

The National Hydraulic Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM) has recognized that the
potential risks to the productivity of the coastal ecosystems need to be managed in order
to sustain socio-economic advancement in tandem with the available environmental
resources. They have commissioned a study on the development of a Coastal Resources
Risk Index (CORRI) which can be used for assessing the impact of water pollution on the
productivity of natural coastal resources.

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The purpose of the study is to develop a coastal resources risk index (CORRI) for assessing
the impact of water pollution on the productivity of natural coastal resources.

The proposed approach to the study is through the implementation and development of
three main study components. These involve studies on the natural systems and modelling
their interactions, studies on the socioeconomic values attached to the coastal resources
available, and the implementation of the data and knowledge obtained into an information
system that can be used for assisting in decision-making and the assessment of potential risk
to the coastal resources.

2) STUDY AREAS

Three selected geographical study areas had been identified namely as Sungai Perlis, Sungai
Kedah and Sungai Perai. These areas experienced high water pollutant loads due the number
of industries and development activities that also conflict with the high socio-economic
dependence on the coastal resources. These rivers represent respectively, the spectrum of
heavy industrial pollution, moderate mixed agricultural and urban pollution, and lastly low
agriculture and urban pollution.

Images of the study area were obtained and presented in Figures 1.0,1.1,1.2 and 1.3.
The images indicate that for Sungai Perlis and Kedah the surrounding areas are predominately
agriculture (green colours and white rectangular patterns) with the urban and developed
centres (brown colours) located near the river estuary or further inland. However, for the Perai
area, urbanised and development areas are spread along the coastal area with only smaller
areas of agriculture located in the south. The differences in the distribution of rural and urban
centres are expected to affect the water quality of the rivers and the coastal areas.

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Figure 1.0 : Map of Study Area

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Figure 1.1 : Sungai Perlis and Surrounding Area

Figure1. 2 : Sungai Kedah Estuary and Surrounding Area

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Figure1. 3 : Sungai Perai and Surrounding Area to the South

3) PREVIOUS STUDIES

Some of the past studies on overall impact of pollution for water quality assessment carried
out by the Department of Environment uses a Water Quality Index (WQI) that is used to
evaluate the potential use of river waters. The DOE monitoring data for the study area may
be used to assess water quality entering the coastal area and this may be complemented by
field sampling in the estuarine and near coastal area at the same time as biological and water
quality sampling are carried out.

Secondary data on fish landings at various ports are recorded by the Department of Fisheries
and this will form the basis of the fisheries socioeconomic assessment. Primary data collection
via field and social surveys will also be carried out to assess comparability of the state-level
data to local conditions.

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The potential pollution load to water courses may be estimated for both point and nonpoint
sources. This involves obtaining secondary data/information on the existing population and
the sewerage services available, as well as information on land use. Landuse information may
be obtained from available recent remotely sensed images.

4) WATER QUALITY INFORMATION

This section will discuss a review of water quality status of three selected rivers; Perlis River,
Kedah River and Perai River. For the purpose of review of water quality status of the selected
rivers, the data were obtained from the Department of Environment, Malaysia (DOE) that
includes selected water quality parameters and water quality index and also information
gathered during the field visits. The water quality index presented is based on DOE-WQI and
the index is based on the following formulae.

DOE-WQI = 0.22*SIDO + 0.19*SIBOD + 0.16*SICOD + 0.15*SIAN + 0.16*SISS + 0.12*SIpH

where
SI is the subindex of each parameter.
DO : Dissolve Oxygen
BOD : Biochemical Oxygen Demand
COD : Chemical Oxygen Demand
AN : Ammoniacal Nitrogen
SS : Suspended Solids
pH : Acidity/Alkalinity

Table 1 shows the categories of river classification used for Malaysian river classification.

Table 2 : Water Quality Classification

(Source: Department of Environment, 2005)

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5) THE COASTAL RESOURCES RISK INDEX

5.1 Proposed CORRI Framework

Based on the availability of data currently collected by the relevant agencies, the present
implementation of coastal classification schemes in Malaysia, as well as considering those
proposed internationally, a pragmatic approach is proposed for the development of the CORRI.
The ESI can form the basis for the geomorphological characteristics of the coastal areas as
this has been shown to closely relate to the ability of the coast to respond to the impact of
serious (oil) pollution.

Together with remote sensing of current landuse, existing data on catchment pollution sources,
secondary data and rapid field assessment of water quality and socioeconomic conditions
in the study area, the framework shown in Figure 4 is proposed.

5.2 Proposed CORRI Components

A total of three important components of for the development of the CORRI have been identified.
These are
a) the natural characteristics of the shoreline which may be indicated by
i) the shoreline form of the coast which incorporate physical and chemical conditions in
the coastal area,
ii) the vegetation community along the shoreline which contribute to the natural interface
between terrestrial and marine habitats,
c) the productive resources as indicated by fishery activity and marine habitats which form
the productivity communities at the shoreline, and
d) the disturbances to the coast due to development and pollution activities from the river
and coastal cathment area which serve as the main threat to the coastal resources.

Within these components several submeasures may be incoroporated as indices. Table 3 list
the indices which is proposed to be incorporated into the final CORRI. It should be noted that
some the indices are quantitative while some are semi-quantitative based on feedback from
local respondents and assessment of influence of the measures on the coastal habitat and
resource conditions.

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Table 3 : Components and Indices Proposed for CORRI