The Morphodynamics of Wulan Delta and Its Impacts on the Coastal Community in Wedung Subdistrict, Demak Regency, Indonesia

Abstract

Wulan Delta in Central Java has been experiencd coastal morphodynamics due to interface between Wulan River’s sedimentation and Java sea’s oceanographic process. This paper aims to analyze Wulan Delta’s morphodynamics as well as its impacts on the socio-economic condition of the community. The morphodynamics is interpreted visually and digitally using a maximum livelihood analysis of multiscale and multi-temporal images. The socio-economic impact is defined by field observations and in-depth interviews to the community and stakeholders. Analysis during the period of 1931-2010 showed that Wulan Delta had been changed morphologically from straight with small arc-like (arcuate) to bird-foot (digitate) with a plausible change into rounded (lobate) in the future, which represented dominant sedimentation by oceanographic rather than fluvial processes. Land expansion in Wulan Delta led to landuse change in Wedung, i.e. expansion of settlement area to 167 ha and fish pond area to 1014 ha in 2000-2010. Most settlements in the area, which are built linearly to river levees, own a high vulnerability to both river flood and tidal inundation. Therefore, dissemination about knowledge of the disaster and coastal zone management, as a means of increasing awareness, becomes necessary in integrating the coastal management in Wulan Delta together with improvement in infrastructure and proper regional development. The proper development strategy for the coastal village is aggressive maintenance strategy, including public infrastructure revitalization, quality improvement for human resources, and silvofishery system. Law enforcement on coastal zoning regulations is necessary to achieve an integrated and sustainable coastal zone management.