Estimation of the influence of level fluctuations of the Caspian Sea on navigation and development of activities on the improvement of the condition of the infrastructure of waterways in the delta of the Astrakhan region

According experts’ forecasts, the fall of the level of the Caspian Sea, which has been recently stabilized on the mark – minus 26.5 m. on the coast of the Russian Federation, is expected. The modern condition of waterways of the Astrakhan region is considered due to the fact that navigation belongs to basic branches of the national economy, depending on fluctuations of the sea level. It is noticed that many objects of the infrastructure of the Astrakhan region, such as industrial enterprises, agricultural and fishing organizations, and ports, including the port Olya, are situated in so-called "coastal zone of risk". It is offered to apply bank protection of half-slope type as means to protect the given territo-ries from the influence of waters of the Caspian Sea. It is a levee, which frontal slope is strengthened by precast concrete slabs.