lagunemised

Lagunemised is a term used in environmental planning and landscape anthropology to describe the process or outcome of integrating lagoon-like water bodies into a landscape. It covers creating new lagoons, expanding or reshaping existing basins, and linking them to adjacent tidal, riverine, or groundwater systems to form a coherent lagoon ecosystem. The aim is to establish habitat complexity, improve water management, and provide ecological and social benefits.

Etymology for lagunemised appears to derive from laguna, the word for lagoon in several Romance languages, combined with a suffix implying a state or process. It is a neologism and its precise usage varies by region and discipline, with no single standardized definition across all contexts.

The lagunemisation process typically begins with site assessment and hydrological modelling to determine water exchange, salinity regimes, and sediment dynamics. Architects and ecologists then design basins, inlets, and levees, followed by excavation or dredging, water control structures, and shoreline revegetation. Ongoing management focuses on maintaining water quality, controlling sedimentation, monitoring biodiversity, and mitigating potential emissions or invasive species. In practice, the approach emphasizes adaptive management and long-term stewardship.

Applications include coastal restoration, flood attenuation, and the creation of brackish habitats that support birds, fish, and invertebrates. Lagunemised landscapes can also offer opportunities for ecotourism, education, and community engagement, while contributing to stormwater treatment, carbon sequestration, and landscape resilience in the face of climate change.

See also: lagoon, wetland restoration, constructed wetlands, estuarine ecology.