Modeling riverbank stability and assessing vulnerability and adaptive strategies on riverbank erosion in the Mekong Delta, Cambodia

Riverbank erosion is one of the world’s major hazards in delta areas. The Mekong Delta of Asia is one among them which is facing many sediment-related issues, particularly riverbank erosion. Extreme flood events and sea level rise due to climate change increase the risk of riverbank and coastal erosion in the Mekong Delta. This study aims to assess riverbank stability using the BSTEM model, investigate the level of vulnerability of local communities to riverbank erosion and understand their adaptive strategies to cope with riverbank erosion problems. The study focuses on Kaoh Soutin (KS) and Ruessei Srok (RS) communes which are next to the Mekong River in the delta area of Cambodia. Linking with flow velocity and water level from the HEC-RAS  2D model, the BSTEM model was set up to examine riverbank stability at two locations in KS and two locations in RS. The study used soil samplings and the laboratory test to investigate critical shear stress and erodibility coefficient for the BSTEM model. The results indicate that river water level and groundwater level are crucial factors influencing the overall stability of the riverbank. Higher water levels result in increased confining pressure on the riverbank, leading to a higher factor of safety. Soil erosion also has significantly impacted the riverbank at the study location. The level of vulnerability in two communities was determined based on IPCC’s livelihood vulnerability index (LVI) and coping strategies were determined based on field survey questionnaires and focus groups interviewed. It is found that KS is slightly more vulnerable to riverbank erosion than RS, as indicated by LVI values of 0.49 and 0.46 for KS and RS, respectively. The Chi-square test was carried out to identify vulnerability indicators that are statistically different between KS and RS. The current adaptive strategies based on interviews include reducing expenses, resettlement, diversifying income sources, and seeking support from various entities, including local authorities, NGOs, and government interventions during riverbank erosion. Large-scale monitoring and modeling systems are necessary for developing early warning systems and identifying hotspots. Riverbank protections both infrastructure-and nature-based solutions and migration plans are required to support livelihood adaptation.