The article presents the analysis and prediction of coastal processes at the site of the Krasnoyarsk reservoir in the village of Kurtak where there are the most intensive processes of coastal reshaping. Over the past 50 years, the coast has receded here by an average of 350 m and continues to actively collapse at a speed of 3-5 m per year. Despite the fact that the intensity of coastal processes in this area has significantly decreased (mainly due to the general decrease in the level of the Krasnoyarsk reservoir), the rate of retreat of the shore is still high. However, it can be concluded that for the researched area the coastal reshaping does not pose a real threat to economic activity in the next 30 years. The article tested various methods of forecasting coastal processes, selected the most appropriate for the shores of a similar type. Verification of models was carried out on the basis of data of long-term monitoring of the site under consideration, which gave the chance to compare results of forecasts on different techniques to real retreat of the coast on this site.

The coastal dynamics of the Curonian Spit, a large accretive landform with its eroded root, is discussed. For this area, the new data on the coastal development for the last 100 years were obtained; the characteristic of current coastal state was given; mathematical simulation of the coastal processes for assessment of the sediment deficit in the near shore zone was made. Evanescence of the sediment deficit phenomenon in the area under study is demonstrated. Here, even during rather short periods of the deficit increase, the development of wave-induced destructive processes is observed; therefore three major ways to mitigate the risk of coastal erosion (i.e. the construction of impenetrable or penetrable groins, a detached breakwater and an artificial beach) are considered, including the peculiarities of the spit shores development as a result of coastal protection activities.

Erosion and abrasion play the main role in the relief formation and sedimentation in the basin of Novosibirsk Reservoir. These processes caused important changes of morphometric characteristics of the basin. For instance, the average thickness of accreted sediments has reached 0.94 m, the Reservoir total capacity has reduced by 1.02 km 3 , its average and maximum depth and water area have diminished notably, but average and maximum width have increased. The shoreline length, the number and area of island have changed too. The character of these changes is similar to changes in other reservoirs of this type.

The peculiarities of a coastal morphology of large man-made lakes under the wave-dominated, fluvial dominated and transitional environments were discussed. It was shown that the fluvial-dominated environment is similar to the one in a river delta. In the transitional environments, the gradual replacement of delta sub-environments by shallow areas is observed. In the wave-dominated environments the relief is similar to the characteristic relief of the sea coastal zone.

Sedimentary structure in a delta-like area of the man-made lake basin, in the coastal transitional zone of wavedominated and fluvial-dominated environments, and at the coasts with normal development of reservoirs where wind-induced waves are the key driving factor were thoroughly studied and described for the first time.

In the large reservoirs the classical development of shores under the impact of wave action and water level fluctuations results in erosion during the water level rise and in the movement of coastline toward water storage during fall in water level. In the case of “non-classical” development water level rise results in the submergence of coastal areas and accumulation, while the fall in the water level results in the cutting of the dereliction, slackening of the beach drift and subsequent cutting of the adjacent shores. Such types of evolution take place on the shores of both large reservoirs and seas. Considering geomorphological similarity of the coasts of seas and the storage lakes, large reservoirs may serve as models for studying and forecasting seashore response to water level fluctuations.

A high-resolution multi-spectral Iconos satellite image is used to study а 7-km coast line section of the Novosibirsk reservoir. It is shown that eroded and stable parts of the coast can be easily recognized from the image. Also the stability of coastal protection structures can be evaluated. The long-term coast line evolution rate is estimated by comparing the recent satellite image with the old large-scale topographic maps for that site. Pattern recognition methods applied reveal nearshore zones with different depths and bed slopes.