2. Investigations of the Brackish Karst Springs on the Croation Adriatic Sea Coast

The Croatian Adriatic Sea coast is a highly and deeply Karstified area. Thus its coastal aquifers are open to seawater intrusion. There are many coastal karst springs, and the vast majority of them are brackish year round, or during periods of low summer discharges. Increasing development of these areas threatens to cause a shortage of fresh water. Consequently, there is an increased need for developing water reserves in the coastal aquifers and understanding the mechanism of seawater intrusion. This paper gives an overview of eight selected coastal brackish karst springs along the Croatian Adriatic Sea coast. An explanation of their functioning, an overview of measures taken for the prevention of seawater intrusion in some of them, and the practical success of those measures is given.