ASSESSING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF LAGOON-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL WATERFRONT IN THE COASTAL ZONE OF PARIAMAN CITY, INDONESIA

This study aims to assess the environmental characteristics and sustainability potential of lagoon areas along the coastal zone of Pariaman City, Indonesia, for environmental waterfront development.Five natural lagoons, such as Nareh, Manggung, Apar, Talao, and Karan Aur, were selected based on geomorphological analysis and spatial mapping.The study adopts a multi-method approach combining weighted indicator-based environmental assessment and Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) to evaluate sustainability across economic, social, and environmental dimensions.Thirteen environmental indicators were evaluated by six experts using a weighted Likert-scale scoring system.The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) analysis confirmed high inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.82).Results showed that Talao and Karan Aur achieved "Good" environmental quality, while Nareh, Manggung, and Apar were rated "Fair".Key influencing indicators included water quality and riparian buffer vegetation.Spatial zoning analysis further classified development areas into littoral, terrestrial, and urban activity zones based on ecological and planning criteria.Sustainability assessment using MDS identified seven leverage indicators (local revenue, job diversification, accessibility, education, community institutions, environmental conservation, and biodiversity).These indicators were dominant in shaping the coastal development strategy and supported by high model validity (RSQ > 0.74).The study concludes that Environmental Waterfront development in Pariaman City requires integrated strategies that balance ecological integrity, social inclusion, and economic growth.Specific mitigation measures, namely vegetative, structural, and regulatory, are recommended to elevate the environmental quality of all lagoon sites.Findings offer a strategic foundation for sustainable coastal governance and provide a replicable model for similar regions across Indonesia's western coastline.