No complementary funds were received for this project during the reporting period.

Transcription

1 1 Project Title, Caribbean Coastal Scenarios Project Number, CRN-II-61 Key Words, Water Resources, Climate Change, Land Use, Urbanization, Coastal Pollution 2 Project Funding No complementary funds were received for this project during the reporting period. 3 Research Activities and Findings Year two of the Caribbean Coastal Scenarios project was devoted primarily to the implementation of the following activities: Workshops were held in Florida, USA, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and Kingston, Jamaica. The workshops included all participating organizations. The first workshop for year two was held at Florida International University (FIU) and had all project partners that were formally involved in the project. The objectives of the workshop were to inform all participants about the products of year 1, to discuss the roles and responsibilities of each participating institution, to identify and discuss data and plans that have impacted on the project and should be considered in the development of future scenarios, and to develop a detailed schedule of activities. In the case of workshops held in the DR and Jamaica, the purpose was to officially launch island-specific activities, which included installation of the SWAT model and training the local modeling team in the use of the model, using the initial models that had been developed for each island. Brochure s Design explaining scope, goals and deliverables of the project copies of the Caribbean Coastal Scenarios Project brochure were printed for distribution. Reconvening of all teams and partners in Florida (March 20-21, 2008). The purpose of the workshop was to review progress up-dates in the project and to develop a working plan and schedule for advancing the project. Day 1 was focused on detailed discussions on the preliminary watershed models that had been developed, expectations for climate changes in the Caribbean Region, and the methodology to be used in developing scenarios for each island. The objectives of the workshop were to bring together participants from each country for two days, review progress up to-date, discuss latest developments and administrative issues, examine preliminary watershed models and discuss refinement of models, review and discuss expected/potential climate changes in the Caribbean, review and discuss methodology and schedule for scenario development, discuss coordination with other national and regional projects. The workshop involved participants from the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico/USA. 1

2 List of participants in the March 20-21, 2008 FIU workshop. No. Participants Institution Country 1 Rafael Veloz (Faculty member, UASD) Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) Dominican Republic 2 Felipe Vicioso (Director of the School of Agriculture, UASD) Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) Dominican Republic 3 Francisco Nuñez (Science Director, TNC) The Nature Conservancy Dominican Republic 4 Pedro Martinez (Project Coordinato, TNC) The Nature Conservancy Dominican Republic 5 Nina Lysenko (Vice-ministry of Coastal resources) Ministry of the Environment Dominican Republic 6 Andreas Haiduk (Water Resources Authority) Jamaica Water Resources Authorities Jamaica 7 Orville Grey (University of West Indies) University of West Indies Jamaica 8 Jorge Ortiz (Faculty member, University of Mayaguez) University of Puerto Rico Puerto Rico 9 Debora Figueroa (University of Mayaguez) University of Puerto Rico Puerto Rico 10 Yamira Valles (Planning Program) Planning Agency of Puerto Rico Puerto Rico 11 Aurelio Castro (Head of the GIS Lab, University of PR) GIS lab, University of Puerto Rico Puerto Rico 12 Jude Zephyr (National Center for Geospatial Information) National Center for Geospatial Information of Haiti Haiti 13 Xixi Wang (Assistant Professor Department of Math, Physics & Engineering Tarleton State University - A Member of Texas A & M University System Tarleton State University - A Member of Texas A & M University System USA 14 Assefa Melesse (Department of Environmental Studies Florida International University) Florida International University USA 15 Michael McClain (Associate Professor Department of Environmental Studies Institute for Sustainability Science Florida International University Miami, Florida Florida International University USA 16 Daniel Gann (FIU) Florida International University USA 2

3 During day one of the workshop, Michael McClain, PI, summarized the past year of the project, following with an overview of the meeting objectives and scheduling for the coming years. He also focused on the scenario and modeling components (approach, issues, linkages and discussion). Day two of the workshop focused on detailed aspects of scenario building and the use of the preliminary models developed foe each island. Training Workshop (Santo Domingo and Jamaica): to share model with government partners and train technicians in those institutions on how to use the model. During the last week of May, 2008, two training workshops on the Soil-Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model were carried out in DR during 26 th -27 th and Jamaica 29 th -30 th. The general objective was to run initial model calibration in pilot catchments from each island. For two days, Drs. Assefa Melesse and Xixi Wang conducted the training sessions, where technicians coming from the intergovernmental agencies of each island, working at watershed and GIS levels, reviewed the results of calibration and validation of the model. The major model components including weather, hydrology, soil temperature, plant growth, nutrients, pesticides, and land management were addressed. The training had the participation of sixteen people from the DR (see list below), five participants representing SEMARN, four from INDRHI, two from UASD and one from INTEC. Felipe Vicioso and Rafel Veloz of Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) provided necessary logistic support as part of their responsibilities in this project. The workshop was held at the Pedro Mir Public Library, UASD. Seven participants from the Jamaica s Water resources authority, the National & Environmental & Planning Agency, the Forest Department, and the University of West Indies (Mona), participated in the Kingston workshop. The purpose of the proposed workshop was to install and train participants in the use of SWAT modeling program that will be applied for estimating sediments and contaminants fluxes into costal area. Evaluation of the model performance included statistical analysis (mean and standard deviation) of the measured and predicted values, regression coefficients and Nash-Suttcliffe Efficiency (Nash and Sutcliffe 1970). 3

4 Training Objectives: Train a number of participants from Jamaica and the Dominican Republic for two days. Detailed examination of preliminary watershed models (modeling team). Run initial model calibration and testing in pilot catchments from each island. Selection of Pilot catchments to represent a range of conditions observed on the island. List of participants in the May 26-27, 2008 SWAT modeling workshop held in DR. No. Name Institution 1 Yolanda León INTEC ymleon@yahoo.com 2 Maira Sánchez Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, UASD maltasa@gmail.com 3 Eilhard Molina Protected Areas, SEMARN 4 Mario Fernández Soils department, SEMAREN 5 Santiago Hernández Protected Areas, SEMARN 6 Tomás Montilla Cartographic Department, SEMARN 7 Domingo R. Brito 8 Zoraida Zapata 9 Leonarda Abreu 10 Carol Katherine Bonilla GIS Lab, INDRHI 11 Sergio Tejada GIS Lab, INDRHI Cartographic Department, SEMARN 12 Xiomara LLuberes Hydrology, INDRHI Coastal and Marine Resources, SEMARN Department of Environmental Information and Education, SEMRN mariofernandez59@hotmail.com chagohb@yahoo.es tomasarturo6@gmail.com brito72@gmail.com zoraidazapata@yahoo.com leogeo6@hotmail.com serjote@hotmail.com xiomara_lluberes@hotmail.com 13 Antonio Mendez INDRHI 14 Xixi Wang (USA) Instructor xwang@tarleton.edu 15 Assefa Melesse (USA) Instructor melessea@fiu.edu 16 Pedro Martinez Project Coordinator pmartinez@tnc.org 17 Felipe Vicioso UASD 18 Rafael Veloz UASD List of participants in the May 29-30, 2008 SWAT modeling workshop held in Jamaica. No. Name Institution 1 Chalene Roye National & Environmental & Planning Agency chalene.roye@nepa.gov.jm 2 Hugh Small University of West Indies, Mona Hugl.small@uwimona.edu 3 Orville Grey University of West Indies, Mona orville.grey@uwimona.edu 4 Donna Lowe Forest Department dlowee@forestry.gov.jm 5 DeMarsh Scott Water resources authority dscott@wra.gov.jm 6 Andreas Haiduck Water resources Authority ahaiduck@wra.gov.jm 7 Graham Jervis Smith Warner International Ja Ltd. 8 Xixi Wang (USA) Instructor xwang@tarleton.edu 9 Assefa Melesse (USA) Instructor melessea@fiu.edu 10 Pedro Martinez Workshop coordinator pmartinez@tnc.org 4

5 4 Contributions of Co-PIs Felipe Vicioso and Rafael Veloz, Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) provided the necessary logistics support coordinating all matters related the facilities where the workshop was held as part of their responsibilities in this project. The workshop was held at the Pedro Mir Public Library, UASD. Dale F. Webber, University of the West Indies at Mona and his Graduate student Orville Grey, worked and provided all the logistics support making the necessary arrangements to host the workshop at Mona Campus. Assefa Melesse, Florida International University and Xixi Wang conducted the training sessions, where technicians coming from intergovernmental agencies of each island, working at watershed and GIS levels, overviewed results of calibration and validation of the model. Major model components including weather, hydrology, soil, temperature, plant growth, nutrients, pesticides, and land management were addressed. Zhaohui Jennifer Fu, Florida International University, did not have specific responsibilities during this project period. Jennifer Gebelein, Florida International University, did not have specific responsibilities during this project period. Jorge Ortiz, Institute for Tropical Ecosystems Studies, University of Puerto Rico, worked coordinating all activities relative to the implementation of the modeling workshop in Puerto Rico. Francisco Nuñez, The Nature Conservancy, worked during this project period participating in local meetings with local authorities representing the Natural Resources and Environmental agency of the Dominican Republic. Meetings with the Coastal Marine Resources vice-ministry and the director of the Planning unit as well. The purpose of these meetings was to get formal commitments from the key stakeholders such as the ministry of the environment (SEMARN) to participate and assume an active role on the project s scenarios component. A meeting was held with the chairman of UASD s science faculty. In that meeting Francisco Nuñez, Co-PI and Pedro Martinez, Project Coordinator, presented the project to the newly elected authorities. The project was also introduced to the government s National Institute for Hydrologic Resources (INDRHI) s new planning manager who offered collaboration and all information that could be relevant to the project such as topographic maps, weather data, etc. 5

6 5 Publications No journal publications, books, or any other non-periodical, one-time publications (e.g. proceedings, book chapters) were produced during this project period. 6 Data Data compilation was concentrated during year 1 of the project (see year 1 report). No addition data generation occurred during year 2. 7 Capacity Building The capacity building activities for year two of the project involved the following UASD s undergraduate students: Pedro Emilian de Los Santos has spent several months in the Nizao watershed, working toward completion of his dissertation research relating to a Land realignment Proposal for the Haina Basin. Carmen de Jesus, Julus Chenier and Gaby Noel have been conducting an Environmental Assessment of the Haina Basin. Litay Ramos returned to her field site Nizao basin where she has been studying the Water quality of the whole basin. Antonio Morillo and Midouin Lidelias have worked on an Assessment of Soil Quality for the Haina basin. All of them are almost completing their theses programs. 8 Regional Collaboration/Networking Terry McCloskey of Louisiana State University and Dr. Lisa Kennedy of Virginia Tech were doing some field work in Punta Cana area, Barahona Peninsula and Samaná Bay, DR. Lisa and Terry are working with Kan-biu Liu, who is leading a project funded by the Inter- American Institute for Global Change Research, called Paleotempestology of the Caribbean Region. Lisa and Terry were coring some of the coastal lakes and lagoons looking for over wash deposits, organic and carbonates contents. Dr. Liu s efforts will add important longterm information to our own efforts in the Caribbean Coastal Scenarios (CCS). 9 Media Coverage and Prizes There was no media coverage or prizes during this period. 10 Policy Relevance There were no policy relevant results during this start-up phase of the project and data were not distributed to policy makers. 11 Main Conclusions 6

7 We are in the start-up phase of the project and there are no conclusions as yet. 12 Work Plan for Next Year with Associated Costs Our project has experienced delays during the past year in completing subcontracts with partner universities in the Caribbean. Consequently funding intended to support student research activities has not yet been spent. We intend to support a diverse set of student projects during the coming year and to ensure that all partners receive the entire funding level that was allotted to them at the initiation of the project. Our complete suite of efforts during the coming year may be organized under the following categories Training Workshop (Puerto Rico): to share model with government partners and to train technicians in those institutions on how to use the model. Date: (sept-11-12, 2008). Responsible: PC, country Co-PI, Assefa Melesse and Xixi Wang This will be the final training workshop in the basic operation of the SWAT Model and the use of the preliminary models that have been developed for Puerto Rico. Following this training our Puerto Rican collaborators will be prepared to continue developing the models and customizing them to the Puerto Rican situation. The total estimated cost of this training is $ Launching Workshops for scenarios for islands: To indicate in detail the input needed from each partner (give about three months to put this information together). Responsible: Project coordinator, PI, and country Co-PIs Workshops will be held on each island to officially launch island-specific activities. The workshops will include all participating organizations. The objectives of the workshops will be to inform all participants about the goals of the project, to discuss roles and responsibilities of each participating institution, to identify and discuss data and plans that impact on the project and should be considered in the development of scenarios, and finally to develop a detailed schedule of activities. The total estimated cost of these workshops is $10, Reconvening Scenarios teams to define initial scenarios Responsible: project coordinator and country Co-PIs Approximately three months after the launching workshop on each island the members of the scenarios team will reconvene with the project coordinator and country Co-PIs to develop an initial set of scenarios. The resulting scenarios will be provided to the modeling team on each island. We will hire a scenario specialist to facilitate these workshops. The total estimated cost of these workshops is $14, Modeling Teams complete first run of complete scenarios (modeling team complete 1 st model). Responsible: Assefa Melesse and country Co-PIs Working from the revised and calibrated models for each basin, and varying parameters according to the scenarios developed by the scenarios team, the modeling team for each 7

8 island will simulate run-off and water quality. Results of these first scenarios runs will be the main result of year 2 and will be returned to the scenarios team for consideration and review. The costs related to this activity are estimated at $12, Review output of initial scenario runs, consult with government partners, and review as necessary. Responsible: PC and country Co-PIs Outputs from the initial modeling runs will be reported back to the Scenario teams from each island for their review and evaluation. Based on these reviews the input variables may be revised and a new set of runs will be recommended. Improvements to the models based on student research and efforts of local modeling specialists will also be incorporated at this time. The total estimated cost of the local workshops to review and revise the model variables is estimated at $14, Graduate student Research Responsible: country Co-PIs During year 3 graduate students that have been recruited at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD), and the University of the West Indies (UWI) will initiate thesis research related to the project. The total amount budgeted for the year is $ 28,000 for UPR, $14,000 for UASD, and $ 22,000 for UWI. 8