Paul Sturm Roberto Viqueira Ríos

In this talk Brief Background on Land Based Sources Historical Perspective Guánica watershed characteristics/ issues High priority restoration projects Other key issues Building Resilience

From Brush (2009) Estuaries and Coasts

Lake Loiza Basin Sediment Concentrations Source USGS: (Gellis et al., 1999) PPM 70,000 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 Construction site Farmfield Pasture Forest Land Use

Big Rain Event October 10, 2010

Guánica Bay

Guánica Bay Watershed Restoration Project

Priority Pollutants in the Guánica Bay Watershed Pollutant Impacts Sources Nitrogen Eutrophication, algae growth, enrichment beyond tolerance of coral reefs. Wastewater, fertilizers, stormwater runoff, atmospheric deposition Sediment Deposition on reefs, effects on sediment intolerant reef organisms, sediment particles leading to water temperature warming, pollutants attached to sediment particles. Soil erosion, channel erosion, poor erosion and sediment control practices, African dust Bacteria Health related illnesses due to water contact, swimming, beach closures, source of pathogens that effect coral reefs Untreated wastewater, sewage overflows, stormwater runoff, pet waste, animal waste, wildlife PAHs Toxicity to coral reefs Stormwater runoff of automobile related contaminants, boat engine discharge particularly 2-stroke engines DDT, PCBs Toxicity to coral reefs Legacy contaminants, erosion of legacy sediments

Guánica Bay Watershed Restoration Project Restoration of the Historic Guánica Lagoon Reduce the amount of sediment and nutrients and create habitat for wild life Restore Río Loco Riverbank To protect farmland and to control erosion and sedimentation and to prevent flooding. Implementation of Conservation Practices in Farmland within the Watershed Control erosion and sedimentation and reduction of nutrients y pesticides Creation of Restoring Wetland for the Guánica Sewage Treatment Plant Reduce contaminants imported to the Guánica Bay.

Sediment and Erosion Control Practices in the Upper Watershed Restoration of Guánica Lagoon Stabilization of Río Loco Riverbank Construction of Treatment Wetlands

Guánica Bay Watershed Municipalities of Adjuntas, Lares, Maricao, Yauco, Lajas, Sabana Grande y Guánica

Sediment Transport

#1 Reconstruction of Historic Guánica Lagoon

Historic Guánica Lagoon

Lajas Valley Dredge Channel Río Loco

Restoration Efforts Past efforts have failed single agency little or no outreach strong agricultural community in valley Now - Discussions with the agricultural community Recognized the critical importance and engaging the community and individual landowners Community participation in the planning and design objectives Address possible increases in salinity and saturated soils

Topographic Mapping with GME for Guánica Lagoon and Anegado area.

#2 Implementation of Sediment and Erosion Control Practices in the Upper Watershed

Convert sun grown coffee plantation to shade grown coffee in Coordination with NRCS and USFWS Photos courtesy of USFWS

Update NRCS and USFWS has committed resources and is leading the process Land authority/nrcs working on agreements with farmers Work on coordinating these efforts and determining funding/ technical assistance gaps

#3 Río Loco Infrastructure removal and river channel stabilization

Riverbank Reforestation

Restoration site locations in Río Loco, Guánica.

#4 Constructed wetlands treatment system for existing Guánica Sewage Treatment Plant

Restoration Approach Currently only secondary treatment plant is quickly moving to 2.2 mgd currently at 700,000 gallon/day or 2.6M liters/day Coral reefs extremely sensitive to nitrogen PRASA is very interested in the project have met with Alberto Lazaro Director of Infrastructure willing to acquire land and manage construction Sizing estimates, land area and cost estimates based on additional fieldwork Exploring a couple of avenues for funding including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Other issues that we have been working to improve water quality in the Guánica Bay

Sediment and Erosion Control in the Watershed

Illicit Sewage Discharge in the Watershed

Bacteria Nutrients Turbidity Detergents

Guánica Sewage Treatment Plant outfall Monitoring

Collaborators Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) Land Authority of Puerto Rico Land Administration of Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture of Puerto Rico Extended Agricultural Services and Department of Agricultural Science (UPRM) Puerto Rico Electrical Power Authority (PREPA) Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewage Authority (PRASA) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Center for Watershed Protection (CWP) Municipality of Guánica Municipality of Yauco Farmers Community Leaders