Human Impacts to Coastal Ecosystems in Puerto Rico (HICE-PR): Rio Grande de Manatí Watershed (northwest PR)

Maritza Barreto, University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras, maritzabarretoorta@gmail.com (Presenter)
Juan Luis Torres-Pérez, Bay Area Environmental Research Institute, juan.l.torresperez@nasa.gov (Presenter)
Jorge Ortiz, University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras, jorgeortiz.ites@gmail.com
Luis Santiago, University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras, luis.santiago47@upr.edu
Liane Guild, NASA ARC, liane.s.guild@nasa.gov
Shimelis Setegn, Florida International University, ssetegn@fiu.edu
Carlos Ramos-Scharron, University of Texas at Austin, cramos@austin.utexas.edu
Roy Armstrong, University of Puerto Rico, roy.armstrong@upr.edu

Coastal components such as beaches, coral reefs, mangroves and seagrasses have suffered the effects of anthropogenic stresses associated with land cover and land use change (LCLUC) in Puerto Rico. One of the main goals of HICE-PR is to evaluate the impacts of LCLUC on the quality and extent of Coastal Marine Ecosystems (CMEs) in two priority watersheds at Puerto Rico (Manatí and Guánica). During the project’s first year, we performed a preliminary evaluation of CMEs, LCLUC, hydrological, and socio-economic components in the Manatí watershed. An assessment of historical shoreline and LCLUC associated with the watershed was conducted using remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Field data were collected to assess beach morphology, river suspended sediments and key watershed attributes for subsequent economic valuation. Preliminary results show dynamic historical shoreline changes in beaches located west of river mouth. Shifts from accretion to erosion were identified between 1971 and 2010 with major erosion (2-54 m) in the beach observed from 1995 to 2003. A preliminary LCLUC evaluation revealed a reduction in agricultural land use along the watershed from 1977 to 2010, primarily conversion to forest (53%). Hydrologic data acquisition has been initiated to calibrate the Surface Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to model the impacts of historic LCLUC on water and sediment fluxes from the two watersheds to the CMEs. Also to define key attributes for the Choice Experiment modeling exercise, we have conducted initial Manatí watershed site observations to identify those areas where direct interaction was frequently observed between residents and visitors and river-related ecosystem services. Each site was visited to conduct informal data gathering on those attributes most valued by watershed residents and visitors. LCLUC, river discharge, sediment influx, river-related ecosystem services and their relationship to CME distribution and value will be evaluated during the second year of the project.

Presentation Type:  Poster

Session:  Theme 2: Landscapes to coasts: understanding Earth system connections   (Mon 1:30 PM)

Associated Project(s): 

• Related Activity: Related Activity or Previously Funded CC&E Activity not listed ...details

Poster Location ID: 73