The San Juan Bay Estuary Program and its Initiatives toward a Climate Ready Estuary CACCE Conference-Workshop 2012 Dr. Jorge Bauza-Ortega Scientific Advisor San Juan Bay Estuary Program
Today presentation layout: Introduction to the The San Juan Bay Estuary system The SJBEP and it CCMP Climate change implemented actions Climate changes future effort Disclosure: This is a highly visual-low in text content presentation
Introduction to the San Juan Bay Estuary System
THE SYSTEM
The San Juan Bay Estuary System
The SJBE Watershed
Wetlands: Laguna Secreta
Torrecillas Lagoon
Blasina Channel
Caño Martín Peña
Sandy Beach: Vacia Talega
ECOSYSTEMS: Wetlands Mangroves forest Lagoons Coral communities Beaches Seagrasses
Ecological importance The SJBE provides home for over: 160 bird species 19 reptile/amphibian species 124 fish species 300 wetland plant species The SJBE contains the largest protected mangrove forest in Puerto Rico, that comprises 33% of the total mangrove acreage on the island.
Endangered species
Economic importance Over 1 million tourists visit the port through 700 annual cruise ship trips 9.8 million travelers use the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, located in the watershed Recieves 80% of the products imported to Puerto Rico
RECREATIVE ACTIVITIES:
Land Use (1995)
Martín Peña Channel - 1936
Martin Peña Channel 2000
National Estuary Program USEPA
ACTIONS 49 actions (WS) WATER SEDIMENTS (16 actions) (HW) FISH AND HABITAT (18 actions) (PI) PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT (7 actions) (AD) AQUATIC DEBRIS (8 actions)
Water and Sediment Quality Actions Plan Goal OBJETIVE Improve the water and sediment quality of the San Juan Bay Estuary to ensure it is suitable for fishing and swimming and to promote other compatible recreational and commercial activities. 1 Eliminate direct and indirect sewage discharges to the various canals and lagoons of the San Juan Bay Estuary to reduce nutrient and pathogen loadings and increase human uses of estuarine waters. WS-1 Design and construct a storm and sanitary sewer system for the communities fringing the eastern section of the Martín Peña Channel and other areas adjacent to the SJBE.
Habitat Fish, and Wildlife Action Plan Goal Enhance and maintain an ecosystem which supports an optimum diversity of living resources on a sustained basis. OBJETIVE 1 Preserve and restore ecologically important habitat. Action HW-1 Plant mangroves along the western shoreline of San Juan Bay. Action HW-2 Restore seagrass beds in the Condado Lagoon Action HW-3 Plant mangroves along the shores of the Condado Lagoon. Action
Sea level rise
Climate change implemented actions
Reactive soft measures: Restoring living shoreline red mangroves planting
Community-based
System resilience: Healthy wetlands invasive species management Melaleuca quinquenervia
Melaleuca stand N 0.05 km
Baseline assessment: water quality monitoring Time-serie PLE BSJ 1 BSJ 2 CSA LC 2 LC 1 LT 1 CM LS BSJ 3 RPN CMP LLC LSJ 1 CS 1 LT 2 CS 2 LT3 LP JM LSJ 2 BC SA
s: Temperature ph Conductivity Dissolved oxygen Nutrients Chlorophyll BOD Turbidity Secchi depth Oil & Grease Total Organic carbon
Run by volunteers
TRANSPARENCIA DEL AGUA 2009 Bahía de San Juan Canal San Antonio Cuerpos de Agua del Estuario Laguna del Condado Caño Martín Peña Laguna San José Laguna Los Corozos Canal Suárez Laguna Torrecilla Canal Blasina Caño La Malaria Río Puerto Nuevo Quebrada San Antón 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 Profundidad Secchi (m)
EL MODELO: Consejo Canadiense de Ministros del Ambiente (Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life, Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines, 2001). Por Ciento Frecuencia Amplitud
# Río TOA BAJA B # B F D CANAL SAN ANTONIO LAGUNA DEL CONDADO # OCEANO ATLANTICO LAGUNA LA TORRECILLA N CATAÑO BAYAMON # BAHIA DE SAN JUAN CAÑO MARTIN PEÑA # # LAGUNA LOS COROZOS LAGUNA SAN JOSE # # CANAL SUAREZ # # CAROLINA LAGUNA DE PIÑONES LOIZA SAN JUAN Grande de Loíza GUAYNABO 0 Millas 6 TRUJILLO ALTO # Represa Carraízo CANOVANAS C D
Living resources monitoring: Aquatic birds census
Education about climate changes public service campaign
Cool Cities Campaign: Global Change Solutions for Puerto Rico
Developed to help cities mayors and their communities achieve reduction in energy consumption
The agreement
Climate changes future efforts
Sea level and vulnerability addressing: SDI-12 Radar Water Level Sensor
Sea level sensors deployment sites
Finally hosting stakeholdersexpert workshops and public listening sessions on climate changes.
SJBE Program Global Change Adaptation options: Reactive measures red mangroves planting. System resilience and healthy wetlands invasive species management. Baseline assessment-time series: Water quality monitoring. Living resources. Public Education: Public services campaign. Cool Cities Campaign. Addressing vulnerability: Seal level change assessment. Workshops and public listening sessions. Actions Summary
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