Effect of non-point source runoff and urban sewage on Yaque del Norte River in Dominican Republic Peter Phillips* Department of Biology, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, South Carolina 29733, USA Fax: 803 323 3448 E-mail:
[email protected] *Corresponding author F. Arturo Russell Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra, Santiago de los Caballeros, Republica Dominicana Fax: 809 582 2947 E-mail:
[email protected] John Turner Department of Biology, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, South Carolina 29733, USA Fax: 803 323 3448 E-mail:
[email protected] Abstract: A Yaque del Norte, Dominican Republic watershed survey monitored dissolved oxygen, eutrophication from point and non-point sources, and high conductivity resulting from agricultural runoff. The upper mainly forested watershed had good water quality except for untreated sewage from the city of Jarabacoa. The mid-watershed had a deforested landscape, mixed agriculture and the city of Santiago contributing nitrogen and phosphorus. The lower watershed had extensively-irrigated agriculture resulting in appreciably higher conductivity, as well as high nitrogen and phosphorus. Sedirnentation from erosion is evident throughout the watershed. Managing the river's land and water resources for al1 stakeholders is critical. Keywords: surface water quality; nitrogen; phosphom; dissolved oxygen; turbidity; non-point source runoff; point sources; imgation; Yaque del Norte River; Dominican Republic. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Phillips, P., Russell, F.A. and Turner, J. (2007) 'Effect of non-point source runoff and urban sewage on Yaque del Norte River in Dominican Republic', Int. J. Environment and Pollution, Vol. 31, Nos. 314, pp.244-266. Biographical notes: P.