Puerto Rico Coastal Zone Management Program Revision and update September, 2009 CONTENTS Introduction................................................................................................................................................. 1 2.1 Sustainable Development ........................................................................................................................................ 4 2.1 Watershed as a Planning Unit ................................................................................................................................ 6 2.1 Non-point sources of pollution as a critical issue.......................................................................................... 6 Chapter I. Overview of Puerto Rico’s Coastal Zone .................................................................. 9 1.1 General Physical Characteristics ............................................................................................................................... 9 1.1.1 Origin and composition of the island ....................................................................................................... 9 1.1.2 The Island’s climate ....................................................................................................................................... 10 1.1.3 Natural systems ............................................................................................................................................... 14 1.1.4 Description of coastal sectors ................................................................................................................... 14 1.1.5 Coastal sectors and watersheds in puerto rico ................................................................................. 21 1.2 Urban sprawl trends in the coastal sectors .................................................................................................... 24 1.2.1 Demand for land uses in the coastal zone ......................................................................................... 28 1.3 Economic impact of the coastal zone ................................................................................................................ 33 Chapter II. The PRCZMP as the coastal element of Puerto Rico’s Land Use Plan ........ 38 Background .............................................................................................................................................................................. 38 Objectives and Public Policies in Puerto Rico’s Land Use Plan ......................................................................... 39 Chapter III. Coastal management for Puerto Rico: Problems and responses ............... 57 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................. 57 3.1 Coastal hazards .............................................................................................................................................................. 57 3.1.1 Floods (storm surges and tsunamis) ................................................................................................... 57 3.1.2 Geological risks .............................................................................................................................................. 71 3.1.3 Coastal erosion .............................................................................................................................................. 78 3.1.4 Global warming and vulnerability to coastal hazards .................................................................. 83 3.2 Coastal resources ..................................................................................................................................................... 86 3.2.1 Wetlands ........................................................................................................................................................... 86 3.2.2 Reefs ................................................................................................................................................................ 103 3.2.3 Mangroves .................................................................................................................................................... 114 3.2.4 Dunes .............................................................................................................................................................. 124 3.2.5 Beaches .......................................................................................................................................................... 127 3.2.6 Wildlife ........................................................................................................................................................... 149 3.2.7 Coastal Waters ............................................................................................................................................ 154 3.2.8 Coastal Forests ............................................................................................................................................ 172 3.2.9 Historical Monuments and Archeological sites ............................................................................. 178 3.3 Coastal Development ............................................................................................................................................... 181 3.3.1 Coast-dependent industry ...................................................................................................................... 181 3.3.2 Sand for construction .............................................................................................................................. 191 3.3.3 Mineral Development ............................................................................................................................... 194 3.3.4 Energy ............................................................................................................................................................. 197 3.4 Recreation ..................................................................................................................................................................... 204 3.5 Transportation ............................................................................................................................................................ 212 3.6 Fishing ......................................................................................................................................................................... 217 3.6.1 Commercial fishing ................................................................................................................................... 217 3.6.2 Recreational Fishing ................................................................................................................................. 222 3.6.3 Ornamental Fishing .................................................................................................................................. 223 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................................. 227 Chapter IV. The Coastal Management Program: Principal Elements ........................... 229 4.1 Guiding Development of Puerto Rico’s Coastal Zone .............................................................................. 229 4.1.1 Ongoing Activities: Four Commonwealth agencies responsible for guiding development ... 229 4.1.2 Linkages assuring consistent action in guiding development ............................................... 239 4.1.3 Improvement of Coastal Zone Guidance ........................................................................................... 242 4.2 Active management of coastal resources .................................................................................................... 250 4.2.1 Ongoing activities: the DNER and other agencies participating in managing coastal resources ....................................................................................................................................................... 250 4.2.2 Improving Resource Management in Coastal Areas ................................................................... 252 4.2.3 Organizational Changes ........................................................................................................................... 253 4.2.4 Natural Reserve System ............................................................................................................................ 255 4.2.5 Clarifying and extending public property rights in coastal resources ................................. 255 4.2.6 Other measures to protect coastal resources ................................................................................. 256 4.3 Promotion of sustainable coastal development ........................................................................................ 257 4.4 Research .......................................................................................................................................................................... 258 4.4.1 Research .........................................................................................................................................................