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 Improve the water and sediment quality of the San Juan Bay Estuary to ensure it is suitable for fishing and swimming and to promote Goal other compatible recreational and commercial activities. Eliminate direct and indirect sewage discharges to the various canals and lagoons of the San Juan Bay 1 Estuary to reduce nutrient and pathogen loadings and OBJETIVE 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 Enhance and maintain an ecosystem which supports an optimum diversity of living Goal resources on a sustained basis. 1 Preserve and restore ecologically important habitat. OBJETIVE 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 BSJ 1 LC 2 CSA LC 1 BSJ 2 LT 1 PLE CM BSJ 3 LLC LT 2 RPN LP CMP CS 2 LT3 LS LSJ 1 CS 1 LSJ 2 JM BC SA a a ete 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 Laguna del Condado Caño Martín Peña Laguna San José del del Estuario Laguna Los Corozos Canal Suárez Laguna Torrecilla Canal Blasina Cuerpos de Agua de Cuerpos 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 B B D F N CANAL SAN ANTONIO OCEANO ATLANTICO LAGUNA DEL CONDADO TOA BAJA # # LAGUNA LA TORRECILLA # LAGUNA # # LOS COROZOS CATAÑO # # # LAGUNA LOIZA # CAÑO MARTIN PEÑA DE PIÑONES BAYAMON BAHIA DE SAN JUAN CANAL SUAREZ LAGUNA SAN JOSE CAROLINA SAN JUAN # Río Grande de Loíza TRUJILLO ALTO GUAYNABO CANOVANAS # Represa Carraízo 0 Millas 6 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 stakeholders- expert workshops and public listening sessions…on climate changes. SJBE Program Global Change Actions Summary 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. MUCHAS GRACIAS ! Visit us: www.estuario.org.