By: James Dmytriw Instructor: Sheri Lee Blake Landscape of Haiti Course: EVLU-4014 Haiti:Flooding water reasons Watershed Flood Prone Areas Watershed and Rivers in Haiti Upper Plain Alluvial Plain Watershed Boundary Aritibonire river Low Plain Rivers 0 10 20 40 60 80 km 0 10 20 40 60 80 km Cul-de-Sac Cul-de-Sac (Smith. 2008, p.870) (Smucker. 2007, p.52) Haiti has one of the most environmentally destroyed landscapes in the world. Deforestation and soil erosion began during the colonial period and continues to the present. “The government since 1826 has legislated over 100 laws and policies aimed at protecting natural forests and soils. These laws have almost exclusively taken the form of taxes, prohibitions, penalties, and police efforts” (White.1994, p.6). As time continued they were not enforced. The attention has been to improve forests, soil conservation, and watershed projects at large scales. Most of the plans have come to a halt after the earthquake. Port au Prince is located in the Cul de Sac flood basin. This particular spot has minimal flooding during the year, but during flood season damage is extensive. Cul de Sac is fed by 1580 km2 of watershed (Haiti. 2001, p.22). About 800mm of rains falls annually in Cul de Sac (Smucker. 2007, p.33) (Smucker. 2007, p.53) Soil Conditions Erosion Risk Index Population Vulnerability Index Soil Potential Index Low High High Low Low Saint Marc 0 10 30 0 10 30 High 0 10 30 5 20 40 Km 5 20 40 Km 5 20 40 Km Montrouis Montrouis Montrouis Cabaret Cabaret Cabaret Cul de Sac Riviere Froide Cul de Sac Riviere Froide Cul de Sac Riviere Froide Momance Momance Momance (Smith. 2008, p.876) (Smith. 2008, p.878) (Smith. 2008, p.876) Cul De Sac basin has little soil erosion but is prone to flooding and extreme sedimentation.This area is very dangerous because of how many Haitians occupy this flood basin. The soil is contaminated with sewage and excess silts from the water supply. The southern part of the island is prone to extreme erosion during the raining seasons. “Haiti is divided into thirty three watersheds units which “Few watershed areas have been included in the protective areas system in Haïti. In a practical way, only watersheds include over 158 rivers. Among them, four are considered located in the Réserve Nationale de la Forêt des Pins (by Port Au Prince), the Parc National de Macaya and the Parc as trans boundary watersheds. The most spectacular National de la Visite should be considered as being a part of the protected area systems. These watershed roughly watershed unit is represented by the Fleuve de l’Artibonite correspond to Fonds Verettes, Grande Anse, Cul de Sac, Roseaux-Voldrogue, Ravine du Sud, Rivière l’Acul, Rivière Port- (The Artibonite River) with a watershed of 9,500 km2”. à-Piment, Rivière les Anglais, Rivière Cavaillon, Rivière Glace, Rivière Roseaux and Grande Rivière de Jacmel Basins”. (Haiti. 2001, p.21) (Haiti. 2001, p.23) (Smith. 2008, p.874) (Smith. 2008, p.877) (Smith. 2008, p.875) WaterDEFORESTATION Problems Basin: Cul De Sac Infrastructure Vulnerability Index Population Density Cul de Sac Erosion Risk Population Intensity Low High Port au Prince Low High Streets River (Smith. 2008, p.884) (Adapted by James Dmytriw, Deforestation has played a critical role Smith. 2008, p.884) in the destruction of Haiti. “The index value of the Cul-de-Sac plain is more than three times higher than the second “98.2% of debris found along coastal zones were found to be composed of various types of plastics ranked Les Cayes, and more than 14 mostly beverage containers” (Haiti, 2001, p.53) times the average index value of all watersheds. The sheer scale and acute vulnerability of the flood plains of Port-au- Prince makes Haiti’s major metropolitan areas a high priority for mitigating the risk of major disaster” (Smuker. 2007, p.68) Before Hurricane Jeanie (12 May 2004) After Hurricane Jeanie (26 Sep 2004) Due to high erosion across most of Haiti, soil collects in large quantities along rivers and streams. Siltation of the hydroelectric power plants resulted in decreased productivity. “For instance, Soil deposits from erosion the Barrage hydro-électrique de Péligre, the most important electric installation which provides 48 MW of hydro-electric energy lost 59 % of its capacity due to Dominican Republic sedimentation” (Haiti. 2001, p.39). Haiti (Smucker. 2007, p.22) (Smith. 2008, p.870) Precedents Rouge River, Michigan Rwoho Central Forest Reserve, Uganda “The Rouge River Gateway Corridor is one of the most important “Community groups will manage 7 % of the project area. In subsequent natural and cultural assets of southeast Michigan. It includes the project activities the investor share of communities and/or private enterprises will be gradually river’s final eight miles and five neighboring communities. increased and the available track record from the first This area has all the ingredients of a vibrant urban place: nature, considering the learning curve project cluster”. (CDM, 2006, p.2) culture, people, and economic strength” (Wayne. 2003) It is a project that has started to revitalize the river ecosystems at a small scale mainly with the help of communities in the area. “The project area is part of the Rwoho Central Forest Reserve, a gazetted woodland reserve. In total the reserve covers an area of 9,100 ha, of which 50 % is available for reforestation activities. This will employ 700 people. Of the 50 km of external boundary about 9 km follows streams while 41 km is an artificial boundary maintained as a planted cut-line with earth corner cairns and boundary-directional trenches. The reserve lies on top of a large flat-topped ridge running from North to South. The coordinates of the small- scale project are presented in the table below” (CDM, 2006, p.5) (CDM, 2006, p.37) (Wayne. 2003) (Wayne. 2003) (CDM, 2006, p.32) Interventions Characteristics of Agencies involved in the Water/ Watershed Agriculture Expansion in Cul de Sac Management sector in Haiti (Haiti. 2001, p.45) Ministry of Environment= Conservation of Ecosystems, Water policy, protection of watershed/ quality Ministry of Agriculture= M-technology, watershed management, water surface and ground water Ministry of Public Works= Management of potable water system, hydroelectricity, water supply/quality Ministry of Planning= Zoning of the territory, spatial management strategies Port Au Prince Current Agriculture Ministry of Health= Quality control, water supply Extended Agriculture NGO Private Commercial= Water production, selling services, water resource and watershed (Adapted by James Dmytriw, management, water facilities construction, research and study Smith. 2008, p.884) Municipalities= Execution of different projects related to water/watershed management, FUND RAISING “Awareness activities on Watershed Management are essentially the fruit of NGO efforts and private firms involved in the sector. They mainly consist of “The project area is part of the Rwoho Central Forest Reserve, a gazetted woodland having field training and applied Manual teaching soils conservation practices to farmers.The Haitian government since the 1980’s created through the reserve. In total the reserve covers an area of 9,100 ha, of which 50 % is available for MARNDR the Centre National de Formation en Aménagement des Bassins Versants du Limbé ( CFAIM). CFAIM provides training to Community Based reforestation activities. This will employ 700 people. Of the 50 km of external boundary NGO Groups and organizes specific seminar and workshops for professionals involved in the sector. State and private Universities assume also some about 9 km follows streams while 41 km is an artificial boundary maintained as a planted important role in awareness activities” (Haiti. 2001, p.43). cut-line with earth corner cairns and boundary-directional trenches. The reserve lies on top of a large flat-topped ridge running from North to South. The coordinates of the small- “To stop this worldwide assault on watersheds and coastal environments, a particular and useful framework for addressing various kinds of threats to scale project are presented in the table below” (CDM, 2006, p.5) watersheds and coastal zones must be found” (Haiti. 2001, p.61). “Poverty and population pressure force growing numbers of poor people to live in harm’s way-on flood plains, in earthquake-prone zones and on unstable hillsides” (Smucker. 2007, p.9). Conclusion: The population of Port Au Prince should spread into the flood plain creating less congestion in Port au Prince. Agriculture should become a (CDM, 2006, p.37) main focus for watershed improvement. Initiating people to inhabit the landscape and make different permaculture interventions. Through farming the landscape flooding could become stabilize with less damage to the Haitian people.As people spread out they have the opportunity to farm and replant deforested areas that have the most erosion. (Smucker. 2007, p.32) Watershed Presentation By James Dmytriw Page 1 Haiti has one of the most environmentally destroyed landscapes in the world. Deforestation and soil erosion began during the colonial period and continues to the present. The first diagram shows flood prone areas. Among them is Cul de Sac, the most important watershed in Haiti because it affects a lot of people including the upper 1%. Investment in solving water management issues are top priority here. The basin is feed by 1580 km2 of watershed it is prone to extensive flooding during raining seasons. The table below the river and watershed diagram shows different rivers. Each river has a large watersheds, but Cul de sac has a greater shed then most of the major rivers. North of Cul de Sac is an area that does not flood this area is called Saint Marc. It has a watershed that feeds directly into the ocean.The major river Aritobone is located north of saint mark.