Sediment loss and its cause in Puerto Rico watersheds
A major environmental concern in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is increased sediment load to water reservoirs, to estuaries, and finally to coral reef areas outside the estuaries. Sediment deposition has significantly reduced the storage capacity of reservoirs, and sediments, with their associated...
Main Authors: | , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2015-09-01
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Series: | SOIL |
Online Access: | http://www.soil-journal.net/1/595/2015/soil-1-595-2015.pdf |
Summary: | A major environmental concern in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is increased
sediment load to water reservoirs, to estuaries, and finally to coral reef
areas outside the estuaries. Sediment deposition has significantly reduced
the storage capacity of reservoirs, and sediments, with their associated
contaminants and nutrients that are adsorbed, can stress corals and
negatively impact reef health. To prevent and manage sediment loss it is
therefore important to understand local soil erosion and sediment transport
processes. The main objective of this study was to determine the influence of
landscape characteristics on sediment loss. We analyzed available
precipitation and sediment data collected in Puerto Rico during the past
three decades, as well as information on land use, soil properties, and
topography. Our partial least squares analysis was not very successful in
identifying major factors associated with sediment loss due to the complexity
of the study's watersheds; however, it was found that topography and rainfall
factors do not play a leading role. Sediment loss from the ridge watersheds
in Puerto Rico was mainly caused by interactions of development, heavy
rainfall events (especially hurricanes), and steep mountainous slopes
associated with the ridges. These results improve our understanding of
sediment loss resulting from changes in land use/cover within a Puerto Rico
watershed, and allow stakeholders to make more informed decisions about land
use planning. |
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ISSN: | 2199-3971 2199-398X |