Integrated Watershed

Management Plan Rio Candelaria

Denika Piggott

Amber Brant

Wabel Irshaidat

Reesha Patel

Objective of Integrated Watershed Plan

Ø  To investigate the Rio Candelaria watershed and create a plan that assesses resource allocation and recommends potential interventions

The Rio Candelaria Watershed l  The river discharges into the Terminos Lagoon in the state of

Campeche, Mexico, located at the southern end of the Gulf of Mexico

l  approximate land area of 5,670 km2 (56,700 ha) covering three municipalities (Carmen, Escarcega and Candelaria)

l  Geographic location: 670000-790000m E and 1950000- 206000m N UTM 5

0 20,000 40,000 60,000 Meters

State ofTabasco

GUATEMALA

Candelaria

Escarcega

State ofCampeche

Carmen

Gulf of Mexico

Champoton

Integrated Ecosystems Management (IEM): -follows an experimental and adaptive approach to resource management

Procedure for Integrated Watershed Plan

1)  The Rio Candelaria watershed was characterized and delineated

2)  Watershed morphological features were imported into an ArcGIS map database

3)  Scale-dependent land units (systems, facets and ecozones) were identified

4)  Meteorological information was gathered to characterize the watershed’s climate characteristics

5)  Climate information was assessed to determine length-of-growing-period (LGP) for the area and to estimate surface runoff

6)  Elevation points were retrieved and a digital elevation model (DEM) was created

7)  Land capability was assessed and compared with current land use for each ecozone to identify land degradation “hotspots” in the watershed area

8)  Land suitability was assessed for the ecozones to make recommendations for land use type based on LGP, annual rainfall, mean temperature during the LGP and soil depth

Ø 364 elevation points taken from INEGI software, Google Earth (2010)

Ø Elevation points were imported into the ArcGIS software

Ø DEM was created by performing geostatistical analysis using a semivariogram Kriging method and interpolating elevation points into a predictive model

5

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 Meters

Candelaria WatershedStream Orders & Sub-watersheds

LegendStream Order 1

Stream Order 2

Stream Order 3

Sub-watersheds

Sub-watershed 1

Sub-watershed 2

Sub-watershed 3

Ø The Yucatan peninsula is a highly karstic region with high infiltration and features such as swallets and cenotes (sinkholes)

Stream Morphology

Horton’s Laws of Drainage Composition

R2  =  0.9496

0

5000

1000015000

20000

25000

3000035000

40000

45000

0 1 2 3 4

Stream  Order

Stream

 Len

gths  (km)

Stream  order

Fig. 3 Law of average basin areas

Fig. 4 Law of stream lengths

R2  =  0.9977

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 1 2 3 4Stream  order

Num

ber  o

f  segments

Physical Features of the Rio Candelaria Watershed

5

Candelaria WatershedGeology

LegendCaliche

Recent Limestone

Quaternary Limestone

Guatemala 0 10,000 20,000 30,000 Meters

Ø The Candelaria watershed is one of the few rivers flowing through the highly karstic region of the Yucatan Peninsula

Ø Recent and quaternary limestone dominate the Candelaria watershed region with a few scattered Caliche outcrops

Ø There are a few Caliche horizons indicating the intensive chemical weathering that occurs during the rainy season followed by rapid evaporation in the dry season

5

Candelaria WatershedSoil Types

LegendGleysol

Gleysol, Gleysol,

Gleysol, Vertisol,

Rendzina, Vertisol, Litosol

Solonchak, Gleysol, Rendzina

Vertisol, Rendzina,

Vertisol, Rendzina, Litosol

Guatemala 0 10,000 20,000 30,000 Meters

Ø Three main soil types: rendzina, gleysols and vertisols

Ø Rendzina is thin clayey soils rich in organics (humus) and calcium carbonate, reflecting the limestone parent material

Ø The vertisols and gleysols are also very clayey soils, however they are much deeper than rendzina

5

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 Meters

Candelaria WatershedSoil Moisture

Legend8 months

9 months

Guatemala

Ø The majority of precipitation falls between June and October due to the beginning of the summer trade winds and tropical cyclones

5

0 15,000 30,000 45,000 Meters

Candelaria WatershedClimatic Regions

LegendWarm Humid

Warm Subhumid

Waterbody

Guatemala

Ø The Rio Candelaria basin contains a warm sub-humid climatic regime called tropical monsoon

Ø Characterized by distinctive wet and dry seasons

Land Units

Ecozones Ø  Ecological zones (“ecozones”) are land facets that have a unique

combination of:

-climate (temperature and moisture availability) -rock cover (geology) -soil type -land cover

Ø  Ecozones are the smallest unit on which land management can be based

Identification of Ecozones

5

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 Meters

Candelaria WatershedEcological Zones & Land Systems

LegendEcoZones

Guatemala

NorthLand System

CentralLand System

NortheastLand System

SoutheastLand System

NorthwestLand System

Climate Assessment

PIXOYAL

CAMPECHE

MONCLOVA

SABANCUY

PUSTUNICH

CHAMPOTON

SAN ISIDRO

ESCARCEGA 2ESCARCEGA 1

LA ESPERANZACANDELARIA 2CANDELARIA 1

MIGUEL HIDALGO

ISLA DE AGUADA

CIUDAD DEL CARMEN 2CIUDAD DEL CARMEN 1

0 15,000 30,000 45,000 Meters

LegendMeteorological Stations

Candelaria Watershed

Candelaria WatershedMeteorological Stations

5Gulf of Mexico

GUATEMALA

Ø 16 meteorological stations identified within the watershed and surrounding area

Ø The following information was provided from the National Weather Service Unit (Mexico City) for each station from 1961-1990:

•  Maximum, minimum and average total monthly precipitation

•  Average monthly temperature

•  Total monthly evaporation

Evapotranspiration Estimates Ø  ETo estimates were made using CropWat Version 4.3 (FAO

software)

Ø  Air humidity %, wind speed (km/day) at 2m from sea level, and daily sunshine hours were retrieved from two stations located in Campeche, Campeche and Flores, Guatemala, given by ClimWat Version 2.0 (FAO software)

Ø  These variables were averaged and used, along with average monthly temperature and evaporation at each weather station, in estimates for evapotranspiration (ETo) for all 16 meteorological stations used, using the automated Penman-Monteith equation:

Length-of-growing-period (LGP)

Ø  LGP describes the time period for which climatic conditions provide optimal plant growth in an area

Ø  The growing period is determined for a given weather station based on the following:

Ø  LGP begins when precipitation > ½ ETo

Ø  LGP ends ~5 days after rainy period ends, when Ø  precipitation < ½ ETo

Ø  Climographs provide comprehensive visual demonstrations of LGP and the water balance between precipitation and evapotranspiration

Average LGP for all 16 meteorological stations = 250 days (using CropWat’s Penman-Monteith equation)

Climograph of Candelaria River Watershed

Climographs of Rio Candelaria Watershed

l  Two examples of climograph data created using information from meteorological stations:

Station I.D. Latitude Longitude Location

4028

2123049 m N 766408 m E PUSTUNICH

4020 1976726 m N

726051 m E MIGUEL HIDALGO

Fig. 1 Climograph for Station #4028, LGP = 158 days

Fig. 2 Climograph for Station #4020, LGP = 281 days

Length of Growing Period (LGP) Assessment

5

Candelaria WatershedLength of Growing Period

(LGP)

Legend235 - 253 days

254 - 266 days

267 - 280 days

281 - 293 days

Guatemala0 10,000 20,000 30,000 Meters

Ø  Length-of-growing-period (LGP) was assessed for the entire watershed area using climatic interpolation of LGP values given by all 16 meteorological stations within and around the watershed

Ø  Geostatistical analysis was done using semivariogram Kriging method on the ArcGIS software to create a predictive model for LGP values in the watershed

Maximum Runoff in the Watershed Ø  Used to determine anticipated volumes of

flow through the stream network system. This helps to prepare for such events as floods and droughts.

Calculating Surface Runoff: IDF curves

Ø  Concentration Time: Ø  Tc=0.02 x (L1.15/H0.385) Ø  Rainfall Intensity Ø  Runoff Coefficient Ø  Maximum Runoff: Ø  Qmax = 0.028CiA Ø  Average Runoff:

Vm= A.C.Pm

Land Utilization in Campeche Ø  Land utilization types (LUTs):

Ø  rice Ø  vegetables Ø  livestock Ø  backyard poultry Ø  livestock Ø  fisheries Ø  backyard agro-forestry Ø  plantation agro-forestry Ø  beans Ø  corn Ø  sugar cane Ø  sorghum

Criteria used to determine the LUTs:

§ the products market orientation

§ capital intensity

§ labour intensity

§ power source

§ level of mechanization

§ size of the farm enterprise

§ land tenure

§ infrastructure requirements

§ inputs

§ current management practices

Current Land Use in Watershed

5

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 Meters

Candelaria WatershedCurrent Land Use

LegendCultivated Grassland

Forested Area

Seasonal Agriculture

Urban Areas

Ø Forest clearing has also occurred for the creation of cattle grazing land

Ø Land-use changes are likely causing increased runoff and storm flow into the Rio Candelaria stream network

Capability Classification

Class identified for each ecozone based on:

1)  slope 2)  flood risk 3)  drainage 4)  surface texture 5)  surface coarse

fragments 6)  surface stoniness 7)  rockiness 8)  soil depth

Maximum limitation considered for capability class in each ecozone (the limitation with the highest class value)

Land Capability

50 10,000 20,000 30,000 Meters

Candelaria WatershedLand Capability

LegendCultivation (Limited)

Cultivation (Moderate)

Cultivation (Rice only)

Forestry

Grazing (Moderate)

Wildlife

Guatemala

Ø The Rio Candelaria Watershed is generally suboptimal for agricultural land use because of its karstic characteristics and high flood risk, which is a key limitation for many crops

5

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 Meters

Candelaria WatershedHOTSPOTS

LegendHotspot

Potential Hotspot

Sustainable

Guatemala

“Hotspots” are:

Ø areas where current land use exceeds its capability

Ø units for management and land use intervention

Land Suitability Classification

Class identified for each ecozone based on:

1)  Length-of-growing-

period (LGP) 2)  annual rainfall 3)  mean temperature

during the LGP 4)  soil depth Maximum limitation

considered for suitability class in each ecozone (highest class value)

Land Suitability for Livestock Grazing

5

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 Meters

Candelaria WatershedLand Suitability

LIVESTOCK GRAZING

LegendSuitable (S1)

Not Suitable (N2)

Guatemala

Ø Livestock grazing suitability determined for each ecozone based on land suitability for African star grass growth

Land Suitability for Agricultural Crops

Ø  Crops assessed: Ø  Rice Ø  Banana Ø  Sorghum Ø  Maize Ø  Coconut Ø  Dry beans Ø  Squash Ø  Sugarcane

• The upper portions of the watershed basin are limited to small-scale traditional sustenance farming, with maize being the most important crop

5

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 Meters

Candelaria WatershedLand Suitability

RICE

LegendModerately Suitable (S2)

Marginally Suitable (S3)

Not Suitable (N2)

Guatemala

50 10,000 20,000 30,000 Meters

Candelaria WatershedLand Suitability

SORGHUM

LegendSuitable (S1)

Moderately Suitable (S2)

Not Suitable (N2)

Guatemala

50 10,000 20,000 30,000 Meters

Candelaria WatershedLand Suitability

MAIZE

LegendModerately Suitable (S2)

Marginally Suitable (S3)

Not Suitable (N2)

Guatemala

50 10,000 20,000 30,000 Meters

Candelaria WatershedLand Suitability

DRY BEANS

LegendMarginally Suitable (S3)

Not Suitable (N2)

Guatemala

5

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 Meters

Candelaria WatershedLand Suitability

OPTIMAL AGRICULTURALCROP

LegendRice

Rice or Sorghum

Sorghum

Not Suitable

Guatemala

Landsat Satellite Photographs of Land Use Change

Colour Composite April, 1990

Colour Composite Jan, 2000

Colour Composite Jan 2005

Land Use Change: 15 Years

1990 2000 2005

1990 2000 2005

Ø Reflected light from vegetation reflects higher infrared radiation than visible light radiation, allowing satellite imagery to estimate land cover

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)

Conclusions and Recommendations Ø  The Nature Conservancy, in its 2003 proposal to the

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) stated that, for the state of Campeche:

“Urbanization, poor wastewater management, industrialization, alteration of the hydrologic regime, agricultural and cattle production, petroleum extraction and fishing are likely to be the most important issues, all related to economic drivers in the protected area and the basins surrounding it.”

Decision-making and Conflict Resolution Ø  Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)

Ø  Resolution for competing land use demands Ø  Stakeholder participation integral part of conflict resolution

and decision making Ø  Qualitative and quantitative factors are considered in

decision-making process Ø  Alternatives for land use operation are meaningfully

weighed according to their influences on a given tract of land

Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) 1.  Identifying

Alternatives (Brainstorming)

2. Determine Pros and Cons of Alternatives

3. Generate and

Structure Objectives

4. Generate Expert

Choice Model 5. Evaluate Expert

Choice Model

Recommendations for Rio Candelaria Watershed

Ø  Using capability and suitability of the land located inside the watershed, it is recommended that livestock grazing, rice cultivation and sorghum cultivation take primary roles in land utilization

Ø  It is recommended that land utilization in the watershed operate for the purpose of sustenance