Save the Humacao Nature Reserve

Prepared for

Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources

Bureau of Coasts, Reserves and Refuges

Presented by Julius Robinson

Agenda

• Introductions

• Classification and Jurisdiction of Area of Conern

• Awareness of problems impacting the reserve

• Finding solutions to mitigate impact

• Next steps and action points

Introductions

• Julius Robinson

• Career:• Educator and Business Owner

• Appointed by Congress to the Citizens Advisory Counsel of the Upper Delaware Wild & Scenic River to develop a management plan

• Current:• Resident of Villa Palmira Community in Punta Santiago

• Concerned citizen living adjacent to Humacao Nature Reserve

• Conservationist

Classification and Jurisdiction• DEC. 1980 – Colonel James W.

Adams• 33 CFR 323.2 – “Waters and of the

United States” and a “phase II wetlands to a primary tributary to the Caribean Sea”(Cano Frontera).

• JUL 14, 1981 - Civ. No. 2328, US District Court, EPA Army Corps as defendants• “The aforementioned area has

been determined by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to the navigable waters of the United States and a wetland...”

Problems Impacting the Humacao Nature Reserve

1. Breaches in Levee SystemDeterioration of the

levee systemBreaches in the levee

system

1. Breaches in Levee System

1. Breaches in Levee System

2. Degradation of Wildlife Habitat

Water level and quality can no longer support wildlife on Cano Frontera

2. Degradation of Wildlife Habitat

This wildlife is lost in this portion of the Humacao Nature Reserve

2. Degradation of Wildlife Habitat

Aquatic Wildlife can’t survive in declining oxygen levels

3. Pollution – Heavy Metal Accumulation

UPR Humacao Research

1. Heavy Metal Bioaccumulation in Puerto Rican Blue Crabs- Mandry Channel and Santiago River

3. Pollution - Fecal Coliform

EPA Documentation

Fecal Coliform- Coastal and River-born

3. Pollution – Solid WasteThreatened Federal Endangered Species:1. Leatherback sea turtles nesting ground2. Brown Pelicans

Four species of endangered sea turtles in the area:Hawksbill, Leatherback ,Green and Loggerhead

4. Environmental Impact to Recreation

This recreational navigation is lost

on Cano Frontera

4. Environmental Impact to Recreation

Balneario Punta Santiago

Parque Acuatico Infantil Humacao

4. Environmental Impact to Recreation

Fishing and Crabbing in a contaminated waterway

Solutions to Mitigate Environmental Impact

1. Repair and Maintenance of Levees

Bridge repair is necessary

1. Repair and Maintenance of Levees

Repair top roadway and side walls of levee

Remove and maintain overgrowth

2. Grow Awareness of Pollution

• Assign ownership to industries at the headwaters of Cano Frontera for pollutants entering the reserve• River access monitoring stations

• Investigate and prevent direct dumping of Fecal Coliform into the rivers by residents of Humacao

• Improve the capacity of the sewage treatment plant in Humacao

• Educational incubator for Doctoral Students to monitor the inflow of pollutants and oxygen levels from industrial sites

3. Federal Support

• Department of Transportation Block Grant of $150m to Puerto Rico for Road and Bridge Repair – to fix Bridge (and Levee)

• EPA Environmental Grants

• Conservation Land Trust Grants

• US Fish and Wildlife Service to help protect endangered species

3. Local Support• Adopt a Reserve Program

• User fees, concession permits and licensing agreements

• Involve Local Law Enforcement – litter and riverbank dumping prevention

• Building Code Enforcement for adequate septic disposal on waterfront properties

• Educate communities and schools – Villa Palmira, Verde Mar, Punta Santiago

• Viable recycling program

4. Grow Tourism• Create a Vacation Destination surrounding the Humacao Nature Reserve

• Parque Acuatico Infantil Humacao in Balneario Punta Santiago

• Recently Re-Opened

• Cayo Santiago (Monkey Island)

• Punta Santiago Fishing Pier

• Reef Restoration

• Roadway Improvements for Bicycles

Next Steps and Action Points

Thank you!