[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]





                 EXHIBIT 10
                                                              -PIL NAR -7o -7-o 3LI-i-o i wvq5
      Nonpoint-Source Po ution at -the Fajardo River
                                  Basin, Puerto Rico
                                       Fe'lix A. Grana-Raffucci                     LE 0
                                        Mayra T. Garcia-Pe'rez           JI,
                                                  1993














                                                                                       Ceiba
                                               Fajardo City                            State
                                                                                       Forest



      CIO
       C-<                                      3
                                                      .0*4      1; 6

                                             8                                            Vieques



                                                                                         Passage




                                         MunicipaLity of Fajardo







        TD
        2311
         .PS
         G73                               Final Report Task 7.2
         1993                       Coastal Zone Management Program
                                         Scientific Research Area
                                     Department of Natural Resources
                                           San Juan, Puerto Rico























                           A report of Puerto Rico Department of Natural
                           Resources to the National Oceanic and
                           Atmospheric Administration pursuant to NOAA
                           Award No. - -
                                      NA270ZO347-01













                               D R

                                 S.C





                           Un informe del Departamento de Recursos
                           Naturales de Puerto Rico a la Administracio'n
                           Ocea'nica yAtmosf6rica Nacional conducente
                           al Fondo NOAA No. NA270Z0347-01
                                                            AV:\







                  Nonpoint-Source Pollution at the
                   Fajardo River Basin, Puerto Rico

                                       Fe'lix A. Grana-Raffucci
                                       Mayra T. Gard'a-Pe'rez
                                                 1993































                                          Final Report Task 7.2
                                   Coastal Zone Management Program
                                         Scientific Research Area
                                    Department of Natural Resources
                                          San Juan, Puerto Rico

















                                             EXECUTIVE SUMMARY









                        During the last thirty years, at least, surface and ground water resources
                 in Puerto Rico have been impacted by large quantities of various kinds of
                 pollutants of both the point-source and nonpoint-source varieties. Nonpoint
                 source pollutants are diffuse, both in terms of origins and in the ways they
                 reach water bodies. These pollutants originates mostly from different human
                 activities: landfills, crop and animal farms, urban and rural communities'
                 runoff and waste leakage, soil movement and extraction, construction
                 projects, deforestation, marinas, etc. The Fajardo River basin, though
                 relatively small, is representative of the development of hydrological basins
                 in Puerto Rico and the impact this development brought. Geology and soil
                 type, land use, water management practices, biodiversity, and water quality
                 history for the basin were researched and are discussed. Field interviews to
                 parties involved in one way or another in nonpoint source pollution in the
                 basin were done. Based on the information presented, a series of
                 recommendations leading to control nonpoint source pollution at the basin is
                 offered.








                                                                                  2


                                                                ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS



                                                            We wish to thank the
                                                      following persons whose help
                                                      resulted indispensable for the
                                                      succesful completion of this
                                                      project: Ms. Ileana P6rez and the
                                                      staff from DNR Laboratory; Mr.
                                                      Carlos Padfn (CZMP), Mr. Paulino
                                                      Laguna (DNR-Water Resources),
                                                      Mr. Eric Morales (EQB-Water
                                                      Quality), Ms. Nitza Massini (DNR-
                                                      Scientific Inventory), Mr. Israel
                                                      Diaz, Mr. James Timber, Mr.
                                                      Miguel Miranda, Mr. Jos6 Col6n,
                                                      (DNR-Marine Resources) and the
                                                      staff of Consultations        and
                                                      Endorsements (DNR).







                                                                                                                                                  3










                                                                     LIST OF CONTENTS









                         Executive summary               ...............................................................................................1

                         Acknowledgements                ...............................................................................................2

                         List of contents        .......................         ......
                                                                                       ...........................................................3


                         List of figures        ...........................................................................................................6

                         List of tables      ............................................................................................................. 10


                         I. Introduction          ........................................................................................................ 11


                         II. Overview of existing government efforts in Puerto Rico to control
                               nonpoint source pollution                ............................................................................. 14

                                             1. Federal level         ................................................................................ 14


                                             2. Commonwealth level                 ............................................................... 20

                         111. The Fajardo River basin                ................................................................................ 26

                                             Land use        ........................................................................................... 29

                                             Geology, hydrology, geogrphy and soils                          .................................. 30

                                             Water management at the river basin                        ...................................... 31

                                             Natural biota and biodiversity                  .................................................... 36







                                                                                                                                                  4


                         IV. Water quality history of the Fajardo River                          ............................................... 46

                                             Sampling stations            ........................................................................... 46

                                             Water discharge           .............................................................................. 51
                                             Tempeiature         .... ..................*...................................... .................... 51

                                             Conductance, salinity, dissolved solids                     ..................................... 56

                                             Fecal bacteria        .................................................................................... 56

                                             Turbidity, color, suspended material                     ......................................... 61

                                             Oxygen requirements               .................................................................... 67

                                             Hardness and alkalinity               ................................................................ 73

                                             Substances reactive to Methylene Blue                       ..................................... 88

                                             Chlorine and fluoride              ................................................................... 88

                                             Nitrogen and phosphorus                  ............................................................ 88

                                             Phenolic substances            ........... ;*****'* .......                                  106

                                             The carbon system and pH                  ........................................................... 106

                                             Metals, silica and toxic substances                  .............................................. 114


                                             Pesticides       .......................................................................................... 114

                                             Field sampling at the Fajardo River                     .......................................... 120

                                             Summarized review of historical water data                           ........................... 149


                         V. Field interviews             ............................................................................................... 150


                                             Agricultural activities            ................................................................... 150

                                             Marinas       ............................................................................................. 151

                                             Hydromodifications              ....................................................................... 152

                                             Wetlands       ............................. ............................................................ 152







                                                                                                                                                  5


                                              Waste disposal systems               ................................................................. 153

                                              Construction and soil extraction activities                      ............................... 153


                          VI. Conclusion and recommendations                          ............................................................ 154


                          VH. References           ....................................................................................................... 156


                          Appendix 1: Field interview questionnaires                          ................................................... 160

                          Appendix 2: Field photographs                    .......................................................................... 171







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                                                                             LIST OF FIGURES









                            Figure 1 - The Fajardo River basin                        .................................................................. 27

                            Figure 2: DNR-approved permits and endorsements; municipalities of
                                             Fajardo and Ceiba (1989-1993)                     ......................................................... 28

                            Figure 3:        EQB's schematic description of nonpoint-source pollution at the
                                             Fajardo River           ..................................................................................... 32

                            Figure 4:        Phytoplankton standing crop from the Fajardo River                                        ............. 42

                            Figure 5:        Phytoplankton biodiversity at the Fajardo River                                  ...................... 44

                            Figure 6:        Benthic invertebrate biodiversity at the Fajardo River                                     ............ 45

                            Figure 7:        Water quality monitoring st4ions and nonpoint sources, as
                                              identified by EQB, along the Fajardo River                              ................................ 47

                            Figure 8:        Water quality monitoring station and nonpoint sources, as
                                              identified by EQB, along the Fajardo River                              ................................ 49

                            Figure 9:        Instantaneous water discharge                      ....................................................... 52

                            Figure 10: Annual water discharge                           ................................................................. 53

                            Figure 11:        Temperature            ..................................................................................... 54

                            Figure 12:        Conductance            ..................................................................................... 57

                            Figure 13:        Salinity      ............................................................................................... 58

                            Figure 14:        Dissolved solids             ............................................................................... 59








                            Figure 15: Sum of dissolved solids                         ................................................................. 60

                            Figure 16: Fecal coliforms                  ................................................................................. 62

                            Figure 17:         Fecal streptococci           ............................................................................. 64

                            Figure 18:         Turbidity       ............................................................................................ 65

                            Figure 19:         Suspended solids             ............................................................................. 68

                            Figure 20:         Residue of suspended solids                    ......................................................... 69

                            Figure 21:         Color     ................................................................................................... 71

                            Figure 22:         Suspended oils and greases                    ........................................................... 72
                            Figure 23:         Dissolved oxygen'             ............................................................................. 74

                            Figure 24:         Percent of oxygen saturation                    ......................................................... 76

                            Figure 25:         Biochemical oxygen demand                        ........................................................ 78

                            Figure 26:         Chemical oxygen demand                      ............................................................. 79

                            Figure 27:         Hardness        ............................................................................................ 80

                            Figure 28:         Noncarbonate hardness                   ................................................................. 81

                            Figure 29:         Alkalinity        .......................................................................................... 82

                            Figure 30:         Dissolved sodium               ........................................................................... 83

                            Figure 31:         Dissolved calcium              ........................................................................... 84

                            Figure 32:         Dissolved potassium                 ...................................................................... 85

                            Figure 33:         Dissolved magnessium                    .................................................................. 86

                            Figure 34:         Dissolved sulfate            ............................................................................. 87

                            Figure 35:         Substances reactive to Methylene Blue                            ...................................... 89

                            Figure 36:         Dissolved chloride              .......................................................................... 90

                            Figure 37:         Dissolved fluoride              ........................................................................... 91







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                          Figure 38: Nitrates           .............................................................................................. 93

                          Figure 39: Nitrites           .....................................b ......................................................... 95

                          Figure 40: Sum of nitrates and nitrites                     .......................................................... 96

                          Figure 42: Ammonia                ......................................................................................... 98

                          Figure 43:       Total organic nitrogen             .................................................................... 99

                          Figure 44:       Total nitrogen         .................................................................................. 101

                          Figure 45:       Sum of total nitrogen, ammonia and organic nitrogen                                 ......... 102

                          Figure 46:       Phosphorus         ....................................................................................... 103

                          Figure 47:       Phosphates        ........................................................................................ 105

                          Figure 48-       Phenolic substances            ........................................................................ 107

                          Figure 49:       Bicarbonates        ...................................................................................... 108
                          Figure 50:       Carbonat6s        ......................................................................................... 109

                          Figure 51:       Carbon dioxide          ................................................................................. 110

                          Figure 52:       Organic carbon          ................................................................................. 111

                          Figure 53:       Hydrogen potential (pH)                ................................................................ 112

                          Figure 54:       Silicates     .............................................................................................. 121

                          Figure 55:       Total iron      .......................................................................................... 122

                          Figure 56:       Dissolved iron          .................................................................................. 124

                          Figure 57:       Total copper        ...................................................................................... 125

                          Figure 58:       Total arsenic        ..................................................................................... 127

                          Figure 59:       Total barium         ...........................                                             128

                          Figure 60:       Total boron        ....................................................................................... 129

                          Figure 61:       Total cadmium            ................................................................................ 131








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                          Figure 62: Total chromium                  .............................................................................. 133

                          Figure 63: Total lead            ........................................................................................... 134

                          Figure 64: Total manganese            ............................................................................. 136

                          Figure 65: Total cyanide         .................................................................................... 138

                          Figure 66:      Total cobalt      ................................ .......................................................... 139

                          Figure 67:      Total mercury          ................................................................................... 140

                          Figure 68:      Total nickel        ....................................................................................... 141

                          Figure 69:      Total selenium           ................................................................................. 142

                          Figure 70:      Total zinc       ........................................................................................... 143

                          Figure 71: Sampling stations established for this project (indicated by stars)
                          ............................................................................................................................. 145

                          Figure 72: Upstream station established for this project (as indicated by a star)
                          ................................................................................................................................ 146







                                                                     6
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                                                                                                                                               10










                                                                       LIST OF TABLES









                         Table 1: Comparison of land zoning categories for 1971 and 1979 at the
                                       Fajardo River basin            ............................................................................. 30

                         Table 2: EQB's use classification of the Fajardo River                            ................................ 33

                         Table 3: EQB's use description of the estuary segment of the Fajardo River
                         .............................................................................................................................. 33

                         Table 4: NPDES permit limits imposed by EQB on ASA's wastewater plant
                                       filter backwash discharges unto the Fajardo R                        . ............................ 34

                         Table 5:      Phytoplankton identified from, samples taken at station USGS 710,
                                       Fajardo River         ....................................................................................... 37

                         Table 6: Benthic invertebrates identified from samples taken from station
                                       USGS 710, Fajardo River                ................................................................... 39

                         Table 7: Water quality monitoring stations located at the Fajardo River basin
                         ................................................................................................................................. 46


                         Table 8: Macro- and micronutrients essential for aquatic biota                                   ............... 92

                         Table 9: Summarized analysis of historical water quality data gathered at
                                      monitoring stations USGS 710, USGS 720, USGS 725, and EQB 78B
                                      (1958-1992)       .............................................................................................. 114

                         Table 10: Water quality field stations established by this project at the Fajardo
                                          River system         ...................................................................................... 147

                         Table 11: Water quality data from this project's field samples                                  ................. 147
 
















                                              I. INTRODUCTION









                        Point-source pollution is clearly identified with a well-defined location
                 or place. Gross pollution of this kind have, in large part, been brought under
                 control. Government, by requiring permits and impact evaluations, has
                 created mechanisms whereby technology to treat these polluters can be
                 mandated, and the effect of such technology can be monitored. This success is
                 at best a partial one; water pollution remains a serious problems. Sediment,
                 nutrients, pathogenic organisms, and, toxins still find their way into our
                 waters, where thy degrade the ecosystem, pose health hazards, and impair the
                 full use of aquatic resources.
                        Nonpoint-source pollution or NPSP (unlike pollution from point
                 sources) is diffuse, both in terms of its origin and in the manner in which it
                 enters ground and surface waters. It results from a variety of human
                 activities that take place over a wide geographic area. Pollutants from
                 nonpoint sources usually find their way into water bodies in sudden surges
                 associated with rainfall, in addition to constant slow percolation from other
                 sources. The most significant sources of NPSP are:
                        1.     Ag1icultural activities: Including sediments from eroded
                               croplands and overgrazed pastures, fertilizers, animal wastes,
                               pesticides, etc.
                        2.     Runoff: From roads, sewers, and urban areas. Industrial
                               stormwater discharges and runoff from sewers serving
                               populations of 400,000 or more are considered point sources.
                        3.     Hydromodification: Reservoir or dam construction, stream
                               channelization, flood prevention projects, etc.







                                                                                    12


                        4.    Abandoned mines and other resource-extraction ol2erations:
                              Active mines are considered point sources.
                        5.    Forestry operations
                        6.    Construction: Produces toxic materials and huge sediment loads.
                              Construction activities disturbing five acres or more are
                              considered point sources.
                        7.    Waste disl2osal on land: Largely leakage form septic tanks and
                              the spreading of sewage sludge.
                        8.    Marinas: Responsible for important spills of oils, greases, paints,
                              metals, wastewaters, and others.
                        Often, the full effect of NPSP cannot be measured in terms of water
                 contamination alone: loss of topsoil due to erosion has a negative impact on
                 agricultural productivity and damages structures, roads and ditches.
                 Sediments can destroy breeding grounds for fish and other wildlife. Carried
                 all the way to the sea, sediments kill entire marine communities, such as
                 coral reefs and seagrass prairies. Increased levels of sediment mean increased
                 costs for dredging harbors and treating wastewaters.
                        Unfortunately, there is no practical way to write a permit for every
                 agricultural field because NPSP is not affected by discharge controls of
                 individual pipes or outfalls. Further, NPSP occurs as a direct result of land
                 use planning and zoning. Control strategies for NPSP proceed from two basic
                 principles involving land use practices:
                        1.    Measures can b*e taken to lhcrease the ability of land to retain
                              water, thereby reducing runoff to streams, lakes, and the sea.
                        2.    The kinds and amounts of pollutants swept away in runoff can
                              be minimized.
                        Puerto Rico has 100 hydrological basins, all showing signs of NPSP. In
                 fact, the Environmental Quality Board of Puerto Rico (EQB) considers that
                 NPSP currently presents "a serious threat to the quality of surface and
                 groundwaters, risking human health and the environment". As a result of
                 these and other human activities, EQB recently determined that impairment
                 of designated uses in rivers amounts to 73% of total area for aquatic life, 71%
                 for swimming, 69% for drinking water, and 63% for secondary contact
                 recreation. At estuaries, impairment for designated uses were determined as
                 64% of total area for aquatic life, 66% for swimming, and 58% for secondary
                 contact recreation. The main sources to which these results were related







                                                                             13


                included for rivers: land disposal, agriculture, urban runoff, and natural
                sources (intermittence of streams, soil types, rains, etc.); and for estuaries:
                urban runoff, storm sewer discharges, and land disposal. This document
                reports on the Fajardo River Basin, a small basin chosen because it was
                considered representative, at a small scale, of problems with NPSP
                throughout Puerto Rico.








                                                                                 14









                 11. OVERVIEW OF E)CISTING GOVERNMENT EFFORTS IN PUERTO RICO
                              TO CONTROL NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION











                 1. Federal level


                       Federal agencies expect that state nonpoint source programs build on
                 and complement, rather than duplicate and conflict with, other Federal
                 statutory requirements and state imRIemented programs. State nonpoint
                 source agencies are encouraged to work with these programs in
                 implementing their programs.


                 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)


                 1. Clean Water Act Section 319 - Nonpoint Source Program
                       A number of local, state and Federal programs have been implemented
                 over time to address nonpoint source pollution. However, the first national
                 program to authorize Federal funding for the control of nonpoint sources
                 began in 1987 when Congress passed the Water Quality Act of 1987, enacting
                 section 319 of the Clean Water Act., which established a national program to
                 control nonpoint sources of water pollution. Section 319 requires that, in
                 order to be eligible for federal funding, states develop an assessment report
                 detailing the extent of nonpoint pollution, and a management program
                 specifying nonpoint source. controls. Section 319 authorizes EPA to issue
                 grants to states to assist them in implementing their nonpoint source
                 management programs or portions of management programs that have been
                 approved by EPA.







                                                                                   15



                 2. Clean Water Act Section 320 - National Estuary Program
                       EPA also administers the National Estuary Program under section 320
                 of the Clean Water Act. This program focuses on point and nonpoint
                 pollution in geographically targeted, high-priority estuarine waters. Under
                 this program, EPA assists state, regional and local governments in developing
                 estuary-specific comprehensive conservation and management plans that
                 recommend corrective actiocs to restore and maintain estuarine water quality
                 and to protect fish populations and other designated uses of these targeted
                 waters. In Puerto Rico, one estuarine system (San Juan Bay) has been
                 designated as part of the National Estuary Program.


                 3. Near Coastal Waters Program
                       The Near Coastal Waters (NCW) Program serves as a primary vehicle
                 for implementing environmental protection in coastal areas under a variety
                 of programs and authorities. It is also the framework for coastal regions for
                 carrying-out Agency directives, strategic themes, and other initiatives not
                 specifically related to distinct program issues. Examples of these cross-cutting
                 themes include geographic targeting for management attention; pollution
                 prevention; and setting priorities based on the expected efficacy of preventive
                 measures as well as the magnitude of ecological or human health risks.


                 4. Ground-Water Protection -Programs -
                        EPA has a number of programs, in addition to section 319, to control
                 nonpoint source pollution of ground-water. Since at least 1984, ground-water
                 protection programs have provided technical and financial assistance to states
                 for the development of state ground-water strategies and, more recently,
                 Groundwater Protection Programs. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA
                 may designate sole source aquifers. These are aquifers that are the sole or
                 principal of drinking water source for an area. At EPA's discretion, no
                 commitment for federal funds can be made for projects that will contaminate
                 these aquifers. In addition, the 1986 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water
                 Act established a Wellhead Protection program. This program was created to
                 protect ground waters that supply wells and wellfields that contribute to
                 public drinking water supply systems. USDA and EPA are also cooperating
                 under a program to assess private drinking water wells on farmsteads.









                5. Pesticides Program
                       EPA's pesticides program under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
                Rodenticide Act addresses some forms of nonpoint pollution. Among other
                things, this statute authorizes EPA to control pesticides that may threaten
                ground water and surface waters. Pesticide State Management Plans will be
                developed by state agriculture, water/ environment, and health agencies and
                will prescribe pesticide application measures to protect ground water that is
                vulnerable to pesticide contamination. Required components of these Plans
                will include: state philosophy and goals, state roles and responsibilities, legal
                authority, resources, assessment and planning, monitoring, prevention,
                response, enforcement, public awareness and participation,information
                dissemination, and records and reportifig.


                6. Wetlands Protection Program
                       EPA's wetlands program also has undertaken a number of projects to
                increase awareness of the relationship between the protection and restoration
                of wetlands and nonpoint source control. In 1990, the agency developed
                guidance to encourage coordination of nonpoint sources and wetlands
                programs, both within EPA and the states, to attain water quality goals shared
                by the two programs. In addition, EPA has released technical guidance on
                how to ensure effective application of water quality standards to wetlands.
                       The Wetlands Division is working with several agencies to develop
                methods and transfer information on protecting and restoring wetlands in
                ways which can be expected to provide nonpoint source abatement benefits.
                EPA is providing support for the development of criteria to address the many
                types of nonpoint source pollutants including nutrients, clean sediment, and
                organic contaminants (e.g., @esticides) *The Wetlands Division is assisting in
                the development of wildlife criteria applicable to all waterbody types and
                biological criteria for wetlands.


                National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)


                Coastal Zone Management Program
                       The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 established a program for
                states and territories to voluntarily develop comprehensive programs to
                protect and manage coastal resources. In order to receive Federal approval







                                                                                     17



                 and implementation funding, states and territories must demonstrate that
                 they have progrards, incldding enfo!rceable policies that are sufficiently
                 comprehensive and specific to regulate land uses, water uses, and coastal
                 development; and to resolve conflicts among competing uses. In addition,
                 they must have the authority to implement the enforceable policies. The
                 programs operates within a coastal zone bound any which includes coastal
                 waters and those which have a direct one significant impact on coastal waters.
                        This program must protect and manage important coastal resources,
                 including: wetlands, estuaries, beaches, dunes, barrier islands, coral reefs, and
                 fish and wildlife and their habitats. Resource management and protection is
                 accomplished in a number of ways through state laws, regulations, permits,
                 and local plans and zoning ordinances. While water quality protection is
                 integral to the management of many coastal resources, it was not specifically
                 cited as a purpose or policy of the original statute. The Coastal Zone Act
                 Reauthorization Amendments of 1990 specifically charged state coastal
                 programs, as well as state nonpoint source programs, with addressing
                 nonpoint source pollution alfecting coastal water quality.

                 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)


                        USDA's Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS),
                 Soil Conservation Service (SCS) and Extension Service administer a number
                 of programs that contribute to reducing nonpoint pollution from agricultural
                 production.


                 1. Agricultural Conservation Program
                        The Agricultural Conservation Program, administered by ASCS,
                 provides cost-share funds to farmers and ranchers to install conservation
                 practices. The program has several goals including: conserving soil and water,
                 improving water quality, protecting and maintaining productive farm and
                 ranch land, and preservin@ and developing wildlife habitat. ASCS also
                 administers the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), designed to protect the
                 most highly erodible land and to protect and improve water quality. Under
                 the CRP, farmers are reimbursed for retiring highly erodible and
                 environmentally sensitive croplands from production under ten year
                 contracts. Water quality improvements occur as lands are taken out of







                                                                                      18



                 production because of-lower fertilizer and pesticide applications and because
                 reductions in soil erosion decrease sediment loadings to water. Land enrolled
                 in the reserve program also provides habitat and other environmental
                 benefits. Criteria for the conservation reserve program have been expanded
                 to include environmentally sensitive lands such as filter strips, wetlands and
                 wellhead protection   areas. .           &


                 2. Soil Conservation Service
                        The Soil Conservation Services (SCS) is the technical arm of USDA.
                 SCS provides technical assistance to conservation districts throughout the U.
                 S. and Puerto Rico. Under the President's Water Quality Initiative, started in
                 1989, SCS is focusing some of its technical assistance on a number of
                 demonstration projects to address water quality problems. SCS staff are also
                 located in many of EPA's Regional Offices to provide technical assistance and
                 support to the States and EPA. SCS is also providing accelerated technical
                 assistance to multi-state, regional projects such as the National Estuary
                 Program.


                 3. Nonpoint Source Hydrologic Unit Areas
                        In selected agricultural watersheds and aquifer recharge areas, SCS,
                 Extension Service, and co9perating federal, state and local agencies will
                 provide technical assistance and conservation planning to help farmers and
                 ranchers meet state water quality goals without undue economic hardship.
                 These hydrologic units are selected based on: significance of the agricultural
                 sources of pollution, relative predominance of pollutants such as pesticides,
                 nutrients, and animal wastes; and conformance with other water quality
                 efforts. Findings on the water quality effects of selected conservation practices
                 will provide a basis for expanding applications of -such practices to other areas
                 with similar water quality problems.


                 4. Forest Service
                        In Puerto Rico, the Forest Se rvice manages approximately 14,400 acres
                 of public lands at the Caribbean National Forest, part of the National Forest
                 System. This agency shows increased concern regarding the potential impacts
                 of sediment production from forest management activities on water quality
                 and aquatic life. . It currently requires the implementation of Best








                                                                                19


                Management Practices Plans (BMPs) to any project carried out or proposed
                within Forest boundaries. These BMPs include provisions to prevent
                possible sources of NPSP.


                5. President's Water Quality Initiative
                      In 1989, President Bush launched an initiative to protect ground and
                surface water from contamination of fertilizers and pesticides. Congress has
                funded the initiative in the past several years. USDA, EPA, USGS, and NOAA
                are all working together on this initiative through a series of work groups.
                Through this initiative, a number of watershed projects have begun to
                address fertilizer and pesticides problems. The agencies are tracking the
                implementation progress in these watersheds.


                United States Geological Survey (USGS)


                      EPA and the U.S. Geological Survey have signed a memorandum of
                understanding (MOU) pledging cooperation and collaboration on water
                quality monitoring and assessment activities. Both agencies expend much
                effort on monitoring and assessment activities and the MOU is a tool to
                coordinate these efforts. USGS has a similar agreement with Puerto Rico's
                Environmental Quality Board.


                Related Federal laws and regulations


                a. The Clean Water Act (CWA) (33 USC 1251, et seq.)


                b. The Rivers and Harbours Act (RHA) (33 USC 401 et seq.).


                c. Endangered Species Act (ESA) - 1973


                d. Act for the Protection of Marine Mammals (1972) (16 USC 1361 et seq.).


                e. Food Security Act, 1986 (16 USC 3821, et seq.).


                f. Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986 (PL-99-645).








                                                                                    20


                 g. Executive order Num. 11990, emitte& by President J. Carter on May 24, 1977
                 (42 CFR 26961).


                 h. Coastal Areas Management Act (1972) (16 USC 1451 et seq.).


                 2. Commonwealth level


                 Environmental Quality Board (EQB)


                        EQB is the local government agency with the legal responsibility to
                 implement federal and state laws and regulations concerning pollution in
                 Puerto Rico, it is the local "Lead Agency" concerning all types of pollution. It
                 has designated a Nonpoint Source Division under the Water Quality Area
                 with the main objective of controlling nonpoint source pollution from
                 livestock farms, and from sewage disposal in small communities. They
                 address the first by'requirinj@ livestock'farms to implement Best Management
                 Plans (BMPs). By agreement with Puerto Rico's Department of Agriculture
                 (PRDA) and the federal Department of Agriculture (USDA), farms found in
                 violation of their BMPs can loose subsidies and services offered by PRDA and
                 USDA. The implementation of these Plans is monitored by both EQB and
                 PRDA personnel. To address the second, EQB may provide financial
                 assistance for the construction of wastewater treatment works in rural
                 communities. Estuaries and wetlands conservation and management is
                 another concern of this Division, and EQB may also provide financial
                 assistance to deal with these problems.
                        As part of this Division tasks, EQB collects surf ace and ground water
                 quality data both from its own Water Quality Monitoring Network and from
                 monitoring stations operated by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
                 This data, together with information provided by BMPs and other permits
                 applications (like is analyzed to pinpoint probable sources of NPSP in Puerto
                 Rico's major river basins.
                        Certain EQB programs related to point-source pollution, like requiring
                 Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plans to major construction projects, and
                 the emission of National Pollutant Discharge and Emission System (NPDES)
                 permits, are a source of useful data for evaluating the impact of non-point
                 source pollution at specific areas.








                                                                                     21


                 Related laws and regulations:


                 -Act 9 of 1970 (Environmental Public Policy Act)
                 Established the Environmental Quality Board as the agency in charge of the
                 surveillance, management and conservation of the quality of air, waters and
                 soils in Puerto Rico.'


                 -Regulation of Environmental Impact Statements (1984).
                 EQB fulfill this mandate through the evaluation of Environmental Impact
                 Statements and other environmental documents.


                 - Water Quality Standards Regulation (1990).
                 Based on current EPA water quality standards, this regulation established
                 similar standards for Puerto Rico. Currently it does not include standards or
                 use classifications for wetlands, but includes an anti-degradation statement
                 applicable to wetlands.


                 - Regulation for Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Solid Waste Control (1983).


                 Department of Natural Resources (DNR)


                        The Department of Natural Resources is responsible for regulating the
                 extraction of water, soil and minerals through the emission of corresponding
                 permits. It evaluates any project which includes the above-mentioned
                 activities, and potential for non-point source pollution is one of the elements
                 considered. DNR is also responsible for ensuring the conservation of natural
                 aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Extraordinary episodes , like fuel spills and
                 fish kills, are monitored by DNR.
                        Though not an integral part of DNR, the Coastal Zone Management
                 Program of Puerto Rico (CZMP) is ascribed to this agency. CZMP regulates
                 development activities within the coastal zone of Puerto Rico by proposing to
                 the Planning Board the designation of natural reserves and areas "of special
                 planning", in which certain human activities are restricted.







                                                                                 22


                Related laws and regulations:


                -Act 23 of 1972 (Organic Act of the Department of Natural Resources)
                Established the Department of Natural Resources as the state agency in charge
                of the protection, surveillance and conservation of all natural resources of
                Puerto Rico, including water resources and aquatic biota.


                -Act 83 of 1936, as amended (Fishing Act)
                For fishing conservation; conservation of aquatic habitats is required since
                they are fundamental for the'life cycle 9f many fish species.


                -Act 6 of 1968 (pursuant to flood prevention and conservation of beaches and
                rivers). DNR is responsible for providing surveillance and protection to
                swamps, beaches, and rivers of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.


                -Act 133 of 1975 (Forests Act).
                DNR is responsible for the conservation, protection, and management of the
                forests of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.


                -Act 70 of 1976 (Wildlife Act).
                For the protection of wildlife and its habitats.


                -Act 1 of 1977 (DNR Corps of Rangers Act).
                Establishes the Corps of Rangers as the law-enforcement division of PRDNR
                and its statutes.


                -Act 6 of 1961, as amended.
                Stipulates that PRDNR is responsible for the surveillance and conservation of
                the Commonwealth's mangrove swamps.







                                                                                 23



                -Act 144 of 1976 (Act for the Control of Excavation and Extraction of Land).


                -Spanish Act of Harbors and Rivers of 1896.
                Established the maritime-terrestrial zone as a public domain, including
                mangrove swamps.


                -Regulation for the Protection of Endangered Species and Critical Wildlife
                Management Areas in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (1985).


                -Regulation for the Development, Use, Conservation and Management of the
                Waters of Puerto Rico (1992).
                Regulates the extraction of ground and surface water in Puerto Rico.


                -Regulation for the Development, Surveillance, Conservation and
                Management of the Territorial Wate-rs, the Lands Under Them and the
                Maritime-TeTrestrial Zone (1992).
                It establishes zones of special concern or value in the maritime-terrestrial
                zone and territorial waters and regulates construction and extraction projects
                within those areas.


                Planning Board (PB)
                       PB is in charge of establishing land zoning and designating
                corresponding planning objectives. As such, it is the PB the lead agency in
                the evaluation of development projects. It is also the state organism with
                legal power to designate state forests and reserves and other areas of special
                planning.


                Related laws and regulations:


                 -Act 75 of 1975, as- amendLed (Organi@ Act of the Planning Board of Puerto
                Rico)
                Established the Planning Board as the agency in charge of preparing public
                policies and objectives regarding land use and zonification.







                                                                               24


               -Act 9 of 1970 (Environmental Public Policy Act)
               Designated the Planning Board as the agency in charge of preparing public
               policies regarding environmental protection.


               -Land Use Plan of Puerto Rico (1977) '


               -Integral Development Plan of Puerto Rico (1979)


               Regulation 17, Regulation of Coastal Area Zonification and Beach and Coast
               Entrance.


               Regulation 13, Regulation for Floodable Areas.


               Regulation 4, Zoning Regulation (1989)


               Regulation for Special Zoning of Non-urban Areas for the Municipalities
               Surrounding the Caribbean National Forest (1983).


               Resolution Nurn. 74-21 (1974) to Preserve, Protect and Restore Mangrove
               Swamps in Puerto Rico.      a          0

               Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture (PRDA)


                      PRDA is the local agency in charge of the development of agriculture
               and commercial fishing in Puerto Rico, including assignment of state and
               federal subsidies for agricultural production and other support services for
               farmers. Agreements signed by PRDA, USDA, and EQB give PRDA the joint
               responsibility (with EQB) of monitoring the implementation of Best
               Management Plans (BMPs) for livestock farms and for the suspension of all
               financial and technical support to farms found in violation of BMPs.
                      PRDA is also in charge of the application in Puerto Rico of all USDA
               programs.







                                                                                   25



                 Aqueducts and Sewers Authority (ASA)


                       ASA is in charge of developing sources of drinking and irrigation
                 waters, of delivering these waters and of treating and disposing wastewaters
                 according to federal and state laws and regulations. ASA is required NPDES
                 permit for discharges from its wastewater and drinking water treatment
                 plants and has been found in violation of these permits repeatedly by EPA.
                 As a result, it has not only been forced to pay heavy fines, but also several of
                 its plants had been temporarily arrested.


                 Regulations and Permits Administration (REPA)


                 -Act 76 of 1975, as amended.
                 Established REPA as the agency in charge of the enforcement of planning
                 regulations promulgated by the Planning Board by reviewing applications for
                 the necessary permits for regulated activities, land use and construction
                 projects.


                 Solid Wastes Management Administration (SWMA)


                 -Act 70 of 1978, as amended.
                 Established SWMA as the agency in charge of assisting Commonwealth and
                 local (municipal) governments in the development of infrastructure at the
                 local and intermunicipal. levels for the disposal and recycling of solid wastes.


                 Other applicable local legislation:


                  Article IV of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (1952)
                 Established the use and conservation of Puerto Rico's natural resources as a
                 constitutional right.







                                                                                    26








                                       III. THE FAJARDO RIVER BASIN








                       The Fajardo River basin, located in northeastern Puerto Rico, covers
                 some 118 km2 mostly within the municipalities of Fajardo and Ceiba, from
                 the Luquillo Sierra. to the Vieques PAssage, an arm of the Caribbean Sea
                 (Figure 1). This is the definition of the basin used by the United States
                 Geological Survey (USGS); the Department of Natural Resources WNR) has
                 used traditionally a wider definition which we did not agree with. The Basin,
                 (as defined by USGS) contains the southern part of a small city (Fajardo; 40,000
                 people), rural neighborhoods, farms, a small local airport, one marina and a
                 significant portion of the Caribbean National Forest, one of the few tropical
                 montane rainforests within the National Forest Service system.               The
                 southern shoreline at the river mouth is covered by a small mangrove forest
                 which is part of the Ceiba State Forest, managed by DNR.
                       Although development in the area concentrates immediately north of
                 the basin. government and private interest in the basin per se is growing, as
                 evidenced by projects under way for flood control measures at the Fajardo
                 River mouth, enlargement of the local airport, an increasing number of
                 commercial farms, and residential and road construction projects. Between
                 1989 and 1993, DNR approved 99 -development projects' permits and
                 endorsements (Figure 2) for the municipalities of Fajardo and Ceiba. 38.38%
                 of them were for the reconstruction of public infrastructure, such as roads,
                 docks and sewers. The Fajardo River has even been mentioned as the site of
                 a possible new reservoir. There is already significant concern among
                 environmentalists and community groups for the increase in silting of the
                 River estuary and flooding along the river shore, and a reduction of fish
                 stocks, allegedly due to past and current development within the basin.






             List of ruraL communities in the
             Fajardo River Basin:
                                  7. Fortuna                                                                                Ceiba
             1. Puerto ReaL                                                         Fajardo City                            State
             2. Santa Rita        8. Vapor                                                                                  Forest
             3. FLorencio         9. SaLdafia
             4. San Pedro         10. PeA6n                                                                 rr2
             5. Mabi              11. Paraiso
             6. Josefa            12. Rio Abajo                                      3



                                                                                                                                Vieques



               Caribbean NationaL                                                                                               Passage
                    Forest





                                                                               MunicipaLity of Fajardo




                                                                               MunicipaLity of Ceiba                      Map 01*0








                                                                                                         ruraL communities

                                                                                                      Rio Fajardo main
                                     FIGURE 1: The Fajardo River Basin.                               municipaL Limits






             FIGURE DNR-approved permits and indorsements, municipalities of Fajardo and Ceiba (1989-1993).
               2






                                                                 23.23%









                     17,17%


                                                                                    Housing

                                                                                    Reconstruction
                                                                                    Dredging
                                                                                    Filling
                                                                                    Land Segregation

                                                                                    Commercial


                        9.09%                                  W&PON.,400


                                                                                                       00


                                                             38.38%







                                                                                      29


                  Goenaga and Cintr6n (1979), and Goenaga et al. (1990) cited possible increased
                  discharge of freshwater and sediment from the Fajardo River as one cause for
                  degradation of coral reefs and seagrass communities located off the Fajardo
                  coast and at the nearby Cordillera Keys..
                        The Fajardo River Basin is a typical Antillean mountain river basin.
                  In its headwater it flows in narrow valleys, have steep gradients, and
                  tTansport and deposit coarse sediments. The rural areas of the basin are
                  forested in its western third, the Caribbean National Forest having most of
                  this. The rest is used mainly by farms with a splash of growing rural
                  communities. Cow farms are present throughout the basin. In the lowlands,
                  multiple channels and depositional surfaces occur within the valley floor.
                  Sugar cane is still heavily planted in the alluvial valley next to the city of
                  Fajardo. Throughout the basin, there are many small plantain (a fruit closely
                  related to bananas) farms, and also a few small farms dedicated to pigs,
                  chicken, fruits (limes, papayas, grapefruits, oranges) or cassavas.


                  Land use


                        Available data on land use at the Fajardo River basin, obtained at the
                  Scientific Inventory Division of DNR, came from aerial photographs on the
                  area dating from 1971 and 1979, and was organized in thirteen zoning
                  categories and compared (see Table 1). Categories that showed the largest
                  increases in percentage of change during that period were: transportation
                  (+67.00%), communications (+50.00%), and forests (+38.39%). In terms of
                  absolute measurements, though, only the category of forests presented
                  considerable increase (+8.76 km2). On the other hand, the largest decreases in
                  percentage of change corresponded to agriculture (-36.09%), and wetlands (-
                  31.03%), while the largest decrease in area was also in agriculture 09.62 km2).
                        From this data one would expect that during the period 1971-1979, due
                  to a reduction in agricultural lands and increases in forest area, and
                  construction of transportation and communications projects, the generation
                  of pollutants related to agricultural activities (fecal streptococci and coliforms,
                  phosphates and nitrates, among others) would have decreased. An increase
                  in forests would mean a' larger carpacity of soils to retain water, so
                  measurements of water discharge would show diminished amounts. Finally,
                  an increase in construction projects could have generated larger sediment








                                                                                                                  30


                       loads in the river. While visiting the area working on this project (1992), the
                       authors received the impression that significant portions of land were being
                       cleared to be used for rural and urban construction, and for livestock farming.



                           TABLE 1: Comparison of land zoning categories for 1971 and 1979 at the
                                                               Fajardo River Basin.

                          LAND            AREA         PERCEN-           AREA         PERCEN- NET                         % OF
                           USE              1971          TAGE             1979          TAGE         CHANGE CHANGE
                                            (km2)           M             (km2)            M              (km2)
                       Agriculture          54.46           46.15          34.84           F53            -19.62          -36.07
                       Forests              52.85           44.79          72.70           61.61          +8.76           +38.39
                       Wetlands             0.68            0.58            0.47           0.40           -0.28           -31-03
                       Non-                 0.78            0.66            0.78           0.66           none            none
                       productive
                       Residential,         4.12            3.49            4.00           3.38           -0.74           -3.15
                       Urban
                       Residential,         3.46            2.93            3.U            2.83           -0.63           -3.41
                       Rural
                       Recreational         0.58            0.49            0.50           0.42           -0.26           -2.00
                       Public Uses          0.40            0.31            0.44           0.37           -0.03           -8.38
                       Commercial           0.21            0.18            0.120          0.17           -0.04           -5.66
                       Industrial           0.28            0.24            0.30           0.25           +0.01           -4.00
                       Extractions          0.07            0.06            0.08           0.07           +0.01           +14.29
                       Transport            0.10            0.08            0.28           0.24           +0.14           +67.00
                       Communica-           0.01            0.01            0.02           0.02           +0.01           +50.00
                       tions
                          TOTAL             118.00          100-00         118.00          100.00         -----           -----




                       Geology, hydrology, geography and soils


                                More than a dozen geological faults cross the area of the Fajardo River
                       basin. Most of them have a northwest-southeast orientation, although many
                       also run from east to west. The western third of the basin, part of the
                       Luquillo Sierra, comprises mostly mountains (some of them more than 670
                       m high) with steep slopes, and formed basicly from poorly cemented volcanic
                       rock, sandstone and mudstone. Formations in these areas include cupric
                       minerals and ferruginous @Iays. Soils here are thin, highly erodible, and
                       highly acidic.







                                                                                     31


                       The other two thirds comprise of and alluvial plain of sand, clays and
                 rock-and-pebble fields that broadens towards the river mouth, and then nears
                 the mouth narrows again. To the west, north and south, this plain is
                 bordered by hills formed of sandstone and mudstone. The alluvial plain is
                 separated from the sea by mangrove swamp deposits. As one goes from west
                 to east, soils gradually turn from thin to thick, from highly acidic to slightly
                 acidic, and from highly erodible to erodible.
                       The area is within the "rain mantle" of the Luquillo Mountains, the
                 first geographical sttucture in Puerto tco, that encounters moist-ladden trade
                 winds blowing in a northeast-to-southwest direction from the Atlantic Ocean
                 most of the year. When trade winds make contact with the warm surface of
                 the mountains, most of their humidity condenses into rain. As a result, the
                 Sierra receives an annual rainfall that ranges from 70 to 500 cm. Sudden,
                 heavy rains has been held responsible for constant bleaching of soil minerals,
                 frequent natural landslides and sudden large increases of water discharge of
                 the Fajardo River and its tributary creeks which causes, among other things,
                 significant erosion of riverbanks in periodic episodes. It is possible that these
                 episodes of sudden, large water discharges serve as a flushing mechanism for,
                 at least, some of the pollutants that percolates or fall into the Fajardo River.
                 However, this mechanism's action probably stops at the very moment that
                 freshwater coming down the river meets the saltier, denser water mass at the
                 estuary.

                 Water management -at the b@sin:


                        The Environmental Quality Board maintains a database of possible
                 sources of NPSP in Puerto Rican rivers (we found, that for the Fajardo River,
                 it needed updating). EQB, throughout its 1992 monitoring of point and
                 nonpoint source pollution on Puert      *o Rican surface waters, found in the
                 Fajardo River Basin high levels of pesticides, metals, and phenolic substances
                 and attributed them to the Fajardo Drinking Water Plant, the Fajardo
                 Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Ceiba Municipal Landfill, urban runoff,
                 road construction, soil extraction operations, and local produce and livestock
                 farms, as well as to natural causes (Figures 3, 7 & 8). In terms of use potential,
                 EQB divides the river into five segments: estuary segment, recharge area
                 segment, unclassified area segment, drinking water area segment, and





                                                         ;X1 Yin )-wer                 32



                                                         V


                                            cite







                                       *10







                                                                  CrCet *7
                                       creer-*V

                                                                 fee


                                        yet        710           Cree


                                                                       c ree








                                                                    re e IL AL









                                              sQb jig     o Krn                      LEr-eAD
                                                         Mver                         A V,,,V%l+brnS
                                                                                               at

                                                  Sc.%t
                                                  r-11



                                                                                                 ko 14 G ATSPL

                                                                                           F
                                                                                               Ep
                                                                                             wT IN(. PLAMT
              FIGURE 3: EQB's schematic description of                                        FA9A POND
                                                                                             -Drinv-i"c- L-jhT'C'P
                          nonpoint-source polltion at the                                        I fvT,&Kw-

                          Fajardo River.







                                                                                                 33


                    ecologically sensitive area segment (Table 2). An EQB description of the
                    estuary segment (the only segment description available) is shown in Table 3.

                                 TABLE 2: EQB's use clasification of the Fajardo River.

                           SEGMENT                   CLASSIFICATION                   TRIBUTARIES
                                                                                        INCLUDED
                    1. From the river mouthto 2.2 Esiuary
                    km upstream (Fajardo).
                    2. From the river mouth to    Recharge area                  Redonda Creek
                    Km 10.8 HW 976 upstream
                    (Fajardo).
                    3. From the end of segment #2 Unclassified segment
                    upstream to Km 11.4 HW 976
                    (Fajardo).
                    4. From the end of segment #3 Drinking water area            Aguas Buenas Creek, Rinc6n
                    (Fajardo) upstream to river's                                Creek, Juan Diego Creek,
                    birthplace (Ceiba).                                          Sonadora Creek
                    5. From Km 18.0 HW 976        Ecologically sensitive area
                    (Fajardo) upstream  to river's
                    birthplace (Ceiba).


                    TABLE 3: EQB's use description of the estuary segment of the Fajardo River.

                    Water body name                               Fajardo River
                    Water body segment type                       Estuary
                    Water body segment size                       2.0 miles
                    Segment evaluation                            Estuarine
                    Aquatic life support                          Partially supporting
                    Swimming                                      Partially supporting
                    Secondary contact                             2.0 miles. Threatened by wastewaters.
                    Drinking Water Supply                         Unfit for drinking
                    Overall                                       Partially supporting
                    Comments                                      Presence of urban runoff.



                           In terms of water properties and water quality parameters, EQB divides
                    the river in two categories: "SC" (coastal-estuarine segment), and "SD" (all
                    other surface waters). The Aqueducts and Sewers Authority has a Drinking
                    Water Plant at , and a Wastewater Treatment Plant (Figures 7 & 8). This last
                    plant discharges filter backwash to the river under a NPDES (National
                    Pollutant Discharge and Elimination System) permit issued by EQB.
                    Frequently, it has been found in violation of permit specifications (Table 4)
                                                     6            0







                                                                                                               34



                      TABLE 4: NPDES permit limits imposedby EQB                      on ASA's wastewater
                                      Plant filter backwash           discharges      unto the Fajardo R.
      Clows  Parameters            NPIDES Limits Jan 1991                Feb 1991        Mar 1991         Apr 1991        May 1991
          1  M                     >5 mg/l
          2  Total Coliforms       10,000/100 ml
          3  Fecal Coliforms       4,000/100 ml
          4  Color                 lo STU
          5  Surfactants           100 mg/I
          6  Flow                  2.2 MGD
          7  TSS                   30-45 mg/I
          8  Residual Chlorine     0.5 ma/I                                                       1.2                              1.2
          9  Turbidity             50 NTU                       1300              750               0                                  0
        10   Phosphorus, total     1 mg1l                            0           2.39           1.91             1.96
        11   Copp2r                40 ug/l                         80                                               60
        12   Lead-                 50 --uq/l
        13   Zinc                  50 I&g/I                        70
        14   Fluoride              700 IA /1                         0
        15   Iron, total           300 Igg/I                 27000-             25001           38001            38001            89







             Rows       Jul 1991       Aug 1991         Sep 1991         Oct 1991        Nov 1991         Dic 1991         Jan 1992

                   2                                                                                                           230000
                   3                                                                                                           230000
                   4                                                                                                                 30
                   5                                                                                                                   0
                   6                                                                                                               2.8
                   7
                   8                             1.9              1.7                 3           1.3               1.3            2.5
                   9                                                                                               390
                   10                                                0                                                0            3.5@
                   11                                                0                                                                 0
                   12                                                                                                                 70
                   13                                                                                                                 90
                   14                                          90001            590L+-
            1      151        12001            60001                                  0         64501            68001           10000
                                                                        M
                                                                                   50
                                                                                   39







                                                                                             35







           Rows    Fab 1992      Mar 1992      Abr 1992 May 1992           Jun 1992       Jul 1992      Aug 1992
               1  -                                       0                           0            0              . 1
               2        11000        70000          50000      23000000      13000000
               3                     30000          30000      13000000       3000000
               4,           25            50            45            35            30            45             30
               5          1640                                          0             9         800           1000
               6          2.54                        3.25          4.g6           2.91                        3.09
               7                                        8@            79            35            40
               8           2.6             3            2.8             2             2            4              8
               9                      - -0                0          315           850                           55
             10           2.87          5.45          5.09          4.46           3.35                        4.41
             11                                        125                          70                           70
             12                                                         .1            0
             13                                        701           2201         1301           1401
             14                                           0             .1            -1
                                                      9855          26001       200001           7001
             15         38000                                                                                   400








                                Rows    Sep 1992      Oct 1992      Nov 1992      Doc 102
                                   1                          4.9             4            4.4
                                   2                      210QOOO
                                   3                      170QOOO      5000000        300000
                                   41            50            40            30            30
                                   5          3750            950          1000          @200
                                   6           3.68_          3.6          4.97           4.05
                                   7              0.           48            35             35
                                   8            2.2            2.2            3              4
                                   9.           600             0             0
                                  10           4.18       --4.22            4.66          3.04


                                  12
                                  13
                                  14
                                               79001         6100          3100     5800







                                                                                   36



                creating a point-source pollution (turbidity, fecal bacteria, metals, nitrogen,
                phosphorus, etc.) that is difficult to pinpoint as separate from NPSP in the
                Fajardo River.

                Natural biota and biodiversity:


                       USGS assessed phytoplankton populations in the Fajardo River from
                1977 to 1981 at monitoring station #USGS 710. It also monitored, at the same
                station, benthic invertebrates from 1980 to 1982. During those periods, 39
                species of microalgae (Table 5), and 37 species of benthic invertebrates (Table
                6) were collected and identified. Ananalyses of the river's phytoplankton
                standing crop, defined as the amount of microalgal cells per milliliter of
                sampled water, is shown on Figure 4. It fluctuated from 0 to 2,000 cells/ml
                with an extraordinary peak in 1978 of around 11,000 cells/ml. While the
                number of different species compares favorably with similar, nearby rivers
                like the Mameyes, species diversity was very low, as demonstrated by the fact
                that only two or three species of phytoplankton or invertebrates were
                dominant on any single sampling day (Figures 5 & 6). Low biodiversity may
                be induced by the frequent entrance to the river system of external tensors,
                such as pollutants.
                       It has been reported that the Fajardo River is frequently visited by
                recreational fishermen looking for tarpon (Megalops atlantica), and snooks
                (Centropomus sp.). In addition, the authors of this report observed green
                macroalgae of the genus Chara growing in some sections of the river passing
                through the city of Fajardo, as well as needlefishes (Belonidae) and mullets
                (Mugilidae) swimming in the estuary segment.











      ROWS         DIVISION               CLASS                ORDER                 FAMILY                  GENUS                  COMMENTS


         I     Chlorophyta**       Chlorophyceae         Chlorococcales      Ooscystaceae              Ankistrodesmus     Common in pools & ponds.
         2                                                                                             Chlorella          Widespread in organically
                                                                                                                          rich & polluted waters.
         3                                                                                             Gloeoactinium
         4                                                                                             Kirchneriella      Usually an open-water group.
         5                                                                                             00cystl    .S      Common.
         6                                                                                             Selenastrum        Common in shallow waters.
         7                                                                   Scenedesmaceae            Scenedesmus        Corm-non in pools & ponds.
         8                                               Cledogoniales       Oedogoniaceae             Oedogonium
         9                                               Volvocales          Chlamydomonadaceae        Chlamydomonas      Very common, specially in
                                                                                                                          barnyard pools and water
                                                                                                                          throughs.
        10                                               Zygnematales        Desmidiaceae              Closterium         Found in soft-water habitats.
        I I                                                                                            Cosmarium          Found in soft-water habitats.
        12                                                                                             Staurastrum        Usually found in acid or soft-
                                                                                                                          water habitats.
        13     Chrysophyta         Bacillariophyceae     Achnantales         Achnantaceae              Achnantes
        14                                                                                             Cocconeis
        15                                               Bacillariales       Nitzchiaceae              Denticula
        16                                                                                             Nitzchi    .a
        17                                                                   Surirellaceae             Surirella
        18                                               Eupodiscales        Coscinodiscaceae          Cyclotella         Found on hard or alkaline
                                                                                                                          water habitats.
        19                                                                                             Melosira           Common.
        20                                               Naviculales         Cymbellaceae              Cymbella
        21                                                                   Diatomaceae               Diatoma
        22                                                                   Eunotiaceae               Eunotia            Found in soft or acid water
                                                                                                                          habitats.
        23                                                                   Fragilariaceae            Fragilart  .a
        24                                                                                             Synedra
        25                                                                   Gomphonemataceae          Gomphonema
        26                                                                   Naviculaceae              Frustulia
        27                                                                 1                           Gyrosigma          Common.
               TABLE 5: Phytoplankton identified from samples taken at station USGS 710,
                           Fajardo River.









                         28                                                                                           Navicula
                         29                                                                                           Pinnularia
                         30     Cyanophyta**       Cyanophyaceae          Chroococcales      Chroococcaceae           Anacystis
                         31                                               Hormo onales       Nostocaceae              Anabaena
                         32                                                                                           Anabaenopsts        Found only in nitrogen-rich
                                                                                                                                          waters.
                         33                                                                                           Aphanizomenon
                         34                                                                  Oscillatoriaceae         Lyngbya             Common in lakes & streams.
                         35                                                                                           Oscillatoria
                         36                                                                                           Schizothrix
                         37                                                                                           Spirulina
                         38                                                                  Rivulariaceae            Rachidiopsis
                         39     Euglenophyta** Euglenophyceae            EuLdenales        I r-1--aceae               Trachelomonas

                      NOTES:
                         Row numbers are the same as those used in Figure 5
                         Usually, Chlorophyta is more abundant in freshwater habitats than all other algal groups combined.
                           Cya4ophyta is most abundant in lotic waters rich in organic matter.
                           Euglenophyta are almost always found in ponds rich in organic matter.













                                                                                                                                                                       W
                                                                                                                                                                       Co











                      ROWS          PHYLUM                 CLASS                ORDER                  FAMILY                   GENUS                  COMMENTS

                         1     Annefida             Oligochaeta           Plesiopora           Tubificidae               unknown
                         2                                                Prosopora            unknown                   unknown
                         3     Arthropoda           Crustacea             Decapoda             Palaemonidae              Macrobrachium
                         4                                                                                               Palaemonetes
                         5                          Insecta               Coleoptera           Elmidae                   Stenelmis
                         6                                                Diptera              Chironomidae              Ablabesmya
                         7                                                                                               Chironomus
                         8                                                                                               Conchapelopia
                         9                                                                                               Cricotopus
                        10                                                                                               Eukiefferiella
                        11                                                                                               Labrundinia
                        12                                                                                               Larsia
                        13                                                                                               Limnochironomus
                        14                                                                                               Paramert'na
                        15                                                                                               Pentaneura
                        16                                                                                               Polypedilum
                        17                                                                                               Tanytarsus
                        18                                                                                               Thienemanniella
                        19                                                                     Empididae                 unkn6wn
                        20                                                Ephemenoptera        Baefidae                  Baetis
                        21                                                                                               unknown
                        22                                                                     Caenidae                  Caenis
                        23                                                                     Ephemerelfidae            Ephemerella
                        24                                                                     Heptagenfidae             Stenonema
                        25                                                                     Leptophlebiidae           Hermanellopsis
                        26                                                                                               Leptop lebia
                        27                                                                                               unknown
                        28                                                Lepidoptera          Pyralididae               Paragyactis
                        29                                                Odonata              Coenagrionidae            Emallagma
                        30                                                                                               unknown
                        31                                                Tricho tera          Calanoceratidae           Phylloicus
                        32                                                                     Hydroptilid22__@Hydroptila
                        33                                                                                               Oxyethira

                            TABLE 6: Benthic invertebrates identified from samples taken
                                         from station USGs 710, Fajardo River.








                       34    Mollusca            Gastropoda           Basommatophora Ancylidae                   Ferrissia
                       35                                             Mesogastropoda     Pleuroceridae           Goniobasis
                       36                                                                                        Pleurocera
                       37_   Platyhelminthes    Turbellaria           Tricladida         Planariidae             unknown

                       39


                          Row numbers are the same as those          used in Figure    7.



























                                                                                                                                                           0






                                    Plot                                                      42

        12000-






        10000-






        8000-





    0
    0   6000-
    a
    49
    U)



        4000-






        2000-






            0
           7/7/77     2/24/78     10/13/78      6/2/79      1/19/80      9/7/80     4/26/81     12/14/81


                                                       Date

     Stan Crop





               FIGURE 4: Phytoplankton standing crop from the Fajardo River.
                     N                 J@A





                                                                                              44














     population
       7000.00
        6000.00
        !;000.00
        4000.00
        3000.00
        200.00
          1000. 00
             0.00







              sampling days

                                             --------------------



                                                             species








         FIGURE 5: Phytoplankton, biodiversity at the Fajardo River.






                                                                                               45










        PIO'Rulation
            150.00

            100.00

              50.00

               0.00







                species










                                                                    sampling days







                 FIGURE 6: Benthic invertebrate biodiversity at the
                             Fajardo River.





                                                                                                                              46










                               IV. WATER QUALITY HISTORY OF THE FAJARDO RIVER








                     Sampling stations


                             EQB only established one monitoring station on the Fajardo River
                     Basin (EQB 78B). It is a c6astal marihe station located in estuarine waters
                     immediately north of the Fajardo River mouth that receive freshwater aport
                     from the river (EQB classification "SC"). EQB has contracted USGS to
                     monitor the river per se (EQB classification "SD"). USGS has three stations
                     along the river: USGS 710, 720 and 725. The locations of these stations is
                     described in Table *7 and sliown in Figures 7 & 8. An analysis of relevant
                     historical data gathered by EQB and USGS is presented in Table 9. Figures 9-70
                     are plots of this data for each station.

                        TABLE 7: Water quality monitoring stations located at the Fajardo River
                                                                  Basin.


                     Station            Monitoring Agency                  Location           Period Monitored

                     USGS 710        U. S. Geological Survey          On left bank, HW 976,            1960-1992
                                                                      5.3 krn sw of Fajardo.

                     USGS 720        U. S. Geological Syrvey          At bridge on HW 3,               1958-1967,1974
                                                                      0.8 km south of Fajardo.

                     USGS 725        U. S. Geological Survey          1.9 krn sw of Playa Fajardo.     1974-1992

                     EQB 78B         P. R. Environmental Quality      Coastal marine station loca-     1986-1990
                                     Board                            ted at Isleta Marina dock,
                                                                      1.5 krn nw of river mouth.

                     --------------------------- ---------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------





                                                                                           47










                           SARDINERA                 PLAYA SARDINERA

                                                                 PTA.BATERIA


                                                                    BAHIA
                                                 BELTRAN              DE
                                                                    FAJARDO



                      P,                                       PLAYA, DE FAJARDO
                                  -PUERTO
                    NOR              REAL                              EQB 78B
                                                                           PTA
                                                                           FAJARDO




                  P EBLO


                                         RIO FAJARDO
                 ESTE
                      A USGS 725                                                     A
                                                                                    -N-


                                    SANTARLTA
    EST      It
    VERTEDERO                                                  ESCALA APROXIMADA
            USGS 720                                                 120,000

                                                                       1KM

               FIGuRE 7: water quality monitoring stations and nonpoint
                          sources, as identified by EQB, along the Fajardo River.
               MAPA   AREAS IDENTTFICADAS DE FUENTES DE CONTAMINACION NO PRECISADAS





                                                                                                 48



                                          LEYENDA

                                       LEGEM FOR FIGURE 7

      Mapa 1.          Areas identificadas de fuentes de contaminaci'
                                                                                 on no
                       precisadas.
                           4D     Estaciones de Bombas - Autoridad de
                                  Acueductos y Alcantarillados.
                                  Pump stations-ASA
                            0     Estaci6n de Monitoreo - Servicio Geol6gico
                                  de E.U.
                                  USGS water quality monitoring stations
                                  Sistema de Uso Nacional de Eliminacion de
                                  Descargas Contaminantes (Privadas).
                                  Private NPDES discharge systems
                                  Sistema de Uso Nacional de Eliminacion de
                                  Descargas Contaminantes (Nblicas).
                                  Public NPDES discharge systems
                           'All   Estaci On de'Monitoreo Junta de Calidad
                                  Ambiental.
                                  EQB water quality monitoring station

                                  Estaciones de Muestreo Departamento de
                                  Recursos Naturales.





                                                                                            49



                                                 G)
                                                                CARR.




                                      USGS 710        ESTAGION DE
                                                        VERTEDERO
                         ESGUELA
                            PERON



              RIO ARRIBA                     RIO ARRIBA                 Ceiba Land-
                                                                               f ill

                                                      01





                    PARAISO




                                                        Fajardo Landfill
                                                                 Ah
                                               RIO ABAJO
               CARR 971                          FAJARDO
                                                                      ESCALA
                                                                       APROXIMADA
                                   Fo-1                                  1:20, 000
           FIGURE 8: Water quality monitoring station and nonpoint          I KM
                      sources, as identified by EQB, along the Fajardo River.
               MAPA      AREAS IDENTIFICADAS DE FUENTES DE CONTAMINACION             N -
                                           NO PRECISADAS






                                                                                              50



                                         LEYENDA

                                    LEGEND FOR FIGURE 8



                                                         
  lapa 2.     Areas identificadas de fuentes de contaminacion noprecisadas.

             Vertederos de relleno sanitarios
                     Municipal landfills
              Pozos de  oxidacion
                    oxydation ponds
                Estacion de monitoreo (JCA)

              Sistema de uso nacional de eliminacion de
                    descargas contaminantes.
                    NPDES discharge system

                  ------  Fajardo River main course
 





                                                                                                      51




                       Table 4 shows data from the monitoring of backwash discharges during
                 1991-1992 from the Fajardo Water Treatment Plant into the Fajardo River.
                 Though a point-source type of pollution that requires a NPDES, since these
                 discharges goes directly into the river, such data is needed to compare with
                 water quality data from the river's monitoring stations as an attempt to
                 separe pollution froin poinesources fr;m pollution from non-point sources.

                 Water discharge


                       Water discharges from the Fajardo River are typical (in volume and
                 behavior) of northeastern Puerto Rico mountain rivers born at the Luquillo
                 Sierra (Table 9: parameters #1 & 2; Figures 9 & 10). The fact that these
                 parameter has not shown significant change over time indicates that those
                 factors which may affect water retention capabilities of the basin's soils (like
                 significant vegetation cover loss, excessive water extraction from the river,
                 channelization, construction of dame, dikes or some other sort of flood-
                 control or water-retention project) are still absent from the basin.


                 Temperature


                       Temperature is a measure of heat. The physical properties of water are
                 dependant to a large degree on heat, since cool waters are capable of
                 dissolving more gases, salts, and minerals than warm waters. Aquatic
                 organisms adapt themselves to the natural heat fluctuations of the body of
                 water which they inhabit. Sudden extreme temperature changes can kill
                 these organisms as well as cause significant changes in the physical and
                 chemical properties of water. Temperatures in surface waters in Puerto Rico
                 usually fluctuate at around 300C. Abnormally high temperatures may be due
                 to warm water discharges or decomposition of huge amounts of organic
                 matter.
                       Temperature 'surges feflected in7data from the Fajardo River (Table 9:
                 parameter #3; Figure 11) coincide with peaks in other parameters like BOD
                 (parameter #17; USGS 725: 1973, 1977), total organic nitrogen (parameter #37;
                 USGS 725: 1973, 1974), and valleys in DO (parameter #15; USGS 710 & 725:
                 1973-1974), suggesting that * decomposjtion of abnormally high amounts of
                 organic matter throughout the river is the likely cause.





                                                                                                          52

                                  Plot

                                               FIGURE 9: Instantaneous water discharge
         700-
             - USGS 710


         600-



         500-



         400-



         300-



         200-



         100-



          0
         11/13/57 1/14/61 3/16/64 5/18/67 7118no 9117n3 11118n6 1/19/90 3/22183 5/22/86 7/23/89 9/22/92



                                                      Date




                                  Plot                                  1100-

        500-                                                             1000-


                                                                         900-
                 USGS 725                                                           USGS  720
        400-                                                             800-


                                                                         700-
     CD 300-                                                             600-
     21
                                                                         500-

        200-                                                             400-


                                                                         300-


        100-                                                             200-


                                                                         loo-


                                                                           0            r---r-7
         9/17/73         1/19/80         5/22/86          9/22/92        11/13/57 3/16/64      7/18/70

                                  Date                                                   Date






                                                                                            53

                           Line Chart

        60000-





        50000-
                                       USGS 710



        40000-





        30000-




        20000-





        10000-




             0-
                       1966       1971        1976       1981        1986        1991


               FIGURE 10: Annual water  discharge



                                                    Line Chart

                                 40000-



                                           USGS 720


                                 30000-







                               20000-







                                 10000-






                                     0       1961 1962 1963 1964 1965
 




                                                                                                              54
                                  Plot           FIGURE 11: Temperature
       32-


       31-         USGS 710


       30-


       29-


       28-


       27-


       26-


       25-


       24-


       23-


       22-


       21-,
      11/13/57         3/16/64         7/18/70         11/18/76        3/22/83          7/23/89

                                                     Date
    Temp.

               32-        USGS 720


               31-


               30-


               29-


               28-


           cz  27-

           E
               26-



               25-



               24-



               23-



               22
              11/13/57        1/14/61        3/16/64        5/18/67        7/18/70        9/17/73





                                                                                          55

                         Line Chart

       35                     EQB 78B


       3o-





       25-




       20-


   E

       15-




       10




         5-





        0
                       09/24/87         01/1@/89         09/210/90




                                          Plot

                    38-

                    36-             USGS 725

                    34-



                    32-



                 E  30-



                    28-



                    26-



                    24-



                    22
                    9/17/73       1/19/80       5/22/86       9/22/92


                                          Date





                                                                                                        56




                 Conductance, salinity, dissolved solids


                        Conductance is a measure of the speed with which an electric current is
                 transported through water (conductivity of water). As the concentration of
                 ions in water increases, so does conductance.            Marine waters show
                 conductance values of more than 200 gs/cm, freshwaters usually show less
                 than 100 gs/cm, and estuarine waters has values anywhere in between.
                 Conductance is sometimes used as indirect measurements of water salinity
                 and amount of dissolved solids.
                        Salinity, to use the simplest pqssible definition, is a measure of the
                 amount of dissolved salts in water. Marine waters have salinity values of 30-
                 40 ppt. Freshwaters have a value of 0 ppt. Estuarine waters measure
                 anywhere in between. Dissolved solids is a measurement somewhat similar
                 to salinity but it is more general because it includes any solids in water that
                 can precipitate, not just salts.
                        All three parameters vary with freshwater inputs, sea water intrusions,
                 droughts, temperature chAnges, sedImentation, and inputs of any ion-
                 producing substance.
                        Conductance level fluctuations of over 150 gm/cm. on stations USGS
                 720 & 725 may reflect periodic saltwater intrusions from the river estuary
                 (Table 9: parameter #4; Figure 12). However, peaks in 1973 and 1980
                 appearing also at station USGS 710 (upriver) may signal episodes of NPSP
                 occurring along the river.
                        Salinity, measured at station EQB 78B, is normal for coastal estuarine
                 situations (Table 9; parameter #5; Figure 13). Dissolved solids show a
                 declining tendency (Table 9: parameters #10 & 11; Figures 14 &15).


                 Fecal bacteria


                        Bacteria are microscopic, unicellular, autotrophic organisms assigned
                 by biologists to the Kingdom Monera. Typically they are either spherical
                 (cocci), rodlike (bacilli) or threadlike (;pirilli). They often clump together to
                 form colonies. Many bacteria are found naturally in the soil or in surface
                 waters. However, bacteria that transmit waterborne diseases do not multiply
                 in natural waters or even in heavily polluted waters. Water and wastewaters
                 are not good media for their growth. Water serves primarily as a mechanical





                                                                                                     57

                                Plot
                                                FIGURE 12: Conductance


        300-        USGS 710



        250-





        200-


   79       -
   8
        150-





        100-




         so                    -7            ......... 1-... .7r-
         11/13/57      3/16/64 -5118/67 7/18no- 9117n3 -iiiiim   3/=? 5/22/86 7/23/89 9/22/92


                                                Date



                               Plot                                   4000-

       11000-
                                                                      3500-
       10000-        USGS 725                                                    USGS 720
       9000-                                                          3000-


       8000-
                                                                      2500-
       7000-
   0
       6000-                                                       Z  2000-


       5000-                                                       0
                                                                      1500-
       4000-


       3000-                                                          1000-

       2060-
                                                                        500-
       1000-


          0
                                                                          0-
        9/17/73         1/19/80         5/22/86        9/22/92         11/13/57 3/16/64 7/18/70

                                 Date                                                  Date

                                                                    Conductance





                                                                                                        58




                           FIGURE 13: Salinity




                            Line Chart
       40-     EQB 78B
       35-                                    a          0

       30-


       25-
   -=1
   '9
   Z%  20-
   A
   ,a
   co  15-


       10-


         5-


         0-                     1                      1                      1
                            09/24/87               01/19/89               09/20/90






                                                          q
           vv












                                               6          0





                                                                        59

                        Plot
                                FIGURE 14: Dissolved solids


      60   USGS 710



      50-




      40-




   V
   =  30
   0
   Cl)



      20-




      10-




       0*1   1    1   1    1    1         1   1    1    1    1
     11/13/57  3/16/64  7/18/70  .11/18/76  3/22/83  7/23/89


                                 Date





                                  P I o t

                40-                     0
                       USGS 725

                35-



                3o-



                25-


             co 20-

             C/) 15-


                10-



                  5-



                 0
                9/17/73    1/19/80    5/22/86     9/22/92

                                . Dale  0





                                                                                              60

                              P1 ot             FIGURE 15: Sm of dissolved solids

        170-

        160-      USGS 710

        150-


        140-

        130-

        120-


        110-

        100-
    -6  go-

        so-

        70-

        60-

        so-

        40-
        11/13/57    3/16/64      7/18/70      11/18/76     3/22/83      7/23/89


                                            Date

                                                                                       P I o t

                                                                120-


                              Plot                              110-  USGs 720

        170
              USGS 725                                          100-
        160-

        150-                                                    90-

        140-                                                E

        130                                                     80-
                                                            CO
    E
        120-

        110-                                                    70-

   cn
        100
        go-                                                     6o-
        80-                                         q           50-
        70-
        60-1      1     7-1                                     40-
        9/17/73       1/19/80       5/22/86        9/22/92        6/15/59     8/16/62    10/16/65
                              Date                                               Date





                                                                                                        61




                 medium for transmission of disease organisms, and most of the natural
                 processes that go in water decrease the likelihood of transmittance.
                 Pathogenic bacteria usually originates in the intestines and feces of warm-
                 blooded animals. Consequently, water borne outbreaks are associated with
                 recent, gross pollution.
                        One of the measures used as an indicator of possible sewage pollution
                 is Total Coliform Bacteria Count. Coliform bacteria are a kind of aerobic or
                 facultative anaerobic bacillus. However,general bacterial counts, such as this
                 are not the best indicators because natural microbial flora is also present. As a
                 result, Fecal Coliforms are fr;quently separated and censused. Fecal coliforms
                 are mostly associated to human fecal material. Fecal Streptococci, bacteria
                 usually associated with farm animals' fecal material, are also commonly
                 counted in surface waters.
                        The Fajardo River Basin has a history of coliforms outbreaks (Table 9:
                 parameters #42 & 43; Figures 16 & 17). Its many cattle farms allow their
                 animals free access to the river, there are many rural houses that still spill
                 their wastewater to the river and the Fajardo Wastewater Treatment Plant
                 discharges its filters backwash into the river. From a high peak in 1973,
                 reflected at all stations, the situation has gotten better but its still
                 unsatisfactory.


                 Turbidity, color, suspended materials


                        Turbidity is a measure of the cpncentration of suspended material in
                 water. Color is an estimate of the amount of organic matter in water whose
                 decomposition process produces dark-colored substances.                Suspended
                 sediments is a measure of the amount of suspended material in water. An
                 excess of suspended materials in water produces a significant reduction in
                 light penetration, which affects photosynthetic organisms and, eventually,
                 their production of oxygen and coitsumption of carbon dioxide (C02).
                 Sediments also clog the gills of aquatic animals, asphyxiating them.
                        Except for a peak in 1981 (USGS 710 & 725), turbidity fluctuations
                 appear to be localized episodes (Table 9: parameter #8 ; Figure 18). Suspended
                 sediments may be able to precipitate or settle between stations. Sediment
                 fluctuations at station EQB 78B are high and may be due to the vicinity of this





                                                                                                            62
                                   Plot          FIGURE 16: Fecal Coliforms



        60000-
                    USGS 710


        50000-




        40000-




        30000-




        20000-




        10000-



            0                        -T-
           11/13/57 1/14/61 3/16/64 5/18/67 7/18/70 9/17f73 11/18t76 1/19/80 3/2Z/83 5/22/86 7/23/89 9/2Zt92

                                                        Date                                             7-1


                                           Plot

               50000-
                                       EQB 78B




               40000-





               30000-





               20000-





               10000-




                   0-                                                                7-
                           5/22186           12/22/87           7/23/89            2/21/91
                                                       Date





                                                                                             63


                               p I o t

        20000000-


                                           USGS 725








        15000000-













        10000000-













         5000000-












              0
            9/17/73        1/1 9/8Q      6/22186        9/22/92

                                   Date





                                                                                                              64

                                   Plot
                                                       FIGURE 17: Fecal streptococci
       50000-


             -        USGS 710


       40000-






       30000-



    04


       20000-






       10000-
            0-                                                            011              &A4 6-
          11/13/57 1/14/61 3/16/64 5/18/67  7/18f7O 9/17f73 11/18/76 1/19/80 3/22/83    5/22186 7/23/89 9/22/92

                                                          Date





                                                      Plot




                           2000000-
                                                   USGS 725




                           1500000-




                        Q
                        CL
                        (D
                           1000000-






                            500000-






                                 0-7
                               9/17/73          1/19/80          5/22/86           9/22/92


                                                          Date






                                                                                                        65
                                  Plot                  FIGURE 18: Turbidity

         200-
                   USGS 710













         loo-













           0
          11/13/57 1/14/61 3/16/64 5/18/67 7/18170 9/17/73 11/18fl6 1/19/80 3/22/83 5/22/86 7/23/89 9/22/92


                                                  Date







                                                    Plot

                         2000-


                                        USGS 725



                         1500-






                         1000-






                          500




                          9/17/73         1/19/80         5/22/86         9/22/92

                                                   Date





                                                                                                                      66

                                       Plot

         30.00-
                        EQB 78B


         25.00-




         20.00-




         15.00-
      :9
      .0

   I                                                 a            0


         10.00-- -- -           - -       -      -     - --         - - - - ---




           5.00-



          0.00          1                   1         1.       1         1         1
                     5/22/86           - IZ=7               7/23/89             2/21/91

                                                   Daw
                                                               v





                                                                                                       6




                  station to a marina whose boat motors lift bottom sediments continually
                  (Table 9: parameters #7 & 9; Figures 19, 20 & 21).
                         Suspended oils and greases, measured at EQB 78B, show frequent peaks
                  which may be due to frequent small spills from boats at the marina (Table 9:
                  parameter #14; Figure 22).


                  Oxygen requirements

                         Oxygen conc6ntratioiis determir@e the kinds of living activities that can
                  go on in water. It is determined mostly by water temperature, salinity,
                  pressure, and the interaLiion between water and atmosphere. Cool, clear, fast-
                  moving, over-oxygenated mountains streams support a small variety of
                  specialized organisms. As water slows and organic matter accumulates, these
                  organisms are replaced by d larger variety of more tolerant types. However, if
                  the concentration of organic wastes continue increasing, it could reach the
                  level in which oxygen is completely depleted by decomposition (water turns
                  anaerobic). Most organisms will be wiped out, bacteria will begin obtaining
                  oxygen from nitrite, nitrate, or sulfate in that order. Nitrite and nitrate will
                  be reduced to nitrogen gas which will show as bubbles. Sulfate will be
                  reduced to hydrogeh sulfidb. Sulfideg react with metals in water to form a
                  black suspension that darken polluted waters. Metals will also be reduced.
                  Soluble ferric and manganic compounds will turn into insoluble ferrous and
                  manganous ones. Organic matter decomposition will grind to a halt without
                  oxygen, leaving in the wate; organic ajids, alcohols, and aldehydes, as well as
                  C02, that normally are just transitional products in the breakdown of organic
                  matter.
                         Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) is a measurement of the amount of
                  dissolved oxygen required to convert organic waste compounds in the water
                  to stable, inoffensive, and harmless compounds (preferably, water and carbon
                  dioxide). As such, it is an indirect measurement of the amount of organic
                  and reducing material present. Determined values may correlate with water
                  color or organic pollution.
                         Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) is the most popular measurement
                  of the likely behavior of organic wastes as oxygen consumers. It measures the
                  oxygen levels need@d for tl@e biochemLl oxidation of organic matter.





                                                                                             68

                               P 10 t
                                            FIGURE 19: Suspended solids


                    USGS 710
        2000-












     CL



        1000














            - - - - --r-        1-7                      r-
         lt/13/57     3716/64     7/18/70     1 T/18/76    3/22/83      7/23/89


                                             Date






                                             P 10 t



                                       USGS 725
                      2000-






                      1500-



                   CL     -
                   U)
                   D
                   (n
                   -(OD  1000-





                       500-






                      9/17/73        1/19/80        5/22/86       9/22/92

                                              Date





                                                                                                             69

                                   P10 t                 FIGURE 20: Residue of suspended
                                                                       solids



         200-    USGS 710









     CL



         loo-














         11/13/57       3/16/64        7/1-8/70       1111 8_/766     V22@/83        7123189


                                                    Date






                                      Plot

             110-
             100-   EQB 78B

             90-


             80-


             70-

        E
        co   60-
        2
        j2   50-

             40-


             30-


             20-


             10
                      5/22/86            12/22/87            7/23/89             2/21/91



                                               Date





                                                                                              70

                             P I o t

       700
           -            USGS   725


       600-



       500-



       400-



    CD
   cc  300-



       200-



       100-
           -  I      I   1@ - - @
         0
       9117/73        1/19/80       5/22/86       9'/22/92


                              Date





                                                      Plot

                                110-


                                   -   USGS 720



                                100-







                                go-

                            CD
                            cc
                            0
                            U)


                                80-






                                70-






                                60
                                  6/15/59 8/16/62 10/16/65


                                             Date





                                                                      71

                       Plot       FIGURE 21: Color

       10-
           USGS 710

       9-



       8-



       7-



       6-



   0
   0


       4-

       3-              L


       2-






       0
       11/13/57 1/14/61 3/16/64 5/18/67 7/18170 9/17fl3 11/18f76 1/19/80 3/22/83 5/22/86 7/23/89 9/2.'


                                      Date



                                                       40-

                    Line Chart                         35-
       20-

            EQB 78B                                    30- USGS
                                                           720


       15-                                             25-



                                                    0
                                                    0  20-

       10-
   u                                                   15-



                                                       10-
       5-


                                                        5-


       0.-                                     T-
                  09/24/87      01/19/89     09/20/90  0   1
                                                        6/15/59 8/16/6210/16/65


                                                               Date





                                                                                                                    72

                                        Plot
          8.00-                                     FIGURE 22: Suspended oils and greases
                  EQB 78B
          7.00-


          6.00-


          5.00-


          4.00-


          3.00-


          2.00-


          1.00-



          0.00-
                      5/22/86              12/22/87              7/23/89               2/21/91





                                                  Date
                                                       A





                                                                                                       73



                        One way of estimating the requirements for oxygen in a body of water
                 is to study the pattern of oxygen uptake in the water itself using various
                 oxygen measurements along with COD and BOD over time. Several
                 conditions combine together to determine oxygen requirement: First, oxygen
                 is more soluble in cold water than in warm water, and in clear water than in
                 water with high levels of suspended sediments. Second, organic matter
                 consumes oxygen slower in cold water than in warm water. Third,
                 decomposition of organic matter in water increases C02 content and reduces
                 pH. Fourth, some'aquatic animals (like fish), cannot take up oxygen as fast in
                 low pH waters withhigh Cd2 as in higK pH waters with low C02.
                        Data from the Fajardo River show critical oxygen situations for 1973-74
                 (DO valley in 1974 at USGS 725; BOD peaks in 1973-74 at USGS 710).
                 Although such problem levels fell significantly to normal fluctuations, BOD,
                 COD and % of oxygen saturation data signals to an descending tendency in
                 available oxygen (Table 9: parameters # 15, 16, 17 &18; Figures 23, 24, 25 & 26).


                 Hardness and alkalinity


                        Hardness is the amount of dissolved alkaline metals in water. "Hard"
                 waters are waters high in such materials, particularly calcium and
                 magnesium; these waters are present in areas of limestone or other alkaline
                 type of soils. "Soft" waters, like those of the Fajardo River, are low in such
                 components.
                        Historical data from the Fajardo River show a declining tendency in
                 hardness, though periodical peaks occur. These peaks may be due to
                 intensive use of fertilizers, which tend to be alkaline (Table 9: parameters #19
                 & 20; Figures 27 & 28).
                        Alkalinity is an estimate of the amount of negative ions (anions)
                 dissolved in water (anions react with water to form alkaline materials). In
                 the Fajardo basin, alkalinity as such shows a decrease, but amounts of alkaline
                 materials: sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), and
                 sulfates (S04-2), all show increasing tendencies (Table 9: parameters #21, 22,
                 23, 24, 25 & 32; Figures 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 & 34).
                        S04-2 besides its alkaline properties, is a nutrient formed by
                 decomposition of organic matter.





                                                                                                       74

                                  Plot
                                           FIGURE 23: Dissolved oxygen
          13-
                  USGS 710
          12-


          11-


          10-


           9-


           8-
     ,a
     E     7-

     0     6-


           5-


           4-


           3-


           2


           1
          11/13/57 1/14/61 3/16164 5/18/67 7/18f7O 9/17f73 11118f76 1/19/80 3/2Z'83 5/2Z'86 7/23/89 9/22/92


                                                    Date






                                                     p 10 t

                             12-
                                            USGS 725
                             11-


                             10-


                             9-


                             8-


                             7-


                             6-
                        C\1
                        0
                             5-


                             4-


                             3-


                             2-




                             0-
                            9/17/73         1/19/80         5/22/86         9/22/92


                                                     Dale





                                                                                                                          75

                                    Line Chart

           10-

                          EQB 78B


           8-
                                                       6             0




           6-


      9
      8    4                   -


           2-


           0                    09/2@/87              01/6/89                09/26/90



        DO (mg/1)                                                    0
                                                                     0
                 VAN









                                                                     0






                                                                                                              76
                                    Plot                  FIGURE 24: Percent of oxygen
          150-                                                          saturation
                 USGS 710


          140-



          130-



          120 -



          110-

     0

          100-



            90-



            go-


           11/13/57 J/14/61 3/16/64 5/18/67 7/18/70 9/17/73 11/18/76 1/19/80 3=3 5/22/86 7/23/89 9/22/92

                                                        Date









                                                        p 10 t

                             150-
                                      USGS 725

                             140-



                             130-



                             120-

                          An
                          Cli 110-
                          0


                             100-



                              go-



                              80-



                              70
                              9/17/73         1/19/80           5/22/86          9/22/92


                                                        Date






                                                                                                              77
                               Line Chart

         125

               EQB 78B


          100-                                   a.          0



          75-
     9
     V
     t?
     8    50-


          25-


          0 1               09/2@/87             01/1@fflq           09[26/90


                                                 a           0
                V/@











                                                             0






                                                                                              78

                              Plot
                                    FIGURE 25: Biochemical oxygen demand




                 USGS 710



         4-






         3-





         2-









         0                                           1      1      f      I      1      1
        11/13/57 1/14/61 3/16/64 5/18/67 7118nO 9/17n3 11118n6 1/19/80 3122183 5/22/86 7/23/89 9/22/92


                                               Date





                                                Plot

                         1000-


                          900-

                          800-               USGS 725


                          700-


                          600-


                          500-


                          400-


                          300-


                          200-


                          100-


                            0-
                          9/17/73       1/19/80        5/22/ 86       9122192


                                                 Date





                                                                                            79

                               Plot
          80-                              FIGURE 26: Chemical oxygen demand

                    USGS 710
          70-



          60-



          50-



          40-
     0
     L)


          30-



          20-



          10-



           0
          11/13/57 1114/61 3/16/64 5/18/67 7118nO 9/17/73 1111.8n6 1/19/80 312;M3 5/22/86 7/23189 9/22192,

                                               Date






                                               p 10 t

                         110-

                         100- USGS 725
                         90-


                         80-


                         70-


                         60-


                         so-


                         40-


                         30-


                         20-


                         10-


                          0

                                                                    9/22/92
                         9/17/73       1/19/80       5/22/86
                                                             L






                                               Date






                                                                                              80
                               Plot
                                               Figure 27: Hardness

              USGS 710
         60-






         50-





         40-





         30-





         20



         11/13/57 1/14/61 3/16/64 5/18/67 7118nO 9117n3 11118n6 1/19/80 3/22/83 5/22/86 7/23/89 9/22/92

                                                Date

      Hard CaC03
                                                                                       p 10 t

                                                                 55-
                               p 10 t                            50-   USGS 720

         80-    USGS 725                                         45-

         70-                                                     40-


         60-                                                     35-


         50-
                                                                 30-



         40-                                                     25-



         30-                                                1    20-



         20
                                                                 1 54@
         9/17/73       1/19/80        5/22/86       9/22/92       6/15/59     3/16/6 4 5/18 /6 7


                               Date                                         Date
      Hardness                                                Hard (CaC03)





                        P lot  FIGURE 28: Noncarbonate hardness


       20-  USGS 710








       10-













       0--
       11/13/57 1/14/61 3/16/64 5/18/67 7/18/70 9/17f73 11/18/76 1/19/80 3/22/83 5/22/86 7/23/89 9/22/92

                                    Date



                                                    7-


                        Plot                        6-
       25-    USGS 725                                 USGS 720

                                                    5-


       20-


                                                    4-

       is-                                      '2
    16                                          cu
                                                    3-
   2

       10-
                                                    2-
                 Li


















       0                                            0 -L-r@@
      9/17/73    1/19/80    5/22/86    9/22/92       6/15/59 8/16/62 10/16/65
                        Dale                                   Date






                                p I o      FIGURE 29: Alkalinity

         60-
               USGS 710









         40-

     0



     <   30-




         20-





         10-
        11/13/57      3/16/64     7/18/70      11/18/76     3/22/83      7/23/89


                                             Date







                                             p I o t

                      130-


                      120-

                      110-      USGS 725

                      100-


                      90-

                      80-

                      70-
                  Ag

                      60-


                      50-


                      40-


                      3o-


                      2o-


                      10
                      9117173       1119180        5/22/86        9/22192

                                             Date







                              Plot
                                               FIGURE 30: Dissolved sodium
        60-



                 USGS 710

        50-






        40-





    cc
    Z   30-





        20-






        10-



        11/13/57 1/14/61 3/16/64 5/18/67 7118nO 9/17f73 11118n6 1/19/80 3/22/83 5/22/86 7/23/89 9/22/92
                                               Dam



                                                                14-

                             Plot                               13-

                                                                12-
      2000-          USGS 725                                          USGS 720
                                                                11-



                                                                10-
       1500-
                                                             M
                                                            z


    E
    :5
    :6  1000-
    0                                                             8-
    U)



                                                                  7-
       500-


                                                                  6-


        0                                                         5
       9/17/73       1/19/80       5/22/86        9/22/92         6/15/59 8/16/62 10/16/65

                             Date                                             Date






                                                                                               84
                                Plot

           14-                                FIGURE 31: Dissolved calcium
                     USGS 710

           13-


           12-



           11-



           10-


      M    9-


           8-
      U    7-

           6-


           5-



           4-


           3
           11/13/57 1/14/61 3/16/64 5/18/67 7/18no 9/17fl3 11/18fl6 1/19/80 3/22/83 5/22/86 7/23/89 9/22/92

                                                  Date                                    -7

                                                                       12-
                               p 10 t                                  11-
           25-


                                                                       10-
            -      USGS 725                                               USGS
                                                                        9- 720
           20-


                                                                        8-



                                                                        7-
           15-
      Cz


                                                                        6-


           10-                                                          5-


                                                                        4-
           5                                                            3-1 --- r-
           9/17/73     1/19/80        5/22/86        9/22/92            6/15/59   3/16/64

                                Date                                             Date
      Ca dis                                                        Ca





                                   P 10 t         FIGURE 32: Dissolved potassium

                     USGs 710
         3.5-




         3.0-




         2.5-



     CA
         2.0-









         1.0-




         0.5


         11/13/57      3/16/64       7/18/70      11/18/76       3/22/83       7/23/-89

                                                 Date






                                                  P 10 t

                        go-


                        80-
                        70-          USGS 725

                        60-


                        50-


                        40-


                        30-


                        20-


                        10-


                         0

                                              8
                        9/17/73         1/19/  0         5/22 86         9/22/92

                                                  Date





                                                                                                          86

                                  Plot
          9-                                      FIGURE 33: Dissolved magnessium


               USGS 710
          8-




          7-




          6-




          5-




          4-




          3-




          2-



         11/13/57 1/14/61 3/16/64 5/18/67 7/18/70 9/17/73 11/18fl6 1/19/80 3/22/83 5/22/86 7/23/89 9/22/92

                                                    Date
                                                                           7-



                                  p 10 t                                      USGS
        6.5-                                                               6- 720
                   USGS 725

        6.0-


                                                                           5-




        5.0-                                                         CY)

                                                                           4-

        4.5-



        4.0-
                                                                           3-


        3.5-


        3.0-                                                               2
        2.5 i                                                                - 1@111
        9/17/73          1/19/80         5/22/86         9/22/92            6115/59 8/1616210/16/65

                                  Date                                                 Date





                                                                                             87
                              p 10                 FiGURE 34: Dissolved sulfate
        14


        13
                USGs 710
        12


        11


        10




          8-


          7-
    0
          6-


          5-


          4-


          3-


          2-


          1-


          0
        11/13/57     3/16/64      7/18/70     11/18/76     3/22/83      7123/89

                                             Date
                                                                     10

                                  1                                   9   USGS 720
          500-                                                        8

                      USGS 725                                        7-


          400-




                                                                      5-
          300-


                                                                      4-


          200-                                                        3-


                                                                      2-

          100-





           0                                                          0
          9/17/73        1/19/80       5122/86        9/22/92          6/15/59 8/16/62 10/16/65

                                 Date                                              Date

        Suliale









                  Substances reactive to Methylene Blue


                        Methylene Blue is a chemical dye which changes color in the presence
                  of anions dissolved in water. So, the dye is used as an indirect method of
                  estimating alkalinity and hardness. In the data from the Fajardo River it
                  shows a declining tendency (Table 9: p4rameter #61; Figure 35).


                  Chlorine and Fluoride


                        Chlorine and fluoride are cheap, effective disinfectants added to treated
                  waters. Their presence in natural water bodies indicates waste water
                  discharges. Chlorine is also illegally used, in concentrated form, by fishermen
                  to kill and capture freshwater shrimp. Chlorine showed a very high peak in
                  the Fajardo River data foK 1973-74 4t station USGS 725 and an increase
                  tendency at USGS 720. Fluoride has fluctuated within acceptable levels (Table
                  9: parameters #26 & 27; Figures 36 & 37). Anions formed from both elements
                  also contribute to water's hardness and alkalinity.


                  Nitrogen and phosphorus

                        Nitrogen, ph6sphoru4 and solAe materials composed of them are the
                  most important sources of nutrients in aquatic systems (see Table 8). What
                  we call organic nitrogen is the sum of the amounts of nitrates (N03), nitrites
                  (N02) and ammonia (NI-14) in water. Clean natural waters rarely contain
                  more than a tenth of a milligram of ammonia nitrogen per liter (0.1 ppm N),
                  while community sewages commonly contain 15-50 ppm N. Most of this
                  ammonia rises from the hydrolysis of urea in urine, but additional ammonia
                  is generated by decomposition of other nitrogenous materials in sewage.
                  Sudden increases in the concentrations of ammonia found in streams
                  indicates that sewage, barnyard wastes, or other high energy nitrogen
                  additions are being added. Other changes commonly accompanies added
                  nitrogen from sewage: slime growth in shallow surfaces of the stream, algal
                  blooms, turbidity due to bacteria and colloids, fish kills, and sewage odors.
                  Ammonia measurements are used because they afford a rough quantitative
                  measurement of the relative concentration of sewage in the water, even at
                  very low levels of pollutioL If dissolved oxygen is available in the water,





                                                                                                      89
                                 p 10 t
                                            FIGURE 35: Substances restive to
        0.10-                                            Methylene Blue
               USGS 710
        0.09-


        0.08-


        0.07-


        0.06-


        0.05-



        0.04-


        0.03-


        0.02-


        0.01-


        0.00
         1/144/61      @5/1 8/67      9/17/73        1/19/80       -5/22/86       9/22/92


                                               Date

      Met i


                                               p 10 t

                     0.10-


                     0.09-


                     0.08-    USGS 725

                     0.07-


                   CO
                   0 0.06-
                   C


                     0.05-


                     0.04-


                     0.03-


                     0.02-


                     0.01-
                      9/17/73         1/19/80        5/22/86         9/22/92


                                               Date
                   MethyleneB





                                                                                               90

                               P1 Ot          FIGURE 36: Dissolved Chloride

         go-
             -    USGS 710

         80-


         7o-


         60-



         50-



         40-



         30-


         20-
         10-


        11/13/57    3/16/64     7/18/70    11/18/76    3/22/83    7/23/89


                                         Date








                               p 10 t                                 25-


        4000-



        3500-
                 USGS 725                                             20-    USGS
        3000-                                                                720


        2500-

     CD
                                                                      15-
        2000-
     0

     0
        1500-


        1000-                                                         10-


         500-                                                           -



          0
                                                                      5                    1-T----
         9/17/73        1/19/80       5/22/86        9/22192         11/13/57    5/18/6 7 9/17/7 3

                                Date-                                            Date






                                                                                                           9-1
                                    p 10 t
                                               FIGURE 37: Dissolved Fluoride


         0.40-    USCS 710





         0.30-






        rn
       LL 0.20-







         0.10-








         0.00-
          11/13/57       3/16/64        7/18/70        11/18/76         3/22/83       7/23/89


                                                                                1.4-


                                    p 10 t
                                                                                1.2-



          0.5-
                                                                                1.0-
              -    USGS 725                                                          USGS
                                                                                      720
          0.4-
                                                                                0.8-


                                                                           LL
       CD 0.3-
                                                                                0.6-


       U-
          0.2-   L
                                                                                0.4-



          0.1-
                                                                                0.2-


          0,0                                                                   0.
          9/17/73         1/19/80         5/22/86          9122192                6/15/59 8/16/62 10/1 6/65
                                    Date                                                      Date
        Fluoride                                                             F





                                                                                                            92



                  highly toxic ammonia, is eventually oxidized by some bacteria into nitrites,
                  which are, in turn, oxidized into nitrates (which are fertilizers for aquatic
                  plants). The presence of significant concentration of nitrites and nitrates is an
                  indicator of older waste or pollution further up stream. It is also an indirect
                  way of determining the presence of adequate amounts of dissolved oxygen in
                  the water. Ammorvia, nitrife, and nitrate. can also enter water from sources
                  other than sewage, like fertilizers and industrial wastes. Reported cases in
                  scientific literature have revealed that nitrates in concentrations above 10
                  mg/I can be fatal to small infants and to the elderly.


                          TABLE 8: Macro- and micronutrients essential for aquatic biota.


                              Macronutrients                            Micronutrients
                  carbon, hydrogen, oxygen,                 calcium (for algae), iron, manganese,
                  phosphorus, sulfur, potassium,            copper, zinc, molibdenum,
                  magnessium, calcium (except for           vanadium, boron, chloride, cobalt,
                  algae)                                    silica


                         From the data gathdred from 1he Fajardo River, it is obvious that
                  periodic episodes of peak levels of organic nitrogen in all its from have been
                  happening since 19i3 and co'ntinue (Table 9: parameters #33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38
                  & 39; Figures 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 & 45).
                         Phosphates, which are soluble phosphorus derivatives, like
                  nitrogenous materials, are a normal component of sewage, but inclusion of
                  phosphates from detergents has multiplied phosphate coming from
                  treatment plants.      Intensive fertilization of farm lands with fertilizers
                  containing high phosphorus' concentrations also raises the phosphate
                  contents of runoff waters. High phosphate levels in water produces heavy
                  algal blooms which disrupts the oxygen content of the water as well as the
                  balance of the food chain. Phosphorus levels reached a high peak in 1973 at
                  USGS 710 but have been showing a declining tendency since 1975 at USCS 725
                  (Table 9: parameters #40 & 41; Figures 46 & 47).





                                                                                                                93
                                     Plot                FIGURE 38: Nitrates


           1.4-       USGS 710
           1.3-










           0.8-

           0.7-

           0.6-

           0.5-

           0.4-

           0.3-

           0.2-

           0.1
           0.  C)j                                                  T
           11/13/57       3/16/64        7/18/70        11/18176        3/22/83         7/23/89

                                                      Date




                                                                 Plot

                                        3.5-




                                       3.0-

                                                      USGS 720

                                       2.5-




                                       2.0-









                                       1.0-




                                      0
                                        .5-




                                      0. cr
                                        6/15/59 8/1616210/16/65

                                                   Date





                                                                                                                    94

                                      Plot



                       USGS 725
           0.9-


           0.8-


           0.7-


           0.6-

       CD
           0.5-

      z
           0.4-


           0.3-


           0.2-


           0.1-


           0.0-
           9/17/73          1/19/80          5/22/86           9/22/92


                                      Date









                                                      Plot

                         0.10-





                         0.10.-
                                  EQB 78B



                     z   0.09-
                     cl@
                     0
                     z



                         0.09-






                         0.08-
                                  5/22/86        12/22/87        7/23/89         2/21/91


                                                      Date






                                                                                                              95

                                    P I o t
                                                      FIGURE 39: Nitrites
         0.06-
              -     USGS 710


         0.05-




         0.04-



      ,7, 0.03-
      0
      z


         0.02-




         0.01



         0.00                               f
         11/13/57         3/16/64       7/18/70       11/18/76        3/22/83        7/23/89

                                                    Date








                                                        Plot

                            0.14-



                            0.12-    USGS 725



                            0.10-



                            0.08-



                         z  0.06-



                            0.04-



                            0.02 -
                                                                   LLIa
                            0.00
                             9/17/73          1/19/80          5/22/86          9/22/92

                                                        Date







                                    p  0 t
                                                 FIGURE 40: Sum of nitrates and
         1.1-                                                  nitrites


         1.0-        USGS 710


         0.9-


         0.8-


         o.7-

     0
     CO  0.6-
     0
     z
     c,-,j 0.5-
     0
     z
         0.4-


         0.3-


         0.2-


         0.1-


         0.
         11/13/57       3/16/64         7/18/70        111*18/76       3/22/83         7/23/89


                                                     Date







                                                      p 10 t

                           0.8-



                           0.7-
                                  USGS 725

                           0.6-



                           0.5-


                        Z+ 0.4-
                        8
                        z
                           0.3-



                           0.2-



                           0.1-



                           0.0-
                           9/17/73         1/19/80          5/22/86           9/22/92

                                                     Date






                                                                                                                   9 7

                                      Plot

         0.30-



                      EQB 78B
         0.25-




         0.20-

      ,a
      s                                                         0
      en
   .  0  0.15-
      z
      as
      S
      z
         0.10-
                                                                                   4,*"*\
         0.05-


               1                      1                      1                       1
       - 0.00 1 1         1           v          I                       I                       I
                       5/2Z'86                IZ=7                    7/23/89                 2/21/91


                                                     D=







                                                                 0






































                                                                 a





                                                                                                               98


                                      p 10 t
             5-                                    FIGURE 42: Ammonia


                   USGS 710


             4-






             3-





       z
             2-






                                                              p r   P. P1               40 d"T".
           ll-/13/57      3/16/64         //18/70       11/18/76        3@/22/83        7/23/89

                                                       Date






                                                         p 10 t

                               6-




                               5-



                               4-      USGS 725


                         .E
                         0     3-
                         E
                         E



                               2-
                               0     L
                                                            F
                             9/17/73           1/19/80          5/22/86          9/22/92

                                                         Date





                                                                                                99

                               Plot
         2-                                FIGURE 43: Total organic nitrogen

               USGS 710












     0
    z













         0
        11/13/57    3/16/64      7/18/70     11/18/76     3/22/83      7/23/89


                                           Date






                                                                                                                     10C
                                       Plot
         1-000-    Total kiel N
                      EQB 78B
         0.900-


         0.800-


         0.700-


         0.600-

      E
         0.500-


      0  0.400-


         0.300-


         Olm-


         0.100-


         0.000
                      5/22/86              12/=7                 7/23/89                Zf21/91



                                                 Date







                                                         Plot

                              5-
                                           Tot org Nitrogen USGS 725


                              4-





                              3-


                        c
                        CD
                        cm
                        0













                              0
                            9/17/73           1/19/80           5/22/86           9122/92

                                                        Date





                                                                                               101
                               p 10 t
                                             FIGURE 44: Total nitrogen
          7-
                            USGS 710


          6-




          5-




          4-

     z    3-


          2-


                                   4
                                               ICA
          0       1
               9/17/73   11/18/76    1/19/80    3/22/83     5/2@/86    7/23/89     9/22/92

                                               Date

      N tot




                                              p 10 t

                         9-


                         8-


                         7-
                                      USGS 725
                         6-


                    c    5-
                    (D
                    0)
                    0
                         4-


                         3-


                         2







                       9/17/73        1/19/80        5/22/86        9/22/92


                                               Date

                     Nitrogen





                                                                                                102

                               p I o t
          7-                             FIGJRE 4:@-. Sum of total nitrogen,
                                                     ammonia and organic
                                                     nitrogen
          6-           USGS 710


          5-


     '6   4-
     E?
     0

     z    3

     z


          2-


                AA
          0-      1
               9/17/73    11/18176    1119180     3/22/83     5122186     7123/89     9/22192


                                                Date





                                                Plot

                           9-


                           8-


                           7-


                           6-


                      0
                      z    5-


                      C
                      0    4-             USGS 725
                      E
                      E
                      <    3-

                           2-


                           1
                           0@
                         9/17/73        1/19/80       5/22/86        9/22/92


                                                Date





                                                                                  103

                           P 10 t
        2.0-                        FIGURE 46: Phosphorus

                     USGS 710










    B i.o-






        0.5-






        0.0-
            9/17/73  11/18/76  1/19/80.  3/22/83   5/22/86   7/23/89   9/22/92

                                        Date






                                                                                                                        104

                                       plot

         0.400-


         0.350-  EQB 78B

         0.300-



         0.250-



         0.2m -


       90.150-


         0.100-



         0.050-



         0.000--
                       5/22/86               12=7                    W23/89                 2121/91

                                                    Dm





                                                      Plot




                          1.6-
                          1.4-                  USGS '725

                          1.2-





                       0
                      -C
                      CL

                          0.6-



                          0.4-



                          0.2-


                          0.0--
                          9/17/73            1/19/80           5f22/86            9/22/92


                                                       Date





                                                                                                       1 OS











                                   FIGURE 47: Phosphates



                                 Plot

       0.10-


       0.09-
                   USGS 710
       0.08-


       o.o7-


       0.06-


       0.05-


       0.04-


       0.03-


       0.02-


       0.01-


       0.00 1      1      1
        11/13/57      3/16/64      7/18/70      11/18/76      3/22/83       7/23/89


                                               Date





                                                                                                       106





                  Phenolic substances


                         Phenols are by-products of organic matter in decomposition. Thus,
                  phenolic levels are used mostly as an indication of sewage and wastewater
                  pollution. In the Fajardo River, phenolics peaked in 1986 at USGS 710,
                  perhaps reflecting wastewater influx from a nearby landfill (Table 9:
                  parameter #60; Figure 48).


                  The carbon system and pH


                         Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most important material in a body of water,
                  besides water itself. It is picked up from the atmosphere, from the soil, from
                  decomposition of organic matter, and from the respiration of aquatic
                  organisms. In water, C02 produces carbonic acid (H2CO3), bicarbonate (HCOY),
                  carbonate (C03-2), and hydrogen ions (H+) turning the water slightly acidic,
                  and increasing the water's ability to carry alkaline compounds. Waters that
                  flow through soils that cor@tain no al;aline materials will remain acidic and
                  will be slightly corrosive. Such waters are low in mineral content and are
                  called "soft". Aquatic plant life depends upon C02 and HC03 to survive,
                  using it (in the presence of sunlight) in photosynthesis (Renn, 1968). They
                  excrete oxygen. In the absence of sufficient sunlight, the process reverses, and
                  plants consume oxygen to produce C02. Aquatic animals always consume
                  oxygen to produce C02-.
                         The pH me`asurem@nt estim;tes the relative concentrations of
                  hydrogen (H+) and hydroxyl (OH-) ions in water; the proportions of acids and
                  bases. To a large extent, pH in water bodies is determined by those chemical
                  processes of the carbon system. As plants remove C02 from the water, the
                  oxygen content, pH, and alkalinity increases. Plants will also take from the
                  water dissolved salts, minerals, and metals.
                         Data from the Fajardo River shows a decreasing tendency of
                  bicarbonate at USGS 725 and of organic carbon at both USGS 725 &710.
                  However, it shows an increasing tendency for bicarbonate at USGS 720 (Table
                  9: parameters #28, 29, 30, 31; Figures 49, 50, 51 & 52). This may be due to
                  localized discharges of organic matter at stations USGS 710 and 725 that do not
                  reach station USGS 720.





                                                                                              107/


                              p 10

       50-                              FIGURE 48: Phenolic substances


           -     USGS 710


       40-





       30

    B
    -6
    C
    (D
    LL 20-



       10






         0-
       1/14/61      5/18/67       9/17/73       1/19/80      5/22/86       9/22/92

                                          Pate
     Fenol tot




                                            p 10 t



                       10-


                       9-


                       8-


                       7-      USGS 725
                  In
                  0
                  C    6-

                  CL
                       5-


                       4-


                       3-


                       2-



                      9/1 7/73      1/19/80        5/22/86       9/22/92


                                             Date

                   Phenols





                                                                                                108
                                p 10 t
                                           FIGURE 49: Bicarbonates


                   USGS 710
         70-






         60-






         50-






         40-






         30-





         20 1
         11/13/57   3/16/64    7/18170    1.1/18/76  .3/22/83     7/23/89

                                         Date

                                                                    65-

                               p 10 t                               6 0 - USGS
                                                                         720

       150-
                                                                    55-
       140-
       130-         USGS 725                                        50-

       120-
       110-                                                         45-

       100-
                                                                    40-
         90-

         80-                                                        35-

         70-
         60-                                                        30-

         50-
                                                                    25-
         40-

         30-1                                                       20
         9/17/73       1/19/80       5/22/86        9/22/92         11/13/57 3/16/64 7/18/70

                               Date                                              Date

     HCO3





                                                                                                   109





                                        FIGUIZE 50: Carlbonates



                                 p I o t

           5-



           4-     USGS 710




           3-






           2-










           0                                                    1
         11/13/57     3/16/64     7/18/70      11/18/76     3/22/83      7/23/89


                                             Date






                               p 10 t   FIGURE 51: Carbon dioxide


         40-


              USGS 710



         30-







         20-







         10-







          0
        11/13/57    3/16/64     7/18/70    11/18/76    3/22/83      7/23/89


                                          Date

       002




                                            p 10 t




                     250-





                     2oo-





                     150-
                                USGS 725




                     100-





                       50-





                       0
                     9/17/73        1/19/80       5/22/86       9/22/92
                        4-@



                                            Date

                   C02







                              P I o t    FIGURE 52: Organic carbon



        25-

               USGS 710


        2o-





        15-
    LM
    0



        10-





          5-





          0-
        1/14/61      5/18/67       9/17/73      1/19/80       5/22/86       9/22/92


                                           Date








                                            Plot

                     200-





                                 USGS 725
                     150-





                  C
                  0
                  -2 loo-





                       50-
                                 L
                       0           ___T__I I   I  I   I   I   I     -I
                      9/17/73       1/19/80        5/22/86       9/22/92


                                             Dale






                                                                                                                     112

                                      Plot
           9.5-                                    FIGURE 53: Hydrogen potential (pH)


           9.0-

               -       USGS 710


           8.5-




           8.0-




           7.5-




           7.0-




           6.5-




           6.0
           11/13/57 1/14/61 3/16/64 5/18/67 7118nO.   9/17/73 1108M V19/80 3/22/83 5/22/86 7/23/89 9/22/92
                                                           Date

       pH


                                                                      010t

                                          8.0-
                                                       USGS 720




                                          7.5-






                                          7.0-






                                          6.5-






                                          6.0-






                                          5.5
                                          11/13/57        5/18/67 9/17/73


                                                          Date







                                    p I o t

          8.0-
                USGS 725



          7.5-





          7.0-





          6.5-





          6.0-





          5.5
          9/17/73         1/19/80         5/22/86         9/22/92

                                   Date









                                             Line Chart

                        10-
                           EQB 78B


                        8-




                        6-




                        4-





                        2-




                        0-
                                         09/24/87             01/19/89            09/20190






                                                                                                                   114



                           pH peaked in     1973  at USGS 710, while showing valleys for the same
                    period at USGS 720 & 725 (Table 9: parameter #6; Figure 53). It may be due to
                    influx of organic matter at st. 720 which reached st. 725. Station EQB 78B
                    shows more recent high fluctuations.


                    Metals, silica and toxic substances


                           Metals, silica (which are micronutrients) and toxic substances like
                    cyanide, can come from soils, metallic pipes in contact or near the river,
                    wastewater, landfills or solid wastes thrown directly onto the river. Silica,
                    another micronutrient, comes mostly from the soil. Data from the Fajardo
                    River shows an increase tendency in silica, decreasing tendencies of copper,
                    chromium and cobalt and siable fluctuations for the other components (Table
                    9: parameters #13, 44, 45, 4@, 47, 48 , 44, 50 , 51, 52 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58 & 59;
                    Figures 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69 & 70). Amounts
                    of toxic substances have been low.



                    Pesticides


                           Samples for pesticides are taken once a year from station USGS 710. It
                    has never found significant traces of pesticides. However, since EQB has
                    established that pesticides is one of the most important types of NPSP at the
                    Fajardo River, it is possible that USGS sampling methods are inadequate for
                    this group of parameters.



                      TABLE 9: Summarized analysis of historical water quality data gathered at
                    monitoring stations USGS 710, USGS 720, USGS 725, and EQB 78B (1958-1992).

                    Parameter Station             H      L                       Comments

                    1. InstantaneousUSGS 710                     Fluctuations: 10-200. Peaks: 1961, 1975, 1979,
                      Discharge                                  1980,1982,1990.
                        YO / s)    USGS 720                      Fluctuations: 10-100. Peaks: 1961, 1962, 1963.
                                   USGS 725                      Fluctuations: 10-180. Peaks: 1973,1975,1990.

                    2. Total VolurneUSGS 710                     Fluctuations: 10,000-35,000. Peaks: 1968, 1969,
                          (ft3)                                  1986.
                                   USGS 720                      Fluctuations: 15,000-30,000. Peak: 1962.

                    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------










                       Parameter Station                  H       L                          Comments

                       3. TemperatureUSGS 710             32.2
                              (00       USGS 720          32.2
                                        USGS 725          32!2             huctuations: 24-33. Peaks: 1974, 1975, 1977,
                                                                           1981.
                                        EQB 78B           32.2             Fluctuations: 25-33. Peak; 1988.

                       4. Conductance USGS 710                             Fluctuations: 75-150. Valleys: 1962, 1972, 1980,
                       1981,
                            (gs/cm)                                        1985. Peaks: 1973, 1980, 1984.
                                        USGS 720                           Fluctuations around 100. Very high peak in
                       1973.
                                        USGS 725                           Fluctuations: 100-500. Very high peaks in 1973-
                       1974.

                       5. Salinity      EQB 78B                            Fluctuations: 25-40. Very low valley in 1988.
                            (ppt)

                       6. pH            USGS 710          9.0     6.0      Fluctuations: 7.0-8.0 from 1961-1971 and
                       (standard units)                                    afterwards from 6.0-9.0. Peak: 1973.
                                        USGS 720          9.0     6.0      Fluctuations: 6.0-8.0. Valley: 1973.
                                        USGS 725          9.0     6.0      Fluctuations: 6.0-8.0. Valley: 1973.
                                        EQB 78B           8.5     7.3      Fluctuations: 7.3-8.5. Peak: 1987. Valley: 1989.

                       7. Color         USGS 710                           Fluctuations: 2-7. Peaks in 1967; valley in 1966.
                       (standard units)USGS 725                            Fluctuations: 3-15. Peaks: 1962, 1966, Valleys:
                                                                           1965,1966.
                                        EQB 78B                            Fluctuations: 0-5. Peaks: 1987, 1989, 1990.

                       8. Turbidity     USGS 710          50               Fluctuations: 0-20. Peaks: 1977,1978,1980,1981,
                           (NTU)                                           1989,1990.
                                        USGS 725          50               Fluctuations: 0-10. Peaks: 1979, 1981, 1985 (very
                                                                           high), 1986, 1990.
                                        EQB 78B           10               Fluctuations: 0-20. Peaks: 1986, 1987, 1988-1989.

                       9.Suspended      USGS 710                           Fluctuations: 0-600. Peaks: 1962, 1974, 1977,
                          Sediments                                        1980.
                           (mg/D        USGS 725                           Fluctuations: 0-600. Peaks: 1974, 1975.

                       10. Dissolved    USGS 710                           fluctuations: 0-25. Peaks: 1977, 1978, 1979.
                              Solids                                       Decrease tendency.
                           (tons/day)   USGS 725                           Fluctuations: 0-25. Peaks: 1979, 1986. Decrease
                                                                           tendency.

                       11. Total Sum    USGS 710          500              Fluctuations: 40-100. Peaks in 1964 and 1979
                            Diss. Solids                                   were within acceptable levels.
                              (nig/1)   USGS 720          500              Fluctuations: 40-100. Peaks in 1962 and 1963
                                                                           were within acceptable levels.
                                        USGS 725          500              Fluctuations: 60-130. Peak in 1983 was within
                                                                           acceptable levels.
                       ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------










                     Para eter Station               H       L                        Comments


                     12. Residue of USGS 710                         Fluctuations between 1963 and 1979 were 50-120.
                         Susp.Solids                                 From 1980 on, fluctuations are 0-50. Peaks: 1977,
                           (Mg/1)                                    1979,1981, 1989. Increase tendency.
                                     USGS 720                        Fluctuations: 60-95. Peak in 1966. Increase
                                                                     tendency.
                                     USGS 725                        Fluctuations: 0-50. Peaks: 1980, 1982, 1986.
                                     EQB 78B                         Fluctuations: 10-80. Peaks: 1987, 1988.

                     13. Silica, diss USGS 710                       Fluctuations: 10-30.
                          (mg/1)     USGS 720                        Muctuations: 16-27. Peak in 1962.
                                     USGS 725                        Fluctuations: 12-26. Increase tendency.

                     14. Oil/grease  EQB 78B                         Fluctuations 0-3. Peaks: 1988, 1989-1990.
                          (Mg/1)

                     15. Dissolved   USGS 71.0               5.0     Fluctuations: 7.0-11.0. Very low valley in 1974.
                         Oxygen      USGS 725                5.0     Fluctuations: 6.0-11.0. Valleys: 1973-1974, 1976.
                          (mg/1)     EQB 78B                 4.0     Fluctuations: 5.0-7.0.

                     16. % Saturation USGS 710                       Fluctuations- 90-120. Decrease tendency.
                         Diss. OxygenUSGS 725                        Fluctuations: 80-120. Decrease tendency.
                                     EQB 78B                         Fluctuations: 50-100.

                     17. BOD (mg/I)USGS 710                          Fluctuations: 0-3. Peaks: 1968, 1971, 1973, 1979.
                                                                     Increase tendency.
                                     USGS 725                        Fluctuations: 0-200. Peaks: 1973-1974, 1977.

                     18. COD (mg/I)USGS 710                          Fluctuations: 0-30, increasing since 1983. Peaks:
                                                                     1983,1987,1988,1990,1992.
                                     USGS 725                        Fluctuations: 040. Peaks: 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989.

                     19. Hardness, USGS 710                          fluctuations: 0-5. Peaks: 1962,1966,1967,1980.
                         Total (mg/1)                                Decrease tendency.
                                     USGS 720                        Fluctuations: 04. Peaks in 1966.
                                     USGS 725                        Fluctuations: 0-7. Peaks: 1981, 1984, 1985.
                                                                     Decrease tendency.

                     20. Hardness,   USGS 710                        Fluctuations: 15-45. Peaks: 1962, 1966, 1972,
                     Noncarbonate                                    1980.
                     (mg/1)           USGS 720                       Fluctuations: 15-45. Peak in 1966. Increase
                                                                     tendency
                                     USGS 725                        Fluctuations: 35-60. Peak in 1984. Valleys: 1978,
                                                                     1979.


                     21. Alkalinity USGS 710                         Fluctuations: 10-50. Peaks: 1973,1991.
                           (mg/1)    USGS 725                        Fluctuations: 10-70. Peaks: 1973, 1974. Decrease
                                                                     tendency.

                     22. Sodium, dissUSGS 710                        Fluctuations: 5-15. Peaks: 1974,1980.
                          (mg/1)     USGS 720                        Fluctuations: 5-14.
                                     USGS 725                        Fluctuations; 0-50. Very high peaks in 1974.






                                                                                                                                          117




                        Parameter --Station                 H       L                           Comments


                        23. Calcium,      USGS 710                            Fluctuations: 4-10. Peaks: 1968, 1970.
                            diss (mg/1)   USGS 725                            Fluctuation: 5-9. Peak in 1966. Increase
                                                                              tendency.
                                          USGS 720                            Fluctuations: 5-15. Peak in 1984.


                        24. Potassium,    USGS 710                            Fluctuations: 0.5-2.0. Peaks: 1974, 1980, 1989-
                            diss (mg/1)                                       1990, 1991. Increase tendency.
                                          USGS 725                            Fluctuations: 0-5.0. High peaks: 1973-1975,
                                                                              1978.


                        25. MagnessiumUSGS 710                                Fluctuations: 1.5-5-5. Peaks: 1962, 1967, 1980.
                            diss (mg/1) USGS 720                              Fluctuations: 13-6.0. Peaks: 1963, 1967.
                                          USGS 725                            Fluctuations: 3.0-5.0. Peaks: 1984, 1985, 1990.

                        26. Chloride,     USGS 710          250               Fluctuations: 5-15. Peaks within acceptable
                          diss (Mg/1)                          0              fevels: 1962, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1979.
                                          USGS 720          250               nuctuations: 5-15. Peak in 1962 within
                                                                              acceptable levels. Increase tendency.
                                          USGS 725          250               Fluctuations: 0-100. Very high peaks in 1973-
                                                                              1974.


                        27. Fluoride,     USGS 710          0.7               Fluctuations: 0-0.3. Peak in 1973 within
                            diss (mg/1)                                       acceptable levels.
                                          USGS 720          0.7               Fluctuations: 0-0.4. Peak in 1962.
                                          USGS 725          0.7               Fluctuations: 0-0.3. Peak in 1973 within
                                                                              acceptable levels.

                        28. Bicarbonate,USGS 710                              Fluctuations: 20-60. Peak in 1973.
                            diss (mg/1) USGS 720                              Fluctuations: 20-60. Peaks: 1966,1973. Increase
                                                                              tendency.
                                          USGS 725                            Fluctuations: 30-80. Peaks; 1973, 1974. Decrease
                                                                              tendency.

                        29. Carbonate, USGS 710                               Around 0, except in 1971, 1974, 1978.
                            diss (mg/1)

                        30. Carbon        USGS 710                            Fluctuations: 0-10. Peaks: 1973,1980,1981.
                          dioxide, diss   USGS 725                            Fluctuations: 0-40. Peaks: 1973, 1977.
                            (mg/1)                                            a

                        31. Carbon,       USGS 710                            Fluctuations: 0-15. Peaks: 1975, 1977. Decrease
                        organic total                                         tendency.
                            (Mg/1)        USGS 725                            Fluctuations: 0-25. Peaks: 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977.
                                                                              Decrease tendency.

                        32. Sulfate,      USGS 710          250               Fluctuations: 0-10. Peaks (1973, 1974) are
                         diss (mg/1)                                          within acceptable levels. Increase tendency.
                                          USGS 720          250               Fluctuations: 0-10.
                                          USGS 725          250               Fluctuations: 0-10. Peaks: 1973-1974.

                        ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








                                                                                                                 118



                        Parameter         Station          H        L                           Comments


                        33. Nitrate,      USGS 710                           Fluctuations of 0-1.0 between 1962 and 1967, of
                         total (mg/1)                                        0-1.5 in 1968-1973, and of 0-0.5 in 1974 on.
                                          USGS 720                           Fluctuations: 0-1.5. Peaks: 1960, 1961.
                                          USGS 725                           Fluctuations: 0-0.5. Peaks: 1981, 1990.
                                          EQB 78B                            A single peak in 1990 (0.1-0).

                        34. Nitrite,      USGS 710                           Fluctuations: 0-0.3. Peaks: 1976,1980.
                           total (mg/1)   USGS 725                           Fluctuations: 0-0.8. Peak in 1980.

                        35. N03 + N02,USGS 710             relative*         Fluctuations: 0-0.4. Peaks: 1981, 1985.
                           total (mg/1) USGS 725           relative*         Fluctuations: 0-0.5. Peak in 1981.
                                          EQB 78B                            Fluctuations: 0-0.2. Peaks: 1988,1989.

                        36. Ammonia,      USGS 710         1.0**             Fluctuations: 0-0.3. Peak in 1974.
                           total (mg/1)   USGS 725         1.0**             Fluctuations: 0-1.0. Peaks: 1973, 1978, 1982.

                        37. Nitrogen,     USGS 710                           Fluctuations: 1.0-2.0.
                         organic, total   USGS 725                           Fluctuations: 1.0-2.0. Peaks 1973, 1974, 1975,
                             (Mg/1)                                          1976.

                        38. Nitrogen      USGS 710                           Fluctuations: 0-2. Peaks in 1973.
                         (NO3), total     USGS 725                           Fluctuations: 0-2. Peaks: 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976.
                             (Mg/1)

                        39. Amonnia +     USGS 710                           Fluctuations: 0-2. Peak in 1973.
                            Norg + N      USGS 725                           Fluctuations: 0-2. Peaks: 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976.
                             (mg/1)       EQB 78B                            Fluctuations: 0-1.

                        40. Phosphorus,USGS 710            1                 Fluctuations: 0-1. Significant peak in 1973.
                          total (mg/1) USGS 725            1                 Fluctuations over 1.0 in 1973, 1974, 1975 & 1976.
                                                                             Descending tendency since.
                                          EQB 78B                            Fluctuations: 0-0.4. Peak in 1987.

                        41. Phosphate,USGS 710                               Fluctuations: 0-0.1.
                           total (mg/1)

                        42. Fecal Coli- USGS 710           2,000...          Fluctuations: 0-10,000. Very high peaks: 1973,
                        forms (colonies/                                     1974, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1989, 1991. Decrease
                        100 n-d)                                             tendency.
                                          USGS 725         2,000"--          From an extremely high count of near 20,000,000
                                                                             in 1973, situation has normalized since 1983.
                                          EQB 785          2,000'            From a very high count in 1973, situation
                                                                             normalized.

                        43. Fecal Strep-USGS 710                             Fluctuation: 0-10,000. High peaks in 1973, 1978,
                        tococci (colonies/                                   1980,1981,1982,1988,1989.
                            100 n-fl)     USGS 725                           Fluctuations: 0-10,000. Peaks: 1973, 1974, 1975,
                                                                             1976,1978.

                        ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





                                                                                                                                               9




                        Parameter         Station           H         L                          Comments

                        44. Iron, total   USGS 710                            Fluctuations: 0-250. Peaks: 1978, 1980, 1990.
                               (pg/1)     USGS 725                            Fluctuations: 0-2,000. Peaks: 1979, 1986.
                                          EQB 78B                             Fluctuations: 0-500. Peaks: 1987, 1988.

                        45. Iron, diss    USGS 720                            Values at 0, except peak in 1970.
                               (Mg/1)

                        46. Copper,       USGS 710          relative*         Fluctuations: 0-10. Peaks: 1977, 1981, 1987, 1990.
                             total (4g/1) USGS 7215         relative*         huctuations: 0-25 after 1980. Peaks: 1975, 1976,
                                                                              1977. Decrease tendency.
                                          EQB 78B           50                Fluctuations: 0-10. Peak in 1987 within
                                                                              acceptable levels.

                        47. Arsenic,      USGS 710          50                Peaks in 1974, 1983 within acceptable levels.
                             total (pg/1) USGS 725          50                Peaks in 1974, 1983 within acceptable levels.

                        48. Barium,       USGS 710          1,000             Fluctuations between 0-100.
                             total (gg/1)

                        49. Boron,        USGS 710          1,000             Fluctuations between 10-30.
                             total (gg/1) USGS 725          1,000             Fluctuations between 10-50.
                                          EQB 78B           4,800             Fluctuations between 2,000-4,500. Peak in 1987.

                        50. Cadn-dun,     USGS 710          relative*         Fluctuations between 0-5. Peaks in 1978,1980.
                           total (gg/1)   USGS 725          relative*         Fluctuations between 0-3. Peaks in 1973,1982.
                                          EQB 78B           5                 Fluctuations: 0-5. Decrease tendency.

                        51. Chromium,     USGS 710          50                Fluctuations: 0-20. Peak in 1980 within
                          total, (gg/1)                                       acceptable levels. Decrease tendency.
                                          USGS 725          50                Fluctuations: 0-20. Peak in 1975 within
                                                                              5cceptable levels. Decrease tendency.
                                          EQB 78B           300               Values at 0, except peak in 1987 within
                                                                              acceptable levels.

                        52. Lead, total USGS 710            relative*         Fluctuations: 0-20. Peaks: 1978, 1981, 1989.
                                 (jig/P   USGS 725          relative*         Fluctuations: 0-10. Peaks: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977.
                                          EQB 78B           15                Values at 0 except peak in 1986.

                        53. Manganese,USGS 710              50                Fluctuations: 0-50. Peaks: 1974, 1975,1977,1979,
                           total (gg/1)                                       1981,1987,1989.
                                          USGS 725          50                Fluctuations over acceptable levels: 0-250.
                                                                              High peaks in 1975, 1976, 1977.
                                          EQB 78B           100               Fluctuations: 0-100. Peaks: 1986,1987,

                        54. Cyanide,      USGS 710          0.02              Values at 0, except high peak in 1978.
                             total (mg/1)

                        55. Cobalt,       USGS 710                            Fluctuations: 0-2. Peaks: 1978, 1980.
                             total (gg/1)                       a             9
                        ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------








                                                                                                                   120



                       Parameter Station                   H        L                           Comments

                       56. Mercury,      USGS 725          1                  Fluctuations: 0-0.5. Peaks: 1979, 1986.
                            total (gg/1)

                       57. Nickel,       USGS 710          relative*          Fluctuations: 04. Peaks: 1974, 1980.
                            total (gg/1) USGS 725          relative*          Fluctuations: 0-25.

                       58. Selenium,     USGS 725          10                 Fluctuations: 0-1. Peak in 1976 within
                         total (4g/1)                                         acceptable levels.

                       59. Zinc, total   USGS 710          50                 Fluctuations: 0-50. Peaks: 1980, 1988.
                            (Jig/1)      USGS 725          50                 Fluctuations after 1980: 0-50. Peaks: 1973-1974,
                                                                              1975,1976,1977,1978,1979. Decrease tendency.
                                         EQB 78B           50                 Fluctuations over acceptable levels: 0-100.
                                                                              High peaks 1986, 1987.

                       60. Phenols,      USGS 710                             Fluctuations: 0-10, except peak in 1986.
                            total (gg/1)                                      W

                       61. Methylene     USGS 710          0.1                Fluctuations: 0-0.05 except peak in 1989 within
                            Blue Active                                               acceptable levels.
                            Substance,   USGS 725          0.1                Fluctuations: 0-0.4 except peak in 1986 within
                            total (4g/1)                                      acceptable levels.

                       ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       H and L refer to the highest and lowest limits allowed by EQB.
                          Limit values depends on values for hardness obtained from the same sample.
                            Ammonia levels are restricted in specific water bodies which do not include the Fajardo
                            River.
                            Fecal bacteria levels are calculated as the geometric mean in a series of samples taken
                            sequentially.



                       Field sampling at the Fajardo River

                                For the purpose of confirming historical data, this projects personnel,
                       established two water sampling stations at the river and two additional
                       stations at the coast, just outside the river mouth (See Table 10; Figures 71 &
                       72). Samples were taken three times in- 1992-1993. Results are summarized in
                       Table 11.
                                Laboratory analyses results of our field water samples were consistent
                       with recent water quality data from USGS monitoring stations. They show
                       that, during sampling periods, levels of pollutants were relatively low.






                                                                         12 2
                       P I o t
                              FIGURE 54: Silicates


      30-   USGS 710



      25-




   CO
      2o-
   0




      15-





      to-



     11/13/57  3/16/64   7/18/70  11/18/76  3122/83  7/23/89


                                 Date
    Si02 dis                                                           P I

                                                      30-



                                                         USGS
                       Plot                           28- 720
      26-
                             USGS 725

                                                      26-
      24-



      22-                                             24-


                                                   0
   Cd 20-                                          U) 22-
   .C.)
      18-                                             20-
      16-                                             18-
      14-


      12                                              16-    1 - Ll
      9/17/73    1/19/80    5/22/86    9/22/92         6/15/5 9 8/16/62 10/16/65

                       Date                                     Date
    Silica                                          Si02





                                                                                               122

                              P I o t
                                        FIGURE 55: Total iron
         40000-
              -     USGS 710




         30000-





    16 20000-
    CD
    LL        -





         10000-







            0-
          1/14/61     5/18/67      9/17/73      1/19/80      5/22/86      9/22/92

                                           Date








                                           Plot

                   16000-



                   14000-


                   12000- USGS 725


                   10000-


                -6  8000-
                 c


                    6000-



                    4000-



                    2000-



                       0
                      9/17/73       1/19/80        5/22/86        9/22/92


                                             Date






                                                                                                           123




                                                a          0




                                          Plot

               4000-



               3500-


               3000-       EQB 78B



               2500-
           1   2000-
           92
           9
               1500-


               1000-                            0          0


                 500-


                  0 1             1            1             1             1   -- - -    1
                  8/6/85       5/22/86       3/7/87       12/22/87      10/6/88       7/23/89

                                                    Date





















                                                a          a





                                                                                              124




                                          a         0



                                    FIGuRE 56: Dissolved iron



                                                        p 10 t

                                 80-



                                 70-

                                      USGs 710

                                 60-




                                 50-


                             0
                             0
                             "D  40-
                             W             6
                             U                                                        -


                                 30-



                                 20-



                                 10-



                                  0         -
                                11/13/57     5/18/6 7 9/1 7/73


                                              Date











                                           0          0






                                                                                            12

                             P 10 t
       go-    USGS 710               FIGURE 57: Total copper

       80-



       70



       60-



       50-
   B

       40-



       3o-



       20-



       10-



        0
            9/17/73    11/18/76   1/19/80    3/22/83    5/22/86   -7/23/89    9/22/92-

                                           Date





                                                                                               126

                               Plot






              EQB 78B










          5-







          0
          8/6/85     5/22/86     3n187      12/22/87    10/6/88     7/23/89


                                       Date












                                         p 10 t

                 250-





                 200-
                                USGS 725



                 150-





                 100





                   50-




                 9/17/73        1/19/80        5/22186        9122192







                               p 10 t      FIGURE 58: Total arssenic

         6-

                       USGS 710


         5-





         4-



    B    3-



         2-











             9/17/73    11/18/76     1/19/80    3/22/83     5/22/86     7/23/89     9/22/92


                                               Date

     As tot




                                              p 10 t

                        5-





                        4-


                          -          USGS 725


                        3-
















                        0-
                       9/17/73        1/19/80        5/22/86       9/22/92


                                              Date

                     Arsenic






                                                                                              128









                               FIGURE 59: Total barium



                              Plot


        100-


        go-


        80-
             USGS 710
        70-


        60-


        50-


        40-


        30-


        20-


        10-


         0
             9/17/73  11/18/76   1/19/80    3/22/83   5/22/86   7/23/89    9/22/92


                                          Date






                                                                  129

                     p I o t
                           FIGURE 60: Total boron
      30-
            USGS 710




      25-





   Z 20-






      15-






      10-
          9/17/73 11/18/76 1/19/80 3/22/83 5/22/86 7/23/89 9/22/92


                              Date











                               Plot

                50-



                45-



                40-

                       USGS 725
                35-


             c
             9  30-
             0
             m

                25-



                20-



                15-



                10
                9/17/73   1/19/80   5/22/86    9/22/92


                                Date






                                                                                                         130
                                                          0
                                  Plot

        5000-



                  EQB 78B
        4500-





        4000-



  c %
        3500-
    CQ
    9


        3000-



        2500-                                  a          a



                                           f
       -2000 i -.           I      I      I             I              1             1
           8/6/85        5/22/86       3/7/87        12/22/87       10/6/88       7/23/89
                                               Date






















                                               a           0




                               p I O't   FIGURE 61: OTotalcadmium                              131
         25-



                      USGS 710

         20-





         15-





         10-





         5-





         0-
             9/17/73   11/1 t76
                                             3/22183    5122/86   7/23/89    9/22/92

                                           Date









                                            Plot

                      20-






                      is-


                               USGS 725


                  E
                  E   10-





                        5-





                      0                T       I      f      I
                      9/17/73       1/19/80       5/22186        9122/92

                                            Date





                                                                                                                            'L 32

                                        p I Ot          9            0

            5-



                 EQB 78B

   1        4-





            3-


      =L
     a
     9      2-



            1 -



                                                        0            0

            0- 1-              I                                        - -    I - -            1
            8/6/85         5/22/86          3f7/87         12=7             10/6/88          7/23/89 -
                                                     Date

























                                                        0            0





                                                                                              133
                              Plot          FIGURE 6;,. Total chromium
        40-


               USGS 710
        35-



        30-



        25-


    36  20-


        15-



        10-



          5-



         0
             9/17/73    11/18/76   1/19/80    3/22/83    5/22/86    7/23/89    9/22/92

                           r
                                            Date                         -           -






                                                                                               134

                                 10 t
                                         FIGURE 63: Total lead
         120-


         110-
         100-  USGS 710

         go-


         80-


         70-

     *6
     .z  60-
     (L
         50-


         40-


         30-


         20-


         10-


           0-
         1/14/61      5/18/67       9/17/73       1/19/80       5/22/86       9/22/92


                                            Date





                                                                                                 135

                               p 10 t

        50-

                        USGS 725


        40-





        3o-





        20-





        to-





         0
        9/17/73        1/19/80       5/22/86        9/22/92


                               Date







                                                 Plot




                           15-
                                              EQB 78B




                            10-
                      =L



                      0



                            5-







                            0-
                                5/22/86    12/22/87    7/23/89    2/21/91


                                                  Date





                                                                                             136

                               p 10 t
        700-                               FIGURE 64: Total manganese

            -   USGS 710


        600-




        500-




        400-
     16

     c
        300-




        200-




        100-
           0-                                                                A/\
         1/14/61       5/18/67      9/17/73       1/19/80       5/22/86       9/22/92


                                             Date

      Mn tot





                                                                                                                     137

                                      Plot

        700.00-


                                   EQB 78B
        600.00-



        500.00-



        400.00-


      9300.00-


        200.00-



        100.00-



          0.00-         1
                      5/22/86           1=@87               7/23/89             2/21/91

                                                   Date






                                                    Plot

                       3500-

                                          USGS 725

                       3000-



                       2500-



                    ton 2000-

                    cu
                    m
                    C:
                       1500-



                       1000-



                         500-



                           0
                         9/17/73           1/19/80          5/22/86           9/22/92

                                                     Date





                                                                                                         138








                                    FIGURE 65: Total cianide
                                 p 10 t


       0.10
       0.09-        USGS 710


       0.08-



       0.07


       0.06-


    z
    0  0.05-



       0.04-



       0.03-



       0.02-


       0.01 -T - - I -      I       I       I - - T-- -                                    1
        1/14/61         5/18/67         9/17/73         1/19/80         5/22/86         9/22/92


                                                 Date





                                                                                               139








                                FIGURE 66: Total cobalt


                               p 10 t

        18-

        16-     USGS 710

        14-


        12-


        10-



         8-


         6-


         4-



         2-


         0-1
        1/14161      5/18/67       9/17/73      1/19/80       5/22/86       9/22/92

                                           Date






                                                                                                          140







                                              FIGURE 67: Total mercury



                                           p 10 t

                 4.5-


                 4.0-


                 3.5-


                 3.0-                   USGS 710


                 2.5-

             2
             CD  2.0-






                 1.0-


                 0.5-
                 0.0+
                 9/17/73         1/19/80          5/22/86         9/22/92


                                           Date

               Mercury





                                                                                                      141


                                p 10 t
                                           FIGURE 68: Total nickel
        14-
        13-      usGS 710

        12-

        11-

        10-


          9-

          8-
    B     7-
    z     6-

          5-

          4-


          3-


          2-


          1-

          0                                   r      I
        1/14/61      5/18/67       9/17/73       1/19/80       5/22/86       9/22/92


                                            Date

     Ni lot





                                              p 10 t

                     25-


                                          USGS 725

                     20-





                     15-




                 z
                     10-





                       5-





                       0
                     9/17/73         1/19/80         5/22/86        9/22/92


                                              Date

                  Nickel






                                                                                               142





                                                   FIWRE 69: Selenium
                                      p 10 t

               2.0-








                                USGS 710


            E
            :3
            2  1.0-                 p
            2
            M
            U)




               0.5-






               0.0
               9/17/73        1/19/80       5/22/86        9/22/92


                                      Date





                                                                                             14 3)

                              p 10 t   FIGURE 70: Total zinc

        400-





        300   USGS 710





        200-







        100-







         0
        1/14/61      5/18/67      9/17/73       1/19/80      5/22/86      9/22/92


                                          Date









                                           p 10 t

                    200-




                    150-      USGS 725



                S
                    100-
                N






                     50-







                     0
                    9/17/73       1/19/80        5/22/86       9/22/92

                                           Date






                                                                                                         144
                                  Plot

         600-


                          I
                          h
         500-             1.II

                               EQB 78B

         400-
                            I
                            i
     I                      i
         300-
     4                      11.
     9

         200-


         100-                1
                                               1\ I
           0-        1                                   1                  1        1
                    5/22/86         12/2@M             7/23/89           2/21/91

                                              Date
                                      -                           I
            -                A.                a           0






                                                                                              14 5




             FIGURE 71: Sampling stations established for
                         this project (indicated by stars)






                            SARDINERA                  PLAYA SARDINERA

                                                                  PTA-BATERIA


                                                                     BAHIA
                                                  BELTRAN               DE
                                                                      FAJARDO




                      R                                          PLAYA DE FAJARDO
                                   PUERTO*
                     NOR              REAL                                   PTA
                                                                             FAJARDO



                  PUEBLO,                                                   *#3
                                          RIO FAJARDO                      -tt #4
                 ESTE
                                                                                       A
                                                                                      -N-

                                    SANTA RITA
    EST
    VERTEDERO                                                   ESCALA APROXIMADA
                                                                      I 2qOOO

                                                                         1KM



                            MAPA     ESTACIONES DE MUE-STREC) DPN






                                                                                              146




             FIGURE 72: Upstream station established for this project
                         (as indicated by a star).


                                                                 CARR.





                                                      ESTAGION DE
                                                         VERTEDERO
                          ESGUELA
                            PERON


               RIO ARRIBA                     RIO ARRIBA





                     PARAISO

                                          v Fajardo River






                                               RIO ABAJO
                                                  FAJARDO
               CARR 971
                                                                        ESCALA
                                                                        APROXIMADA
                                                                           1: 20, 000
                                                                 47[1        1 KM
                                                                                      At
                                                                                     -N-



                            MAPA      ESTACIONES DE MUESTREO DRN







                                                                                                                                       147



                          TABLE 10: Water quality field stations established by this project at the
                                                            Fajardo River system.

                      Station                            Location                          --Type of site

                      1.                                 HWY 971,3km upriver                freshwater, river
                                                         from USGS 710.


                      2.                                 Bridge at HWY 194,                 estuarine, river
                                                         0.5 km downriver from
                                                         USGS 725.


                      3.                                 Coast, 200m off                    coastal estuarine
                                                         rivermouth.


                      4.                                 Coast, 200 m south of              coastal estuarine
                                                         StItion #3.      0

                                            - ------------------                  --------------------------------



                               TABLE 11: Water quality data from this project's field samples*.

                      Station 1:                            0             0
                      Parameter               D;c. 17,1992            Mar. 24,1993            Jul. 14. 1993

                      NH3 Mg/l                NA                      0.06                    0.03
                      N02 n-g/l               0.001                   0.001                   0.002
                      N03 mg/l                0.43                    0.19                    0.262
                      P total mg/l            0.02                    0.02                    0.02
                      P04 Mg/l                0.01                    0.01                    0.01
                      Susp. Solids mg/l       1.6                     7.1                     9.3
                      Hardness mg/l           20                      29                      30
                      Fecal coliforms
                      (colonies/100 n-d)      NA                      210
                      Fecal streptococci
                      (colonies/ 100 ml)      NA                      220
                      Lead gg/l               5
                      Copper 4g/l             1
                      Zinc gg/I               12.5
                      Cadmium lig/l           0.5
                      Manganese pg/l          1
                      Iron gg/l               1
                      Cobalt lig/l            1
                      Nickel gg/l             1.5
                      Chron-dum 4g/l          1 1
                      ---------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------






                                                                                                                                      146





                       Station 2:
                       Parametel                    Dec. 17.1992       Mar, 24,1993            Jul, 14.1993

                       NH3 mg/l                     NA                 0.03                    0.03
                       N02 mg/l                     0.001              0.001                   0.006
                       N03 mg/l                     0.188              0.592                   0.241
                       P total mg/l                 0.01               0.02                    0.01
                       P04 mo                       0.01               0.01                    0.01
                       Susp. Solids mg/I            2.3p               0
                       Hardness mg/l                45                 42                      38
                       Fecal coliforms
                       (colonies/100 n-d)           NA                 200
                       Fecal streptococci
                       (colonies/100 n-d)           NA                 110
                       Lead gg/l                    5
                       Copper gg/l                  1
                       Zinc gg/l                    12.5
                       Cadmium 4g/I                 o.5
                       Manganese pg/l               35
                       Iron jig/l                   1
                       Cobalt gg/l                  1
                       Nickel gg/l                  1.5
                       Chromium lig/l               1

                       Station 3:
                       Parameter                    Dec. 10, 1992      ME
                                                                            jr. 23, 1993       Jul. 2, 199a

                       NH3 mg/l                     NA                 0.06
                       N02 mg/l                     0.001              0.001                   0.006
                       N03 mg/l                     NA                 0.020                   0.226
                       P total mg1l                 0.03               0.03                    0.029
                       P04 Mg/l -                   0.01               0.01                    0.01
                       Susp. Solids mg/l            58                 85.8
                       Hardness mg/l                                   6098                    5920
                       Calcium mg/l                                    375
                       Magnesium mg/l                                  1300
                       Fecal coliforms
                       (colonies/100 ml)            NA                 20
                       Fecal streptococci
                       (colonies/100 ml)            NA                 1300
                       Lead gg/l                    5
                       Copper jig/                  1
                       Zinc @tg/l                   22.5
                       Cadmium gg/l                 0.5
                       Manganese pg/l               90
                       Iron jig/l                   1015
                       Cobalt gg/l                  1
                       Nickel pg1l                  3
                       Chromium gg/l                1
                       ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





                                                                                                                                            149





                         Station 4:
                         Parameter               Dgc. 10. 1222            Max, 23,1993            Jul, 2. 1993

                         NH3 mg/l                NA                       0.18
                         NO@ mig/l               0.001                    0.001                   0.001
                         N03 n-CA                NA                       0.30                    0.033
                         P total mg/l                                     0.02                    0.29
                         P04 mg/l                0.06                     0.01                    0.01
                         Susp. Solids mg/l       43.8                     96.8
                         Hardness mg/l                                    7207                    6370
                         Calcium mg/l                                     399
                         Magnesium mg/I                                   1300
                         Fecal coliforms
                         (colonies/100 n-d)      NA                       10
                         Fecal streptococci
                         (colonies/100 n-d)      NA                       2
                         Lead gg/I               5
                         Copper @Lg/l            1
                         Zinc gg/l               62.5
                         Cadmium gg/l            1
                         Manganese pg/l          85
                         Iron lig/I              525
                         Cobalt gg/l             1
                         Nickel gg/l             2.2
                         Chron-dumpg/l           1
                         ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         * Ammonia, nitrate, and fecal bacterial tests could not be done for the first sample. Laboratory
                         analyses are yet to be completed for some samples. They will be added to this Table as soon as
                         we have them.



                         Summarized review of historical water quality data


                                  When historical water quality data from the Fajardo River is reviewed
                         together, a pattern can be discerned:                 -there is some gradual increase in the
                         level of pollutants in the river during the late sixties; then, during 1973-1975
                         there is an outburst of growth in most parameters. This explosion ends
                         around 1975-1976, and then parameters' levels has very gradually been
                         decreasing since. Maybe pollution levels were reduced as a result of a growth
                         in forested lands and, consequently, in the water retention capability of the
                         soil; most probably, however, graphs* reflect the effect on the basin of the
                         implementation of point-source pollution controls beginning in the mid-
                         seventies. However, occasional peaks continue to appear in almost all
                         graphs, and some parameters involving oxygen requirements (% of dissolved
                         oxygen and COD) do show a slight worsening.

















                                             V. FIELD INTERVIEWS









                        To check in the field what impact, if any, government actions have had
                  over local activities suspected of producing non-point source pollution
                  (NPSP), a series of interviews were done along the basin. Questionnaires
                  were produced based on EPA's Guidance Specifying Management Measures
                  For Sources Of Nonpoint Pollution In Cbastal Waters (1993) (see Appendix 1).


                  Agricultural activities


                        Four cattle farms and a pig farm were visited. Cattle farms ranged from
                  20 to 300 acres each. All their owners were aware in one way or another of
                  nonpoint source pollution caused by soil erosion, wastewater, runoff,
                  pesticides and fertilizers. Only the largest one had a holding pond for
                  wastewater (cleaned once every five to six years), runoff ditches, vegetated.
                  filter strips, and critical area planting. All had their lands tested for pH, but
                  again, only the larger farm had tested for nutrient and runoff potential and
                  planned fertilizer application using such information. None had water
                  troughs. Their animals were taken to the river or some tributary creek to
                  drink. All had identified surface water bodies within their farms but none
                  took this into account when planning any of the farms' activities. Pesticides
                  and fertilizers and @orresp6nding equIpment were supplied to them by the
                  Department of Ag;iculture (PRDA) along with instructions on their use.
                  Equipment maintenance was the minimum necessary to maintain them
                  operational. Two of the farms also planted plantains on a commercial scale.
                  Pesticides and fertilizers were used on those crops according to PRDA
                  instructions.





                                                                                                          15-1




                        The pig farm had some 20 acres and about 200 pigs in a confined facility
                  built according to Environmental Quality Board (EQB) and PRIDA guidance.
                  Animal wastes wer    'e washqd daily in@o a functional oxidation pond. The
                  farm included a plantain plantation to which pesticides and fertilizer were
                  applied according to PRDA instructions. The owner was aware of low pH and
                  erodibility potential'of her land.       0
                        We tried, unsuccessfully to interview other farmers, including the
                  owner of a crop farm planting cassava, limes, and papaya. We noticed that
                  plantain was a favorite crop because of generous subsidies and services
                  offered by PRDA. There was some oranges and grapefruits planted. We also
                  noticed that stripping the land of vegetation and topsoil with machines is a
                  common practices before planting crops or to let grasses grow for cattle. That
                  was being done even in very steep terrains. Sugar cane still dominates
                  agriculture in the lowlands. No commercial silviculture activity is currently
                  under way within the Fajardo River Basin.


                  Marinas


                        Though the coasts of the municipalities of Fajardo and Ceiba are home
                  to seven marinas, only one of them (Villa Marina), is within the Fajardo
                  River Basin per se.  -The ma;ina includ;s a fueling station and has a capacity
                  for harboring as many as 870 boats (including 70 on land). Facilities were
                  designed and built without taking into account water quality or any kind of
                  waste or spill management. In fact, there is no water quality assessment
                  program run by Villa Marina management (although government
                  monitoring station EQB 78B was functioning here from 1986 to 1990). The
                  marina has a revegetation program, but it is a beautification program, not a
                  sediment-control one. Allegedly, the marina have implemented effective
                  runoff control strategies, boat cleaning programs, and installed dumpstation,
                  and restroom facilities to reduce release of sewage to surface waters. There are
                  no sewage pumpout facilities. Solid wastes from boats are collected on
                  docking and disposed by the municipal government. Absorbing pads are used
                  to collect oils, greases, and fuel from su"rface waters. There are no restrictions,
                  management or orientation regarding fish waste. There is no educational
                  strategy regarding pollution and wastes in the marina, although occasional
                  recordatories are offered via the marina's own monthly periodical and office









                 memos. Management established a speed limit within the marina to reduce
                 probabilities of boating accidents and turbidity in the water.


                 Hydromodifications


                        The Fajardo River is one of the very few rivers in Puerto Rico that, so
                 far, has not been channelized or dammed. However, there is a current
                 proposal in the hands of the*U. S. Arm@ Corps of Engineers for a flood control
                 program in the river which includes the construction of a dike to divert water
                 from the river directly into the mangrove forest that lies at the southern
                 shore of the river mouth. It is hoped that the mangrove will be able to absorb
                 this increased influx of freshwater and will act as a filtering system for
                 pollutants as well. The project is in the stage of gathering permits and
                 endorsements and its still collecting preliminary information for a future
                 preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement. The river has also been
                 mentioned by the Aqueducts and Sewers Authority as a probable site for a
                 new dam and reservoir.



                 Wetlands


                        The Department of Natural Resources (DNR), administrator of Ceiba
                 State Forest, and the Federal Forest Service (USFS), in charge of the Caribbean
                 National Forest, administe; almost all wetlands in the basin classified as
                 ecologically sensitive or important. USFS has adopted a program for the
                 protection of its lands, which include asking of all projects within the Forest
                 to submit Best Management Practices Plans. Ceiba Forest is still lacking a
                 similar DNR program.
                        Protection of mangroves, and other wetlands, is pursued in Puerto
                 Rico mostly through EQB's Regulation of Environmental Impact Statements,
                 the Environmental Public Policy Act, Planning Board's Resolution Num. 74-
                 21, and Section 401 of the Federal Clean Water Act. In addition, through the
                 Coastal Zone Management Program, certain construction and waste disposal
                 activities are restricted in wetlands of special concern within the Maritime-
                 Terrestrial Zone.









                 Wate disposal systems


                        The municipal landfills of both Fajardo and Ceiba are located within
                 the Fajardo River Basin. Until very recently, there were no government
                 controls on the production of non-point source pollutants from these sites.
                 As a result, neither of them had any mechanisms or plans to deal with this
                 problem. Farmers living near the landfills reported that it was usual to see a
                 dense, blackish muck going Zlown neargy creeks instead of water.
                        However, since the beginning of 1993, the Commonwealth and the
                 Municipal governments were instructed by the Federal Environmental
                 Protection Agency that they had to comply with the new regulations under
                 the Clean Water Act. There are plans to close one of the landfills and turn
                 the other into a regional system, and-recyclable materials are being identified
                 to try to reduce the load coming in.


                 Construction and soil extraction activities


                        Control of pollutants originating from construction and soil extraction
                 activities is pursued mostly by requiring Control of Erosion and
                 Sedimentation (CES) Plans at EQB and Soil Extraction Permits at DNR. CES
                 Plans submitted to EQB during 1992 were reviewed for this project. Most of
                 the measures they contain involves maintaining soil wet and compacted to
                 inhibit clouds of p@rticula@es, establAing hay barriers and sedimentation
                 ponds to capture runoff, dispositions on equipment washing and solid waste
                 disposal, and mandating revegetation or pavimentation of open spaces
                 remaining after completion of project.






                                                                                                         154











                                VI. CONCLUSION ANEY RECOMMENDATIONS









                         All the information collected for this report presents a river system and
                  its basin which has been significantly impacted by non-point source pollution
                  (NPSP), at least since the early sixties. There are, for sure, natural causes
                  responsible for some pollutants, some of the time: sudden, heavy rains
                  common in the area, erodibility and acidity of the soils, valleys with steep
                  gradients, small natural deposits of metal-containing minerals, etc. However,
                  it is obvious that human activities are responsible for most NPS pollutants.
                  Data confirm that the Environmental Quality Board correctly assessed the
                  possible causes of NPSP at'the river: Agricultural activities, runoff, landfills,
                  construction activities, waste disposal, and soil extraction operations. The
                  existing marina is an NPSP source on the coastal region of the basin.
                  Although the situ@tion a * ears to @ave significantly improved since an
                                              pp
                  upsurge in the early seventies, this improvement seems to reflect the
                  imposition of point-source pollution control, more than anything else. There
                  are some government controls on NPSP, but it is obvious that they are
                  insufficient at the present moment. Since development pressure is growing
                  along the basin, we can expect a future increase of pollutant production in the
                  area, and if this is not addressed now, maybe water quality data in the late
                  nineties will show a repetition of the crisis of the seventies.
                         The following are our short and mid-term recommendations in respect
                  to NPSP in the Fajardo River Basin:
                  1.     DNR should adopt a Management Plan or Program for the Ceiba State
                         Forest with strict guidelines and requirements for all types of
                         development 'propos@ls.










                  2.     There such be a concerted effort between the Federal, Commonwealth
                         and Municip@l gover@ments to avoid further destruction of wetlands
                         and explore the possibility of creating new ones.
                  3.     There such be a concerted effort between the Federal, Commonwealth
                         and Municipal governments to maintain current levels of forested
                         lands as one way to sustain soils' water retention capability.
                  4.     The Environmental Quality Board should reopen monitoring station
                         EQB 78B and establish at least one additional station on the river per se.
                  5.     Pesticides should be monitored at least four times a year, instead, of just

                         once.
                  6.     EQB's Best Management Practices Plans should be required to all
                         commercial (animal or crops) farms. This plans should require an
                         increase used of anti-erosion practices.
                  7.     All direct wastewater discharges to the river should be closed.
                  8.     Cattle should not be given direct access to surface waters. Drinking
                         troughs should be mqndatory for all animal farms.
                  9.     All construction permits should include dispositions for revegetation
                         and mitigation of natural areas.
                  10.    All soil extraction permits should include dispositions to revegetate
                         abandoned extraction areas.
                  11.    There should be concerted efforts by the Federal, Commonwealth and
                         Municipal governments to increase public education on NPSP and
                         public participation in NSPS programs, as well as development
                         projects' permits evaluation process.
                  12.    Government'@ assessm* ent of waste disposal in marinas should be done
                         in a systematic, frequent way. Fish waste disposal should be better
                         managed as well as current dispositions on boat fuels, oils, greases,
                         paints and human wastes.
                  13.    Being one of the few rivers left in Puerto Rico without
                         hydromodifications, any such project should be considered with
                         extreme care in respect to its impact on the river's (and estuary)
                         hydrology, chemistry and biota, and effects on local community,
                         particularly in terms of hidden costs of pollution, erosion, loss of farm
                         and forest lands, etc.





                                                                                                                                                         6












                                                                     VIL REFERENCES









                         Ahmad, R., F. N. Scatena & A. Gupta. 1993. Morphology and sedimentation
                                             in Caribbean montane streams: Examples from Jamaica and
                                             Puerto Rico. Sediment. Geof. 85:157-169.

                         Anonymous. 1973a. Water Resources Data For Puerto Rico, 1968. Part 1.
                                             Surface Water Records. USGS. San Juan, P. R. p. 53.

                         ----------------    1973b. Water Resources Data For Puerto Rico, 1968-1972. Part 2a.
                                             Water Quality Records. USGS. San Juan, P. R. p. 253-259.

                         ---------- - ----   1973c. Water Resources Data For Puerto Rico, 1969. Part 1. Surface
                                             Water Records. USGS. San Juan, P. R. p. 46.

                         --------- - -----   1973d. Water Resources Data For Puerto Rico, 1970. Part 1. Surface
                                             Water Records. USGS. San Juan, P. R. p. 48.

                         ----------------    1973e. Water Resources Data For Puerto Rico, 1971. Part 1. Surface
                                             Water Records. USGS. San Juan, P. R. p. 37.

                         ----------------    1973f. Water Resources Data For Puerto Rico, 1972. Part 1. Surface
                                             Water Records. USGS. San Juan, P. R. p. 35.

                         ----------------    1975a. Water Repources Data For Puerto Rico, 1973. Part 1. Surface
                                             Water Records. USGS. San Juan, P. R. p. 37.

                         ----------------    1975b. Water Resources Data For Puerto Rico, 1973. Part 2. Water
                                             Quality Records. USGS. San Juan, P. R. p. 74-75.

                         ----------------    1976a. Water Resources Data For Puerto Rico, 1974. Part 1. Surface
                                             Water Records. USGS. San Juan, P. R. p. 34.





                                                                                                                                                     157




                          ----------------    1976b. Water Resources Data For Puerto Rico, 1974. Part 2. Water
                                              Quality Records. USGS. San Juan, P. R. p. 100-103.

                          ----------------    1977. Soil Survey of Humacao Area of Eastern Puerto Rico.
                                              USDA..San Juali, P. R. pp..105.

                                              1978. Water Resources Data For Puerto Rico. Water Years 1973-76.
                                              USGS. San Juan, P. R. p. 206-214.

                          ------------ - --   1979. Geologic Map of the Fajardo and Cayo Icacos Quadrangles,
                                              Puerto.Rico. U@GS- San Jujan, P. R.

                          -----------         1980. Geologic Map of the Naguabo and Part of Punta Puerca
                                              Quadrangles, Puerto Rico. USGS. San Juan, P. R.

                                              1982. Inventario de los cuerpos de agua superficiales de Puerto
                                              Rico. EQB. San Juan, P. R.

                                              1990. Reglamento de estindares de calidad de agua de Puerto Rico.
                                              EQB. San Juan, P.- R. 105 pp.

                          ----- - --- - ----  1992. Goals and Progress Of Statewide Water Quality Management
                                              Planning: Puerto Rico 1990-1991. Rev. Ed. EQB- San Juan, P. R.
                                              194 pp..                             0

                          ----------------    1993. Guidance Specifying Management Measures For Sources Of
                                              Nonpoint Pollution In Coastal Waters. EPA. Washington, D. C.
                                              909 pp.

                          Col6n-Dieppa, E., P. L. Diaz & R. G4rcia. 1986. Water Resources Data for
                                              Puerto Rico. W@ter Year 1985. USGS. San Juan, P. R. p. 195-202.

                          Curtis, R. E., Jr., Z. Aquino, P. L. Diaz & R. Garcia. 1987. Water Resources Data:
                                              Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islands: Water Year 1986. USGS.
                                              San Juan, P. R. p. 201-210.

                          Curtis, R. E., Jr., Z. Aquino, P. L. Diaz & R. J. Vachier. 1988. Water Resources
                                              Data: Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islands: Water Year 1987.
                                              USGS. San Juan, P. R. p. 195-199.

                          ----------------    1989. Water Resources Data: Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin
                                              Islands: Water Year 1988. USGS. San Juan, P. R. p. 293-297.
                          ----------------    1990. Water R@sources D@ta-. Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin
                                              Islands: Water Year 1989. USGS. San Juan, P. R. p. 223-227.





                                                                                                                                                158



                        --------- - -----  1991. Water Resources Data: Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin
                                           Islands: Water Year 1990. USCS. San Juan, P. R. p. 301-304.

                                           1992. Water Resources Data: Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin
                                           Islands: Water Year 1991. USGS. San Juan, P. R. p. 303-307.

                        Curtis, R. E., Jr., S. GuzmAn-Rios & P. L. Diaz. 1980a. Water Resources Data:
                                           Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islands: Water Year 1977. USGS.
                                           San Juan, P. R. p. 101-104.

                            -- - ----  -.  1980b. Water Rqsources D4ta: Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands:
                                           Water @ear 1978. USGS. San Juan, P. R. p. 124-131.

                        ----------------   1981. Water Resources Data: Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin
                                           Islands@ Water @ears 1979-80. USGS. San Juan, P. R. p. 198-211.

                        ------------ - --  1982. Water Resources Data: Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin
                                           Islands: Water Years 1981-82. USGS. San Juan, P. R. p. 182-203.

                        ----------------   1984. Water Resources Data: Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin
                                           Islands: Water Year 1983. USGS. San Juan, P. R. p. 124-131.

                        ----------------   1985. Water Resources Data: Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin
                                           Islands: Water Year 1984. USGS. San Juan, P. R. p. 172-179.

                        Cintr6n, B. 1993. Interagency field visit observations, Rio Fajardo, Puerto
                                           Rico. Section 205 Study. Unpublished Memorandum. US Army
                                           CoE. Jacksonville, Fla. pp. 3.

                        Diaz, P. L. , Z. Aq@ino, C..Figueroa-41amo, R. J. Vachier & A. V. Sdnchez.
                                           1993. Water Resources Data: Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin
                                           Islands: Water Year 1992. USGS. San Juan, P. R. p. 357-361.
                        Goenaga, C., & G. Cintr6n.o 1979. Invintory of the Puerto Rican coral reefs.
                                           DNR. San Juan, P. R. pp. 190.

                        Goenaga, C., V. Mestey, V. Vicente, J. Berrios, J. Caballero, 0. DAvila, D.
                                           Delgado, 1. Diaz, M. Rivera & V. Quevedo. 1990. Suplemento
                                           t6cnico para el Plan de Manejo de la Reserva Natural La
                                           Cordillera, Fajardo, Puerto Rico. P. M. Gonzdlez, M. T. Garcia &
                                           R. F. Martinez (Eds.). DNR. San Juan, P. R. pp. 156.

                        Kipple, F. P. 1968. Water Records of Puerto Rico, 1958-63. USGS. San Juan, P.
                                           R. p. 165-176.





                                                                                                    i59



                 Lugo, A. E. 1993. Rio Marneyes and the water intake project of PRASA.
                              Unpublished document. USDA Forest Serv. San Juan, P. R. 17
                              PP.

                 Margalef, R. 1978. Diversity. In: Phytoplankton Manual. A. Sournia (Ed.).
                              UNESCO. Paris, France. p. 251-260.

                 Renn, C. E. 1968. A Study Of Water Quality. La Motte Chem. Prod. Co.
                              Chestertown, Mar. pp. 46.

                              1969. Our Envitonment Bgttles Water Pollution. La Motte Chem.
                              Prod. Co. Chestertown, Mar. pp. 32.

                 Rickher, J. G. 1970. Water Records of Puerto Rico, 1964-67. Vol. 1: North and
                              Northeast Slopes. USGS. San Juan, P. R. p. 248-261.

                 Riley, J. P., & R. Chester. 1@71. IntrodVction to Marine Chemistry. Academic
                              Press. &ew York, N. Y, p. 105-218.

                 Zayas, E. 1993. Gold rush! Business booms in Puerto Rico's eastern region.
                              Caribbean Business 21(4):1-2; 32-33.






                                                                                               160




















                              APPENDIX 1: Field interviews' questionnaires.






                                                                                                                                          161




                                                       AGRICULTURAL LANDS





                   1. Farm size: - acres (total). Estimate of acreage in active use:                acres.

                   2. Farm use:      a. Crops _. What crops? Plantains/bananas _ Sugar cane
                                                                        Others (explain):
                                     b. Animals          Cattle        Horses         Pigs
                                                          Others (explain):

                   3. Farm location:                                            Is it adjacent to surface waterbodies?
                                                                                  Yes           No

                   4. Type(s) of soil in farm, if known:
                            Has the soil been classified as highly erodible? Yes              No          Do not know:

                   5. Erosion management:

                            a. Does activities in this farm include the following:        Conservation tillage
                                     Contour strip-cropping                       Sediment retention pond
                                     Water control basin                          Terraces
                                     Sediment control basin                       Critical area planting
                                     Filter strip _                               Field borders
                                     Grade stabilization structure                Reforestation             None
                            b. Other erosion control activities (explain):


                   6. Confined animal facility wastewater and runoff management:

                            a. Is wastewater/runoff routed through holding pond, treatment lagoon or other settling
                            structure/ debris basin?     Yes           No
                            b. If Yes, How frequently are fh-ese structures cleaned/maintained?
                            c. For small facilities:
                                     Do you maintain vegetated filter strips or any other mitigation area vegetation?
                                     Yes               No

                   7. Nutrient and Pesticide management-

                            a. Do you use nutrients? Natural               Artif icial - None
                            b. Do you use pesticides? Natural                Artificial       None
                            c. Have you evaluated soil for: pH                    phosphorus                nitrogen
                                     potassium                  leaching/runoff potential?
                            d. Do you calibrate and maintain application equipment? Yes                No
                            e. Do you determine yield expectations through yield history or soil series information?
                                     Yes               No
                            f. Do you apply nutrients and pesticides after determination of real economic benefit?
                                     Yes               No
                            g. Do you plan type of pesticide/nutrient application and timing, amount and frequency
                                taking into account: weather                      stage of crop development
                                                       type of crop               soil type
                                                       pest problem               toxicity -
                                                       previous pest control methods used _ persistence
                            h. Have you identified environmental concerns (sinkholes, surface water, shallow aquifer,)
                                highly erodible soil) in or near your farm? Yes          No          There are none
                            i. It yes, Do you plan nutrient/pesticide application taking this into account? Yes-No-.





                                                                                                                                16 2





                  8. Grazing Management:

                          a.To protect sensitive.areas (strpambanks, wptlands, surface waters, riparian zones), do
                             you:
                                  Exclude livestock from these areas
                                  Alternate grazing areas within farm
                                  Provide alternate drinking location
                                  Provide stream crossings or hardened access for drinking
                                  Locate saft and shade away from sensitive areas
                          b. Grazing is not carded out in this farm

                  9. Irrigation water management:

                          a. Do you use irrigation water? Yes        No
                          b. If yes, Do you irrigate unfformly? Yes - No
                          c. Have you prepared an irrigation schedule? Yes         No
                          d. If yes, have you taken into account the following:
                                  rainfall and temperature                 soil properties
                                  type of crop and its resistance to stress
                                  stage of crop development
                                  availability of water supply





                                                                                                                           16 13




                                                      URBAN RUNOFF





                 1. New development   management:

                         a. Type of development:
                         b. Area covered: Total:
                                          Within the Fajardo River Basin:
                         c. Have you designed or constructed development to be able to reduce average annual
                           Total Suspended Solids (TSS) loadings by, at least, 80% after project completion'?
                                        Yes             No
                         d. Have you designed or constructed development to be able to reduce
                          postdevelopment TSS loadings so that average annual loadings are no greater than
                           predevelopment loadings?     Yes             No

                 2. Watershed protection management:

                         Have you developed-a Watershed Protection' Program:
                         a. To protect areas particularly susceptible to erosion?
                         b. To protect areas that provide important water quality benefits?
                         c. To protect areas necessary to maintain riparian/aquatic biota?
                         d. To site development to protect natural integrity of waterbodies and natural drainage
                             systems?
                         e. Have not prepared Program.
                         f. Program not necdssary

                 3. Site development management:

                         Do you plan, design or develop sites to be able to:
                         a. Protect areas that provide important water quality benefits or are susceptible to erosion

                         b. Limit increases of impervious areas
                         c. Limit land disturbance activities to reduce erosion
                         d. Limit disturbances on natural drainages and vegetation





                                                                         164




                        URBAN CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES





          1. Site size:
          2. Site location:

          3. Construction site erosion and sediment control management:

               a. Have you prepared a plan to control erosion? Yes  No
               b. If yes, have you taken into account: soil type(s)
                   site grading and present or future contours
                   topsoil preservation design for structural controls
                   stabilization measures revegetation
                   description of sequence of construction
                   mitigation areas near waterbodies or drainage systems
                   others (explain)


          4. Construction she chemical control management:

               a. How and where do you store chemicals?

               b. Do you have a plan for their application? Yes  No
               c. If yes, explain:


               d. How do you dispose of chemicals?


               e. Have you established fuel and vehicle/equipment maintenance and washing areas
                away from all drainage courses? Yes No
               f. Do you cover and isolate construction materials and chemicals to prevent runoff ?
                   Yes       No
               g. Have you prepare a spill r ention and control plan? Yes No
               h. Do you provide proper sanitary facilities for construction workers? Yes
                                                         No

                       EXISTING DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT

               a. Do you have a watershed management program to reduce runoff pollutants?
                   Yes       No
               b. If yes, does it include:
                   Identif ication of priority local/regional watershed pollutant reduction opportunities

                   A schedule for implementation of appropriate controls
                   Limits for destruction of natural conveyance systems
                   Preservation, enhancement or establishment of buffers along surface
                   waterbodies
               c. Location of development:*
               d. Site size:









                                      POLLUTION PREVENTION MANAGEMENT

                 a. Agency:
                 b. Is there a pollution prevention and education program to reduce nonpoint source pollutants
                 generated from the following activities:
                         Improper storage, use, and disposal of household hazardous chemicals, including
                         automobile fluids, pesticides, paints, solvents, etc.
                         Application and disposal of garden care products, and improper disposal of leaves and
                         yard trimmings.
                         Turf management of golf courses, parks and recreational areas.
                         Discharge of pollutants into storm drains,, including floatables, oil and litter.
                         Commercial activitiev including 'parking lots, das stations, and other entities not under
                         NPDES purview.
                         Improper disposal of pet excrement.
                         Others (explain)



                                   ONSITE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT

                 1. New onsite disposal systems (OSDS) management:
                         a. Do your agency has policies, regulations or plans to ensure that new OSDS are
                         located, designed, installed, operated, inspected and maintained to prevent the
                         discharge of pollutants to the ground, to ground waters and to surface waters?
                         Yes             No
                         b. It yes, do you: Discourage the installation of garbage disposal to reduce hydraulic and
                                 nutrient loadings?
                                 Reduced total hydraulic loadings to the OSDS by 25% in new developments or
                                 redevelopments where low-volume plumbing fixtures have not been installed?
                                 Direct placement of O@DS away from' unsuitable areas including poorly or
                                 excessively drained soils, areas with shallow water tables or with high seasonal
                                 water tables, areas over fractured bedrock, floodplains, and areas where nutrient
                                 or pathogen concentrations in the effluent can not be reduced?
                                 Establish protective setbacks from surface waters, wetlands, and floodplains?
                                 Establish protective separation distahces between OSDS and groundwaters?_
                                 Require installation of OSDS that reduce total nitrogen loadings by 50% to
                                 groundwaters, where conditions indicate that surface waters may be adversely
                                 affected by excess nitrogen loadings from groundwaters?
                         c. System location:
                         d. System capacity:
                 2. Agency:

                 3. Operating onsite disposal systems (OSDS) management:
                         a. Do your agency has policies, regulations or plans to ensure that existing OSDS are
                         operated and maintained to prevent discharge of pollutants to the ground, groundwaters
                         or surface waters?      Yes             No
                         b. If yes, do you: Discourage the reduced use of garbage disposals?
                                 Encourage the use of low-volume plumbing fixtures?
                                 Reduce total phosphorus loadings by 15%?
                                 Require an OSDS to be repaired, replaced, or modified when it fails or threaten or
                                 impairs surface waters?
                                 Inspect OSDS at a frequency adequate to ascertain whether OSDS are failing?_
                                 Consider replacing or upgrading OSDS to treat influent so that total nitrogen
                                 loadings in the effluent are reduced by 50%, if surface waters may be adversely
                                 affected by groundwater nitrogen loading from OSDS?
                         c. System location:
                         d. System capacity:





                                                                                                                       6 C





                                         ROADS, HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES


                 1. Agency:

                 2. Planning, siting, and developing roads and highways management:
                         Do your agency plan, site and develop roadsthighways taking into account:
                                Protection of areas that provide important water quality benefits or are susceptible
                                to erosion?
                                Limits to land disturbance (clearing and grading, cut and fill, etc.) to reduce
                                erosion?
                                Limits to disturbance of natural drainage features and vegetation?

                 3. Bridges management:
                         Do your agency site, design, and maintain bridges so that sensitive and valuable aquatic
                         ecosystems and areas providing important water quality benefits are protected from
                         adverse effects?      Yes            No

                 4. Construction projects (roads, highways, bridges) management:
                         Do you:   Reduce erosion in construction projects?
                         Retain sediment onsite during and after construction?
                         Prior to land disturbance, prepare and implement an approved erosion control plan?

                 5. Construction site chemical control management:
                         Do you   Limit application, generation, and migration of toxic substances?
                         Ensure proper storage and disposal of toxic materials?
                         Apply nutrients at rates necessary to establish and maintain vegetation without causing
                         significant nutrient runoff?

                 6. Operation and maintenance management:
                         Do you incorporate pollution prevention procedures into the operation and maintenance
                         of roads, highways and bridges to reduce pollutant loadings to surface waters?

                 7. Runoff systems management:
                         a. Have you developed runoff management systems for existing roads, highways and
                         bridges to reduce runoff pollutant concentration and volumes entering surface waters?
                         Yes            No
                         b. If yes, have you: Identified priority and watershed pollutant reduction opportunities?_
                                        Established schedules for implementing appropriate controls?





                                                                                                                                167




                                        MARINAS AND RECREATIONAL BOATING



                  1. Marinas flushing management:
                          a. Have you designed and site this marina such that tides or currents will aid in flushing of
                          site or renew water regularly? Yes               No

                  2. Water quality assessment management:
                          a. Do you assessed water quality as part of marina siting and design? Yes          No
                          b. If yes, do you tested for:    Dissolved oxygen?                Pathogens?
                          c. Do you currently run a regular water quality assessment program? Yes            No
                          d. If yes, what do you test for?

                  3. Shoreline stabilization management:
                          a. Do you reforest/revegetate as a regular shoreline stabilization procedure?
                          b. If you use other procedures, did you take into account their cost effectiveness against
                          revegetation, prior to construction or implementation? Yes                No
                          c. What are/were those other procedures?

                  4. Storm water runoff management:
                          a. Do you implement effective runoff control strategies? Yes              No
                          b. If yes, do they include the following: Use of pollution prevention activities.
                                  Proper design of hull maintenance areas to reduce annual loadings of total
                                  suspended solids by 80%?

                  5. Fueling station design managementi
                                                         A
                          Have you designed iOeling stations to allow for ease in spills cleanups? Yes       No

                  6. Sewage facility management:
                          Have you installed pumpout, dump station and restroom facilities to reduce release of
                          sewage to surface waters?        Yes              No

                  7. Solid waste management:
                          a. Do you propedy dispose of solid wastes from boats to limit their entry to surface waters?
                                  Yes              No
                          b. If yes, how (explain):


                  8. Fish waste management:
                          a. Do you apply any kind of fish cleaning restrictions? Yes - No
                          b. Do you implement some kind of public education regarding fish waste disposal?
                                  Yes                      No
                          c. Do you implement proper disposal procedures for fish waste? Yes                 No
                          d. If yes, explain which ones:


                  9. Petroleum control management:
                          a. Have you implemented measures to reduce amount of fuel and oil entering surface
                          waters?          Yes             No
                          b. If yes, explain:


                  10. Boat cleaning management:
                          a. Do you perform boat cleaning operations such that the release to surface waters of
                          cleaners, solvents, and paints is minimized?      Yes              No
                          b. If yes, explain how:





                                                                                                                            168





                  11. Public education management:
                         a. Do you implement any public education, oLoreach or training program dealing with
                         proper disposal of polluting maeerial?  Yes             No
                         b. If yes, describe:


                  12. Maintenance of sewage facilities management:
                         a. Do you have sewage pumpout facilities?       Yes             No
                         b. If yes,:     Do you encourage their use?     Yes             No
                                         Do ybu ensurethat they are Fnaintained in operational conditions?
                                                                         Yes             No


                  13. Marina:


                  14. Marina location:

                  15. Marina size and capacity:



                                            BOAT OPERATION MANAGEMENT



                  1. Do you restrict boating activities where necessary to decrease turbidity and physical
                     destruction of shallow-water habitat?       Yes.-           No

                  2. If facility is not a marina, identify source of information:


                  3. Source size/capacity and location, if apply:





                                                                                                                                 169




                                   CHANNELIZATION AND CHANNEL MODIFICATION



                  1. Physical and chemical characteristics of surface waters management:
                          a. Has there been an evaluation of chemical and physical charactedstics of surface waters
                          previous to construction?        Yes              No
                          b. Have you evaluated the potential effects of proposed channel modif ication on the
                          chemical and physical charactedstics of surface waters? Yes                No
                          c. Have you planned and designed channel modification to reduce negative impact?
                                   Yes                     No
                          d. Do you have an operation/maintenance program for existing modified channels?
                                   Yes                     No
                          e. If yes, does it includes measures to improve chemical and physical characteristics of
                          surface waters?          Yes                      No

                  2. Instream and riparian habitat restoration management:
                          a. Has there been an.evaluation of instream and riparian habitats previous to construction?
                                   Yes                     No
                          b. Have you evaluated the potential eff ects of proposed channel modif ication to instream
                          and dparian habitats?    Yes                      No
                          c. Have you planned and designed channel modification to reduce negative impact?
                                   Yes                     No
                          d. If you do have an operation/maintenance program for existing modif ied channels, does
                          it includes measures to restore instream and hpadan habitats in those channels?
                                   Yes                     No



                            ERODING STREAMBANKS AND SHORELINES MANAGEMENT



                  1. Have you identified areas of streambank and shorline erosion which represents a nonpoint
                      pollution problem?           Yes                      No
                  2. If yes, are you taking measures to protect these areas?        Yes              No
                          a. What measures are you implementing?






                                                                                                                           170



                                          WETLANDS AND RIPARIAN AREAS



                 1. Wetlands and riparian areas protection management:
                         a. Have you identif ied wetlands and riparian areas which serve a signif icant nonpoint
                         source pollution abatement?    Yes             No
                         b. Do you have a program for the protection of these areas?
                         c. If yes, does it include maintenance of the following:
                                 non point source pollution abatement           species composition
                                 vegetative cover               hydrology of surface water
                                 hydrology of ground water              substrate geochemistry

                 2. Wetlands and riparian areas restoration management:
                         Do you promote the restoration of preexisting functions in damaged and destroyed
                         wetlands and riparian systems?         Yes             No

                 3. Vegetated treatment systems management:
                         Do you promote the use of engineered vegetated treatment systems, such as:
                                 constructed wetlands           vegetated filter strips






                                                                                                                                17 1























                                                 APPENDIX 2: Field photographs.








                                                                               172















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            Author F A. Grana-Raffucci overLooking   the  Fajardo River at bridge
            over HeCd Station Pl.




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                  Author F. A. Grana-Raffucci taking                        water sampLes at FieLd Station #1.