Is Maracas Valley Is Maracas Valley in Crisis?in Crisis?

QuarryingQuarryingTraffic CongestionTraffic CongestionDenuding of the HillsidesDenuding of the HillsidesWater ShortagesWater Shortages

ISSUES IN THE VALLEY

QuarryingQuarrying Traffic CongestionTraffic Congestion Denuding of the HillsidesDenuding of the Hillsides Water ShortagesWater Shortages Impact of Ortinola QuarryImpact of Ortinola Quarry

Coosals QuarryCoosals Quarry

200 t/day – 300t/day

FEB 2004 JAN 2005

Coosals QuarryCoosals QuarryNov 2007Nov 2007

El Chorro Quarry - no longer in El Chorro Quarry - no longer in operationoperation

100 t/day – 150t/day

20082002

Proposed Ortinola Quarry

Area 19 acres-NO CEC REQUIRED!Area 19 acres-NO CEC REQUIRED! Estimated capacity: 80-120 t/dayEstimated capacity: 80-120 t/day Upstream WASA's Acono Water Upstream WASA's Acono Water

Works; one of only two water Works; one of only two water catchment areas in Maracas Valley. catchment areas in Maracas Valley.

Proposed Ortinola Quarry Area

Proposed Caurita Quarry

Area 10 Hectares - NO CEC REQUIRED Area 10 Hectares - NO CEC REQUIRED

CAN THE VALLEY SUPPORT CAN THE VALLEY SUPPORT ANOTHER QUARRY?ANOTHER QUARRY?

ANOTHER QUARRY WILL PUT US OVER THE EDGE!

QuarryingQuarrying

Traffic CongestionTraffic Congestion Denuding of the HillsidesDenuding of the Hillsides Water ShortagesWater Shortages Impact of Ortinola QuarryImpact of Ortinola Quarry

Traffic!!Traffic!!

Traffic SummaryTraffic Summary

Present capacity of the Maracas Royal Present capacity of the Maracas Royal Road: 800 to 1000 vehicles/hrRoad: 800 to 1000 vehicles/hr

Present usage of the Maracas Royal Present usage of the Maracas Royal Road: 738 vehicles/hr (morning peak, Road: 738 vehicles/hr (morning peak, south bound direction)south bound direction)

Maracas Royal Road is currently Maracas Royal Road is currently close to maximum capacity !close to maximum capacity !

January 2002January 2002Heavy Trucks did not help this Heavy Trucks did not help this

SituationSituation

and in October 2007….and in October 2007….

And in February 2008And in February 2008

CAN THE MARACAS ROYAL CAN THE MARACAS ROYAL ROAD SUPPORT MORE HEAVY ROAD SUPPORT MORE HEAVY

VEHICLES?VEHICLES?

QuarryingQuarrying Traffic CongestionTraffic Congestion

Denuding of the HillsidesDenuding of the Hillsides Water ShortagesWater Shortages Impact of Ortinola QuarryImpact of Ortinola Quarry

Acono

• As a result of deforestation & As a result of deforestation & slash and burnslash and burn

• As a result of poor land clearance for housing

developments

Satellite imagery Mountain Satellite imagery Mountain ViewView

Satellite imagery Valley ViewSatellite imagery Valley View

Satellite imagery AconoSatellite imagery Acono

View from the ground Acono (2002)

Acono February 2008Acono February 2008

Maracas Gardens as seen from Maracas Gardens as seen from Mountain View (January 2005)Mountain View (January 2005)

Poolside 2005

Buena Vista at the Entry to the Buena Vista at the Entry to the Valley (2002)Valley (2002)

Maracas Gardens (2002)

House surrounded by House surrounded by Water!Water!

More Flooding-2007More Flooding-2007

SHOULD THERE BE MORE SHOULD THERE BE MORE REMOVAL OF HILLSIDE COVER?REMOVAL OF HILLSIDE COVER?

No!No!

It is also the cause of flooding It is also the cause of flooding in the Caroni Plainin the Caroni Plain

QuarryingQuarrying Traffic CongestionTraffic Congestion Denuding of the HillsidesDenuding of the Hillsides

Water SupplyWater Supply Impact of Ortinola QuarryImpact of Ortinola Quarry

MARACAS VALLEY IS AMARACAS VALLEY IS A

SENSITIVE WATERSHED SENSITIVE WATERSHED AREAAREA

Maracas Valley: Facts and Maracas Valley: Facts and FiguresFigures

Population

Maracas Valley population growth is 6 Maracas Valley population growth is 6 times the national average !times the national average !

1990 2000 20100

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

8080

10082

12000

# of inhabitants

# of inhabitants

Year

# o

f in

ha

bit

an

ts

Level Of Service (LOS) Level Of Service (LOS) measured on a five class scalemeasured on a five class scale

Class 1 168 hours per week or continuous supply

Class 2 120 to 168 hours per weekClass 3 84 to 120 hours per weekClass 4 48 to 84 hours per weekClass 5 Less than 48 hours per week

Maracas Valley predominantly in classes Maracas Valley predominantly in classes 3 and 4. There is scope for improvement3 and 4. There is scope for improvement

Water Situation

2000 Water Supply:            5,800 m2000 Water Supply:            5,800 m33/day /day

2000 Water Demand:          5,900 m2000 Water Demand:          5,900 m33/day /day

2000 Water Balance (Supply Versus Demand)

2000 water balance is at a near equilibrium2000 water balance is at a near equilibrium

Ortinola Quarry would negatively affect the water Ortinola Quarry would negatively affect the water balance of Maracas Valley as follows:balance of Maracas Valley as follows:

2010 Water Supply:            4,700 m2010 Water Supply:            4,700 m33/day (19% /day (19% decrease as compared to 2007 figures) decrease as compared to 2007 figures)

2010 Water Demand:          7,000 m2010 Water Demand:          7,000 m33/day (19% /day (19% increase as compared to 2007 figures) increase as compared to 2007 figures)

2010 Water Balance (Supply Versus Demand)

2010 Water Deficit (1-2):      2,300 m3/day (33% 2010 Water Deficit (1-2):      2,300 m3/day (33% of 2010 water demand !!!) of 2010 water demand !!!)   

Water Balance (Supply Versus Demand)

Supply & Demand for Waterin Maracas Valley

with Proposed Ortinola Quarry

-1,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,0007,0008,000

2007 2010

Cubic Meters per Day

Water DemandWater Supply

In less than 3 years demand would be nearly 50% higher than supply!!!!!Current Actual

Maracas Valley would move toward the bottom of the Level of Service Scale (Class 5) on the five class scale

Ortinola and Caurita quarries will result in:

Increased loading of the Maracas Royal Rd.

Decrease of hillside cover Increased flooding Chronic water shortages and

scheduling

Impact of Proposed Ortinola Impact of Proposed Ortinola and Caurita Quarriesand Caurita Quarries

Ortinola and Caurita quarries will result in:

Reduced water quality Increased incidences of water

borne diseases etc. Increase in air pollution creating

respiratory problems and lowering of life expectancy (vehicles, quarry blasts)

Impact of Proposed Ortinola Impact of Proposed Ortinola and Caurita Quarriesand Caurita Quarries

Is Maracas Valley Is Maracas Valley in Crisis?in Crisis?

Yes!Yes!

CAN THE VALLEY SUPPORT CAN THE VALLEY SUPPORT ANOTHER QUARRY?ANOTHER QUARRY?

NONO

ALTERNATIVESALTERNATIVES

Import aggregate - A study has Import aggregate - A study has indicated that the cost of imported indicated that the cost of imported aggregate is similar to that of locally aggregate is similar to that of locally produced material produced material

Eco-TourismEco-Tourism