MBRS Watershed Hydrology

MBRS Watershed Hydrology

Río Motagua, Río Chamelecón and

Río Ulúa

Paul Kirshen & Ned Spang

Río Motagua, Río Chamelecón and

Río Ulúa

Paul Kirshen & Ned Spang

WatershedsWatershedsWatershedsWatersheds

“an area of land within which all waters flow to a single river system”

---Heathcote 1998

“the specific land area that drains water into a river system or other body of water”

---The World Bank

“an area of land within which all waters flow to a single river system”

---Heathcote 1998

“the specific land area that drains water into a river system or other body of water”

---The World Bank

Features of a Typical Watershed

Reef

Overlandflow

Groundwaterflow

Countries: Guatemala, Honduras

Watershed Area: 12,670km2 Guatemala: 10,529 km2 Honduras: 2,141km^2

Average Annual Precipitation: 1,400 mm

Length: 487 km Average Discharge:

530m^3/sec

Countries: Guatemala, Honduras

Watershed Area: 12,670km2 Guatemala: 10,529 km2 Honduras: 2,141km^2

Average Annual Precipitation: 1,400 mm

Length: 487 km Average Discharge:

530m^3/sec

Source: Gulf of Honduras: Preliminary Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis, Final Draft (August 2003) Abt Associates/ Woods Hole Group, Global Environment Facility--Inter-American Development Bank Project Development Facility (PDF-B), pp. 5-6.

Photo Source: www.guate360.com/galeria/postcards.php

Río MotaguaRío Motagua

Río Motagua: Monthly Flow Hydrograph - 2004

(Morales)

Río Motagua: Monthly Flow Hydrograph - 2004

(Morales)

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Avera

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low

(m

^3

/s)

Resumen De Estaciones Hidrometricas De La Republica De Guatemala, (2005) INSIVUMEH, Guatemala.

Río Motagua: Water Use/AvailabilityRío Motagua: Water Use/Availability

Source: Vorosmarty, C. J., P. Green, J. Salisbury and R. B. Lammers. 2000. Global water resources: vulnerability from climate change and population growth, Science, 289: 284-288.Source: Vorosmarty, C. J., P. Green, J. Salisbury and R. B. Lammers. 2000. Global water resources: vulnerability from climate change and population growth, Science, 289: 284-288.

Water Quality StationsWater Quality StationsStation

1a

Puente Orellan

a

Gualan

Rio Hondo:

-Station 1a

Rio Motagua:

-Gualán

-Puente Orellana

Sampling Date

04-F

eb-0

3

07-M

ar-0

3

08-A

pr-0

3

06-M

ay-0

3

06-J

un-0

3

08-J

ul-0

3

05-A

ug-0

3

02-S

ep-0

3

10-O

ct-0

3

Lead

(m

g/L)

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

Gualan Puente Orellana

Drinking Water Quality Standard (USA)

Lead in Río Motagua

Río Motagua: Water Quality

Río Motagua: Water Quality

Source: adapted from “Calidad de Agua de los Rios de La Republica de Guatemala” (December 2003), INSIVUMEH, Guatemala

Source: adapted from “Calidad de Agua de los Rios de La Republica de Guatemala” (December 2003), INSIVUMEH, Guatemala

Sampling Date

04-F

eb-0

3

07-M

ar-0

3

08-A

pr-0

3

06-M

ay-0

3

06-J

un-0

3

08-J

ul-0

3

05-A

ug-0

3

02-S

ep-0

3

10-O

ct-0

3

Pho

spha

te-P

(m

g P

/L)

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

Gualan Puente Orellana

Eutrophic (0.05 mg/L)

Phosphate – P

Río Motagua: Water Quality

2

Río Motagua: Water Quality

2

Source: adapted from “Calidad de Agua de los Rios de La Republica de Guatemala” (December 2003), INSIVUMEH, Guatemala

Source: adapted from “Calidad de Agua de los Rios de La Republica de Guatemala” (December 2003), INSIVUMEH, Guatemala

Total Dissolved Solids Turbidity

Sampling Date

04-F

eb-0

3

07-M

ar-0

3

08-A

pr-0

3

06-M

ay-0

3

06-J

un-0

3

08-J

ul-0

3

05-A

ug-0

3

02-S

ep-0

3

10-O

ct-0

3

To

tal D

isso

lve

d S

olid

s (m

g/L

)

100

150

200

250

300

350

Gualan Puente Orellana

Sampling Date

04-F

eb-0

3

07-M

ar-0

3

08-A

pr-0

3

06-M

ay-0

3

06-J

un-0

3

08-J

ul-0

3

05-A

ug-0

3

02-S

ep-0

3

10-O

ct-0

3

Tu

rbid

ity (

NT

U)

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

Gualan Puente Orellana

Chronic ecosystemeffects threshold

Weak untreateddomestic wastewater

Río Motagua: Water Quality 3

Río Motagua: Water Quality 3

Source: adapted from “Calidad de Agua de los Rios de La Republica de Guatemala” (December 2003), INSIVUMEH, GuatemalaSource: adapted from “Calidad de Agua de los Rios de La Republica de Guatemala” (December 2003), INSIVUMEH, Guatemala

Sampling Date

04-F

eb-0

3

07-M

ar-0

3

08-A

pr-0

3

06-M

ay-0

3

06-J

un-0

3

08-J

ul-0

3

05-A

ug-0

3

02-S

ep-0

3

10-O

ct-0

3

Dis

solv

ed O

xyge

n (m

g/L)

2

3

4

5

6

7

Gualan Puente Orellana

Sampling Date

04-F

eb-0

3

07-M

ar-0

3

08-A

pr-0

3

06-M

ay-0

3

06-J

un-0

3

08-J

ul-0

3

05-A

ug-0

3

02-S

ep-0

3

10-O

ct-0

3

Oxy

gen

Sat

urat

ion

(%)

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Gualan Puente Orellana

Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)Dissolved Oxygen

Saturation (%)

Río Motagua: Water Quality 4

Río Motagua: Water Quality 4

Source: adapted from “Calidad de Agua de los Rios de La Republica de Guatemala” (December 2003), INSIVUMEH, GuatemalaSource: adapted from “Calidad de Agua de los Rios de La Republica de Guatemala” (December 2003), INSIVUMEH, Guatemala

Motagua: ConclusionsMotagua: Conclusions

Findings & Stresses: Sufficient water quantity to

meet needs Natural hydrology: peak

rainfall conducive to high levels of erosion

Even the limited water quality shows water quality stress and the value of water quality sampling

Potential exists for future water quality problems from point and non-point source threats

Climate Change?

Findings & Stresses: Sufficient water quantity to

meet needs Natural hydrology: peak

rainfall conducive to high levels of erosion

Even the limited water quality shows water quality stress and the value of water quality sampling

Potential exists for future water quality problems from point and non-point source threats

Climate Change?

Interventions: Expand water quantity

and quality monitoring Manage land use to

respond to present and potential water quality threats

Ensure effective management of wastewater

Harmonization of transboundary water management

Interventions: Expand water quantity

and quality monitoring Manage land use to

respond to present and potential water quality threats

Ensure effective management of wastewater

Harmonization of transboundary water management

Río ChamelecónRío Chamelecón

Countries: Honduras Watershed Area: 4,350 km^2 Average Annual Precipitation: 1,445 mm/yr Length: 256 km Average Discharge: ~370m^3/sec

Countries: Honduras Watershed Area: 4,350 km^2 Average Annual Precipitation: 1,445 mm/yr Length: 256 km Average Discharge: ~370m^3/sec

Source: Gulf of Honduras: Preliminary Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis, Final Draft (August 2003) Abt Associates/ Woods Hole Group, Global Environment Facility--Inter-American Development Bank Project Development Facility (PDF-B), pp. 5-6.Image Source: pr.water.usgs.gov/public/ rt/hn/chamelecon.html

Río Chamelecón: Monthly Precipitation

Río Chamelecón: Monthly Precipitation

0

50

100

150

200

250

Janu

ary

Febr

uary

Mar

chAp

rilMay

June Ju

ly

Augu

st

Sept

embe

r

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Novem

ber

Decem

ber

Month

Avera

ge P

recip

itati

on

(m

m)

Source: Adapted from GIS Data Disc Provided By Secretaría de Agricultura (SAG), Honduras

Río Chamelecón: Monthly Flow Hydrograph

(Chamelecón)

Río Chamelecón: Monthly Flow Hydrograph

(Chamelecón)

0.0010.0020.0030.0040.0050.0060.0070.0080.0090.00

100.00

Month

Avera

ge F

low

(m

^3

/s)

Source: Secretaria de Recursos Naturales y Ambiente (SERNA), Direccion General de Recursos Hidricos, Departamento de Servicios Hidrologicos y Climatologicos (1972-1992)

Río Chamelecón: Water Use/Availability

Río Chamelecón: Water Use/Availability

Source: Vorosmarty, C. J., P. Green, J. Salisbury and R. B. Lammers. 2000. Global water resources: vulnerability from climate change and population growth, Science, 289: 284-288.Source: Vorosmarty, C. J., P. Green, J. Salisbury and R. B. Lammers. 2000. Global water resources: vulnerability from climate change and population growth, Science, 289: 284-288.

Río Chamelecón: Conclusions

Río Chamelecón: Conclusions

Findings & Stresses: Sufficient water quantity

to meet needs Significant lack of water

quality data Potential exists for

future water quality problems from point and non-point source threats

Natural hydrology: peak rainfall conducive to high levels of erosion

Climate Change?

Findings & Stresses: Sufficient water quantity

to meet needs Significant lack of water

quality data Potential exists for

future water quality problems from point and non-point source threats

Natural hydrology: peak rainfall conducive to high levels of erosion

Climate Change?

Interventions: Develop effective water

quality monitoring programs

Maintain consistent water quantity monitoring

Manage land use to respond to potential water quality threats

Ensure effective management of wastewater

Interventions: Develop effective water

quality monitoring programs

Maintain consistent water quantity monitoring

Manage land use to respond to potential water quality threats

Ensure effective management of wastewater

Río UlúaRío Ulúa

Countries: Honduras Watershed Area:

21,230 km^2 Average Annual

Precipitation: 1,510 mm/yr

Countries: Honduras Watershed Area:

21,230 km^2 Average Annual

Precipitation: 1,510 mm/yr

Source: Gulf of Honduras: Preliminary Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis, Final Draft (August 2003) Abt Associates/ Woods Hole Group, Global Environment Facility--Inter-American Development Bank Project Development Facility (PDF-B), pp. 5-6.Photo Source: http://trurl.acusd.edu/~najmici/zdjecia/pan_am/h_barbara1.jpg

Length: 358 km Average Discharge:

~690 m^3/sec

Length: 358 km Average Discharge:

~690 m^3/sec

Río Ulúa: Monthly Precipitation

Río Ulúa: Monthly Precipitation

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Month

Avera

ge P

reci

pit

ati

on

(m

m)

Source: Adapted from GIS Data Disc Provided By Secretaría de Agricultura (SAG), Honduras

Río Ulúa: Monthly Flow Hydrograph (Ulúa en

Chinda)

Río Ulúa: Monthly Flow Hydrograph (Ulúa en

Chinda)

0.00

100.00

200.00

300.00

400.00

500.00

600.00

Month

Avera

ge F

low

(m

^3

/s)

Source: Secretaria de Recursos Naturales y Ambiente (SERNA), Direccion General de Recursos Hidricos, Departamento de Servicios Hidrologicos y Climatologicos (1972-1992)

Río Ulúa: Water Use/AvailabilityRío Ulúa: Water Use/Availability

Source: Vorosmarty, C. J., P. Green, J. Salisbury and R. B. Lammers. 2000. Global water resources: vulnerability from climate change and population growth, Science, 289: 284-288.Source: Vorosmarty, C. J., P. Green, J. Salisbury and R. B. Lammers. 2000. Global water resources: vulnerability from climate change and population growth, Science, 289: 284-288.

Río Ulúa: ConclusionsRío Ulúa: Conclusions

Findings & Stresses: Sufficient water quantity

to meet needs in most areas

Significant lack of water quality data

Potential exists for future water quality problems from point and non-point source threats

Natural hydrology: peak rainfall conducive to high levels of erosion

Climate Change?

Findings & Stresses: Sufficient water quantity

to meet needs in most areas

Significant lack of water quality data

Potential exists for future water quality problems from point and non-point source threats

Natural hydrology: peak rainfall conducive to high levels of erosion

Climate Change?

Interventions: Plan for potential

supply/demand imbalance in eastern portion of the watershed

Develop effective water quality monitoring programs

Maintain consistent water quantity monitoring

Manage land use to respond to potential water quality threats

Ensure effective management of wastewater

Interventions: Plan for potential

supply/demand imbalance in eastern portion of the watershed

Develop effective water quality monitoring programs

Maintain consistent water quantity monitoring

Manage land use to respond to potential water quality threats

Ensure effective management of wastewater

Motagua, Chamelecón and Ulúa: Hydrograph

Motagua, Chamelecón and Ulúa: Hydrograph

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(m

^3

/s)

Motagua

Chamelecon

Ulua