Prepared for

Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources

Bureau of Coasts, Reserves and Refuges
Presented by Julius Robinson
Agenda
Introductions
Classification and Jurisdiction of Area of Conern
Awareness of problems impacting the reserve
Finding solutions to mitigate impact
Next steps and action points
Introductions
Julius Robinson
Career:
Educator and Business Owner
Appointed by Congress to the Citizens Advisory Counsel of the Upper Delaware
Wild & Scenic River to develop a management plan
Current:
Resident of Villa Palmira Community in Punta Santiago
Concerned citizen living adjacent to Humacao Nature Reserve
Conservationist
Classification and Jurisdiction
DEC. 1980 Colonel James W.
Adams
33 CFR 323.2 Waters and of the
United States and a phase II
wetlands to a primary tributary to
the Caribean Sea(Cano Frontera).
JUL 14, 1981 - Civ. No. 2328, US
District Court, EPA Army Corps
as defendants
The aforementioned area has
been determined by the Puerto
Rico Department of Natural
Resources and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
to the navigable waters of the
United States and a wetland...
Problems Impacting the
Humacao Nature Reserve
1. Breaches in Levee System
Deterioration of the
levee system
Breaches in the levee
system
1. Breaches in Levee System
1. Breaches in Levee System
2. Degradation of Wildlife Habitat
Water level and quality can no longer
support wildlife on Cano Frontera
2. Degradation of Wildlife Habitat
This wildlife is lost in this portion of
the Humacao Nature Reserve
2. Degradation of Wildlife Habitat
Aquatic Wildlife cant survive
in declining oxygen levels
3. Pollution Heavy Metal Accumulation
UPR Humacao Research
1. Heavy Metal Bioaccumulation in
Puerto Rican Blue Crabs
- Mandry Channel and Santiago River
3. Pollution - Fecal Coliform
EPA Documentation
Fecal Coliform
- Coastal and River-born
3. Pollution Solid Waste
Threatened Federal Endangered Species:
1. Leatherback sea turtles nesting ground
2. Brown Pelicans
Four species of endangered sea turtles in the
area:
Hawksbill, Leatherback ,Green and Loggerhead
4. Environmental Impact to Recreation
This recreational navigation
is lost
on Cano Frontera
4. Environmental Impact to Recreation
Balneario Punta Santiago
Parque Acuatico Infantil Humacao
4. Environmental Impact to Recreation
Fishing and Crabbing in a contaminated waterway
Solutions to Mitigate Environmental Impact
1. Repair and Maintenance of Levees
Bridge repair is necessary
1. Repair and Maintenance of Levees
Repair top roadway and side walls of levee
Remove and maintain overgrowth
2. Grow Awareness of Pollution
Assign ownership to industries at the headwaters of Cano Frontera for
pollutants entering the reserve
River access monitoring stations
Investigate and prevent direct dumping of Fecal Coliform into the rivers by
residents of Humacao
Improve the capacity of the sewage treatment plant in Humacao
Educational incubator for Doctoral Students to monitor the inflow of
pollutants and oxygen levels from industrial sites
3. Federal Support
Department of Transportation Block Grant of $150m to Puerto Rico
for Road and Bridge Repair to fix Bridge (and Levee)
EPA Environmental Grants
Conservation Land Trust Grants
US Fish and Wildlife Service to help protect endangered species
3. Local Support
Adopt a Reserve Program
User fees, concession permits and licensing agreements
Involve Local Law Enforcement litter and riverbank dumping prevention
Building Code Enforcement for adequate septic disposal on waterfront properties
Educate communities and schools Villa Palmira, Verde Mar, Punta Santiago
Viable recycling program
4. Grow Tourism
Create a Vacation Destination surrounding the Humacao Nature Reserve
Parque Acuatico Infantil Humacao in Balneario Punta Santiago
Recently Re-Opened
Cayo Santiago (Monkey Island)
Punta Santiago Fishing Pier
Reef Restoration
Roadway Improvements for Bicycles
Next Steps and Action Points
Thank you!