Environmental impacts on lake Azué௠in Haiti due to degradation of its watershed

Environmental impacts on Lake Azuéï in Haiti due to degradation of its watershed

By

Jodany Fortuné

[e-mail] ou [e-mail]

November 03, 2011

University of Puerto Rico, RP

Environmental impacts on Lake Azuéï in Haiti due to degradation of its watersheds

I. Introduction

1.1. Goals and Objectives

II. Study Site

2.1 Description

2.1.1 Geographical coordinates and Localization

III. Methodology

3.1 Geology

3.2 Prevailing Winds

3.3 The rainfall in the study area

3.5 Hydrology

3.6 Surface Area and Lake Elevation Change

3.7 Major threats to management of freshwater ecosystems in Haiti

a. Direct threats

b. Indirect threats

3.8 Treats on Lake Azuei

3.9. Common Lake water Quality

3.9.1 Physical Parameters

Water clarity or Transparency

Dissolved Oxygen

3.9.2 Chemical Parameters

a. Phosphorus

b. Nitrogen

Suspended solids

Ions

Alkalinity

Conductivity

3.9.3 Biological Parameters

a. Chlorophyll

b. Fecal Coliform Bacteria

IV. Results

V. Conclusions and Recommendations:

References

1 Introduction

Haiti is one of the most biologically significant but also one of the most environmentally degraded countries in the West Indies (Sergile and Woods, 2001). Deforestation systematically practiced in Haiti has a long history. In 1492, with the arrival of Christopher Columbus, the Island was covered with luxuriant vegetation over 80%. Many researchers agree that deforestation began in the late seventeenth century by the French colonists who destroyed thousands of hectares of virgin forest to plant sugar cane, cotton and coffee (Michel, 2005). However, according to agro-economist and geographer Michel (2005), "The most serious interference with the balance of the ecosystem was observed under U.S. occupation from 1915 to 1934 by the policy of concentration of land in violation of their occupants that had to be expelled or converted to a simple agricultural salaried''. Today, the Haitian environment is described as ecological disaster and we could not with this text address all the factors that increase the vulnerability of the Haitian people as they are many: deforestation, soil erosion, water scarcity, insalubrities urban, loss of biodiversity, unregulated exploitation of quarries, marine ecosystem degradation, unplanned urbanization, shantytowns, demographic pressures and poverty. One of the major problems confronted by government organs is the management of aquatic ecosystems. In Haiti, lake ecosystems are potential water resource forgotten. There is a periodic variation in the level of these ecosystems called sleeping waters (lakes, ponds). It is caused by the contribution of alluvium and sediment, or to the effects linked to rainfall regime, or even from human activities and finally to the hydrodynamics of continuous and discontinuous aquifers (Pierre et al., 2008). Lake Azuei that is the largest lake in Haiti and the second largest lake in the island of Hispaniola, after Lake Enriquillo, is affected due to extensive erosion and deforestation or degradation of its surrounding areas. The Watershed serving Lake Azuei has been significantly eroded or deforested. The concentration of salts and other deleterious substances in the lake and others water systems in the Plain of Cul-de-Sac have grown in excess of limits. This has resulted to a greater variability in the hydraulic regime, now much more irregular with heavy sedimentation and shallow zones in the Azuei Lake, (USAID, 1986). All quality parameters for surface waters are almost in red. These changes in the lake have impacts on the plants and animals of the lake. Thus, from 2007 there has been a dramatic increase in water level of Lake Azuei which worries not only area residents but also the Haitian authorities. In December 2010, there has been also the death of hundreds of fishes (Tilapia) in the lake. So it is clear that the lake's biodiversity is very threatened because of this problem. In this case, we must identify the causes of environmental impacts on this lentic ecosystem.

In fact, the objective of this research is to characterize the environmental impacts into Lake Azuei by the analysis of available data and suggest solutions to mitigate them. The search for information at the origin of the degradation of watersheds of the Lake, collecting information on the study area (soil, climate, topography, land use) and the physico-chemical parameters of Lake Azuei, will allow us to draw conclusions and make recommendations to mitigate the problem. Because of this point of view and in the perspective of sustainable development of communities, lakes and ponds need to be subjected to regular monitoring both in quality and quantity to make the right decisions for mitigation (Pierre et al., 2008).

1.1 .- Goals and Objectives

The goal of this study is to evaluate the environmental impacts on Lake Azuei caused by erosion of its watersheds. To do this, it will be necessary to (i) identify, through the literature review, the causes of deterioration or erosion of the watershed of Lake Azuei; (ii) characterize the impacts generated by erosion of Lake Azuei; (iii) suggest viable solutions to mitigate the environmental impacts on the lake.