Presentation for local Universities and representatives for ecosystem management in southern Mexico, for the investigation into the Rio Candelaria watershed and plan that assesses resource allocation and recommends potential interventions.

1. Integrated
Watershed
Management Plan
Rio Candelaria
Denika Piggott
Amber Brant
Wabel Irshaidat
Reesha Patel

2. Objective of
Integrated Watershed Plan
Ø
To investigate the Rio Candelaria watershed and
create a plan that assesses resource allocation
and recommends potential interventions

3. The Rio Candelaria Watershed
l
l
l
The river discharges into the Terminos Lagoon in the state of
Campeche, Mexico, located at the southern end of the Gulf of
Mexico
approximate land area of 5,670 km2 (56,700 ha) covering three
municipalities (Carmen, Escarcega and Candelaria)
Geographic location:
670000-790000m E and
1950000206000m N UTM
State of
Campeche
Gulf of Mexico
5
Champoton
Carmen
Escarcega
Candelaria
State of
Tabasco
GUATEMALA
0
20,000
40,000
60,000 Meters

4. Integrated
Ecosystems
Management
(IEM):
-follows an
experimental
and adaptive
approach to
resource
management

5. Procedure for
Integrated Watershed Plan
1) The Rio Candelaria watershed was characterized and delineated
2) Watershed morphological features were imported into an ArcGIS map database
3) Scale-dependent land units (systems, facets and ecozones) were identified
4) Meteorological information was gathered to characterize the watershed’s climate
characteristics
5) Climate information was assessed to determine length-of-growing-period (LGP) for the
area and to estimate surface runoff
6) Elevation points were retrieved and a digital elevation model (DEM) was created
7) Land capability was assessed and compared with current land use for each ecozone
to identify land degradation “hotspots” in the watershed area
8) Land suitability was assessed for the ecozones to make recommendations for land
use type based on LGP, annual rainfall, mean temperature during the LGP and soil
depth

6. Ø 364 elevation points
taken from INEGI
software, Google Earth
(2010)
Ø Elevation points were
imported into the ArcGIS
software
Ø DEM was created by
performing geostatistical
analysis using a
semivariogram Kriging
method and interpolating
elevation points into a
predictive model

7. Candelaria Watershed
Stream Orders & Sub-watersheds
Sub-watershed 2
Sub-watershed 1
5
Legend
Stream Order 1
Sub-watershed 3
Stream Order 2
Stream Order 3
Sub-watersheds
0
10,000
20,000
30,000 Meters
Ø The Yucatan
peninsula is a highly
karstic region with high
infiltration and features
such as swallets and
cenotes (sinkholes)

8. Stream Morphology

9. Horton’s Laws of
Drainage Composition
45000
R2
=
0.9496
35000
30000
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
0
1
2
3
4
Fig. 3 Law of average basin
areas
Stream
Order
Stream
order
35
Number
of
segments
Stream
L engths
(km)
40000
R2
=
0.9977
30
25
20
15
10
5
Fig. 4 Law of stream lengths
0
0
1
2
Stream
order
3
4

10. Physical Features of the Rio
Candelaria Watershed
Candelaria Watershed
Ø The Candelaria watershed is
one of the few rivers flowing
through the highly karstic region
of the Yucatan Peninsula
Geology
5
Legend
Caliche
Recent Limestone
Quaternary Limestone
Guatemala
0
10,000
20,000
30,000 Meters
Ø Recent and quaternary
limestone dominate the
Candelaria watershed region with
a few scattered Caliche outcrops
Ø There are a few Caliche
horizons indicating the intensive
chemical weathering that occurs
during the rainy season followed
by rapid evaporation in the dry
season

11. Candelaria Watershed
Soil Types
Ø Three main soil types:
rendzina, gleysols and
vertisols
5
Legend
Gleysol
Gleysol, Gleysol,
Ø The vertisols and
gleysols are also very
clayey soils, however they
are much deeper than
rendzina
Gleysol, Vertisol,
Rendzina, Vertisol, Litosol
Solonchak, Gleysol, Rendzina
Vertisol, Rendzina,
Vertisol, Rendzina, Litosol
Guatemala
Ø Rendzina is thin clayey
soils rich in organics
(humus) and calcium
carbonate, reflecting the
limestone parent material
0
10,000
20,000
30,000 Meters

12. Candelaria Watershed
Soil Moisture
5
Legend
8 months
9 months
Guatemala
0
10,000
20,000
30,000 Meters
Ø The majority of
precipitation falls between
June and October due to
the beginning of the
summer trade winds and
tropical cyclones

13. Candelaria Watershed
Climatic Regions
5
Ø The Rio Candelaria
basin contains a warm
sub-humid climatic
regime called tropical
monsoon
Ø Characterized by
distinctive wet and dry
seasons
Legend
Warm Humid
Warm Subhumid
Waterbody
Guatemala
0
15,000
30,000
45,000 Meters

14. Land Units

15. Ecozones
Ø
Ecological zones (“ecozones”) are land facets that have a unique
combination of:
-climate (temperature and moisture availability)
-rock cover (geology)
-soil type
-land cover
Ø
Ecozones are the
smallest unit
on which land
management can
be based

16. Identification of Ecozones
Candelaria Watershed
Ecological Zones & Land Systems
Northeast
Land System
Northwest
Land System
North
Land System
5
Central
Land System
Southeast
Land System
Legend
EcoZones
Guatemala
0
10,000
20,000
30,000 Meters

17. Climate Assessment
CAMPECHE
Candelaria Watershed
Meteorological Stations
Ø 16 meteorological stations
identified within the
watershed and surrounding
area
CHAMPOTON
5
PUSTUNICH
ulf
G
c
exi
of M
o
SABANCUY
Ø The following information
was provided from the
National Weather Service
Unit (Mexico City) for each
station from 1961-1990:
PIXOYAL
ISLA DE AGUADA
CIUDAD DEL CARMEN 2
CIUDAD DEL CARMEN 1
ESCARCEGA 1ESCARCEGA 2
SAN ISIDRO
CANDELARIA 1CANDELARIA 2
Legend
Meteorological Stations
LA ESPERANZA
• Maximum, minimum
and average total
monthly precipitation
MONCLOVA
• Average monthly
temperature
MIGUEL HIDALGO
Candelaria Watershed
GUATEMALA
0
15,000 30,000 45,000 Meters
• Total monthly

18. Evapotranspiration Estimates
Ø
ETo estimates were made using CropWat Version 4.3 (FAO
software)
Ø
Air humidity %, wind speed (km/day) at 2m from sea level, and daily
sunshine hours were retrieved from two stations located in
Campeche, Campeche and Flores, Guatemala, given by ClimWat
Version 2.0 (FAO software)
Ø
These variables were averaged and used, along with average
monthly temperature and evaporation at each weather station, in
estimates for evapotranspiration (ETo) for all 16 meteorological
stations used, using the automated Penman-Monteith equation:

19. Length-of-growing-period
(LGP)
Ø
Ø
LGP describes the time period for which climatic conditions
provide optimal plant growth in an area
The growing period is determined for a given weather station
based on the following:
Ø
LGP begins when precipitation > ½ ETo
Ø
LGP ends ~5 days after rainy period ends, when
precipitation < ½ ETo
Ø
Ø
Climographs provide comprehensive visual demonstrations of
LGP and the water balance between precipitation and
evapotranspiration

20. Climograph of
Candelaria
River Watershed
Average LGP for all 16 meteorological
stations = 250 days (using CropWat’s
Penman-Monteith equation)

21. Climographs of Rio Candelaria
Watershed
l
Two examples of climograph data created using
information from meteorological stations:
Station I.D. Latitude
Longitude
Location
4028
2123049 m N
766408 m E
PUSTUNICH
4020
1976726 m N
726051 m E
MIGUEL HIDALGO

22. Fig. 1 Climograph for Station #4028, LGP = 158 days
Fig. 2 Climograph for Station #4020, LGP = 281 days

23. Length of Growing Period
(LGP) Assessment
Candelaria Watershed
Length of Growing Period
(LGP)
5
Legend
235 - 253 days
254 - 266 days
267 - 280 days
281 - 293 days
Guatemala
0
10,000
20,000
30,000 Meters
Ø Length-of-growing-period
(LGP) was assessed for the
entire watershed area using
climatic interpolation of LGP
values given by all 16
meteorological stations within
and around the watershed
Ø Geostatistical analysis was
done using semivariogram
Kriging method on the ArcGIS
software to create a predictive
model for LGP values in the
watershed

24. Maximum Runoff in the
Watershed
Ø
Used to determine anticipated volumes of
flow through the stream network system. This
helps to prepare for such events as floods
and droughts.

25. Calculating Surface Runoff:
IDF curves

26. Concentration Time:
Ø
Tc=0.02 x (L1.15/H0.385)
Ø Rainfall Intensity
Ø Runoff Coefficient
Ø Maximum Runoff:
Ø
Qmax = 0.028CiA
Ø Average Runoff:
Vm= A.C.Pm
Ø

27. Land Utilization in
Campeche
Ø
Land utilization types (LUTs):
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
rice
vegetables
livestock
backyard poultry
livestock
fisheries
backyard agro-forestry
plantation agro-forestry
beans
corn
sugar cane
sorghum
Criteria used to determine the
LUTs:
§ the products market orientation
§ capital intensity
§ labour intensity
§ power source
§ level of mechanization
§ size of the farm enterprise
§ land tenure
§ infrastructure requirements
§ inputs
§ current management practices

28. Current Land Use in Watershed
Candelaria Watershed
Current Land Use
Ø Forest clearing has also
occurred for the creation of
cattle grazing land
5
Legend
Cultivated Grassland
Forested Area
Seasonal Agriculture
Urban Areas
0
10,000
20,000
30,000 Meters
Ø Land-use changes are
likely causing increased
runoff and storm flow into
the Rio Candelaria stream
network

29. Capability Classification
Class identified for each
ecozone based on:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
slope
flood risk
drainage
surface texture
surface coarse
fragments
surface stoniness
rockiness
soil depth
Maximum limitation
considered for capability
class in each ecozone
(the limitation with the
highest class value)

30. Land Capability
Candelaria Watershed
Land Capability
5
Legend
Cultivation (Limited)
Ø The Rio Candelaria
Watershed is generally
suboptimal for agricultural
land use because of its
karstic characteristics and
high flood risk, which is a key
limitation for many crops
Cultivation (Moderate)
Cultivation (Rice only)
Forestry
Grazing (Moderate)
Wildlife
Guatemala
0
10,000
20,000
30,000 Meters

31. Candelaria Watershed
HOTSPOTS
“Hotspots” are:
5
Legend
Hotspot
Potential Hotspot
Sustainable
Guatemala
0
10,000
20,000
30,000 Meters
Ø areas where
current land use
exceeds its
capability
Ø units for
management
and land use
intervention

32. Land Suitability
Classification
Class identified for
each ecozone
based on:
1)
2)
3)
4)
Length-of-growingperiod (LGP)
annual rainfall
mean temperature
during the LGP
soil depth
Maximum limitation
considered for
suitability class in
each ecozone
(highest class
value)

33. Land Suitability for
Livestock Grazing
Candelaria Watershed
Land Suitability
LIVESTOCK GRAZING
5
Legend
Suitable (S1)
Not Suitable (N2)
Guatemala
0
10,000
20,000
30,000 Meters
Ø Livestock grazing
suitability determined for
each ecozone based on
land suitability for African
star grass growth

34. Land Suitability for
Agricultural Crops
Ø
Crops assessed:
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
Rice
Banana
Sorghum
Maize
Coconut
Dry beans
Squash
Sugarcane
• The upper portions of the
watershed basin are limited to
small-scale traditional
sustenance farming, with maize
being the most important crop

35. Candelaria Watershed
Candelaria Watershed
Land Suitability
RICE
Land Suitability
SORGHUM
5
5
Legend
Legend
Suitable (S1)
Moderately Suitable (S2)
Moderately Suitable (S2)
Marginally Suitable (S3)
Not Suitable (N2)
Not Suitable (N2)
Guatemala
Guatemala
0
10,000
20,000
30,000 Meters
0
10,000
30,000 Meters
Candelaria Watershed
Candelaria Watershed
Land Suitability
DRY BEANS
Land Suitability
MAIZE
5
5
Legend
20,000
Legend
Moderately Suitable (S2)
Marginally Suitable (S3)
Marginally Suitable (S3)
Not Suitable (N2)
Not Suitable (N2)
Guatemala
Guatemala
0
10,000
20,000
30,000 Meters
0
10,000
20,000
30,000 Meters

36. Candelaria Watershed
Land Suitability
OPTIMAL AGRICULTURAL
CROP
5
Legend
Rice
Rice or Sorghum
Sorghum
Not Suitable
Guatemala
0
10,000
20,000
30,000 Meters

37. Landsat Satellite Photographs
of Land Use Change
Colour Composite April, 1990

38. Colour Composite Jan, 2000

39. Colour Composite Jan
2005

40. Land Use Change: 15 Years
1990
2000
2005

41. Normalized Difference
Vegetation Index (NDVI)
1990
2000
Ø Reflected
2005
light from vegetation reflects higher
infrared radiation than visible light radiation,
allowing satellite imagery to estimate land cover

42. Conclusions and
Recommendations
Ø
The Nature Conservancy, in its 2003 proposal to the
United States Agency for International Development
(USAID) stated that, for the state of Campeche:
“Urbanization, poor wastewater management,
industrialization, alteration of the hydrologic regime,
agricultural and cattle production, petroleum extraction
and fishing are likely to be the most important issues,
all related to economic drivers in the protected area
and the basins surrounding it.”

43. Decision-making and
Conflict Resolution
Ø
Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
Resolution for competing land use demands
Stakeholder participation integral part of conflict resolution
and decision making
Qualitative and quantitative factors are considered in
decision-making process
Alternatives for land use operation are meaningfully
weighed according to their influences on a given tract of
land

44. Analytical Hierarchy Process
(AHP)
1. Identifying
Alternatives
(Brainstorming)
2. Determine Pros
and Cons of
Alternatives
3. Generate and
Structure
Objectives
4. Generate Expert
Choice Model
5. Evaluate Expert
Choice Model

45. Recommendations for Rio
Candelaria Watershed
Ø
Ø
Using capability and suitability of the land
located inside the watershed, it is recommended
that livestock grazing, rice cultivation and
sorghum cultivation take primary roles in land
utilization
It is recommended that land utilization in the
watershed operate for the purpose of
sustenance