Deforestation & Water QualityDeforestation & Water Qualitywithin thewithin the

Panama Canal Watershed Panama Canal Watershed

By Aaron O'Connor

A Point to Ponder ?

• An full grown Corotu tree can take up to 125 gallons of water from the soil per day.

Why is this important? Source: Mira Flores Locks Museum

What are the effects of the water quality in the Panama Canal Watershed caused by deforestation and changes in precipitation in land use expansion?

? ? ? ?

How I Developed My Question:How I Developed My Question: • Visiting the Mira Flores Locks• Going to the Smithsonian and experiencing the wildlife

diversity first hand • Developing a better understanding of CATHALAC's

purpose • Sharing and conversing with teammates to help

question evolve  • Seeing first hand the low intensity unplanned urban

development

How To Answer This Question?

• Make an Anomaly & Severity of the Panama Canal Watershed

• A depiction of elements (temperature, precipitation,and soil content) that effect the watershed using recorded trends and personal observations

• Consideration of variable factors that could effect the watershed. (deforestation, amount of precipitation in the DEM) 

• A depiction of the soil run-off content that impacts the water quality (zinc, iron, nitrogen, phosphates, total dissolved solids (TDS) and the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR)

Data and Maps Used:

Temperature and precipitation data DEM and Panama Canal Watershed maps Soil content data and land use map N-SPECT

• Factors determining the calculations outcome•Raining Days 100,85•Sustainable development B2,A2•Low intensity development growth of 25% (unplanned urban development)

*All determining factors of calculation are based on my interpretation of the climate change index of Panama

Provides projections and maps of surface water runoff volumes, pollutant loads, pollutant concentrations, and total sediment loads

* Land use * Elevation * Soil * Rainfall factor * Precipitation * Coefficients

N-SPECT

 Precipitation Runoff / Points of Interest

 

* Elevation * Rainfall factor * Precipitation

2020 2050

2020•Rainy Days 100•Sustainable development B2,A2

2050•Rainy Days 85•Sustainable development B2,A2•Growth of 25% (low intensity development)

Based on the impacts of climate change using “Business as Usual ”

Taking Action

Water management system to manage excess water accumulation and control consumption /metering (wet & dry season)

Hydrometeorologic stations to control and measure flow of water to canal (flood, rainwater, and washout)

Panama Canal Authorities conduct regular pollution control programs (maintain water quality control)

Thank YouThank YouJoel Perez

Eloisa Dutari

Lilian Suarez

Betsy Hernandez

Roxana Segundo

Valerie GarrishMr. G “aka” Poncho

CATHALAC IAGT  Cayuga Community

College UA Huntsville USAID Amy Work Nate Krose Eric Anderson Africa Flores John Flores Emil Cherrington Francisco Delagado