ARS | Publication request: Groundwater flow, variability, and transport pathways in the Mar Negro of the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Puerto Rico

Submitted to: Aquatic Sciences - Research Across Boundaries
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: October 2, 2010
Publication Date: February 13, 2011
Citation: Bosch, D.D., Potter, T.L., Rodriguez, J.M., Dieppa, A., Sotomayor-Ramirez, D., Ardila-Sierra, G.L., Strickland, T.C., Lowrance, R.R., Hubbard, R.K., Marshall, L., Vega, J. 2011. Groundwater flow, variability, and transport pathways in the Mar Negro of the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Puerto Rico [abstract]. Aquatic Sciences - Research Across Boundaries.

Technical Abstract: The Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (JBNERR) is a semi-enclosed ecosystem along the southeast coast of Puerto Rico. Agriculture, including vegetable, row crop, tree fruit, pasture, and poultry, is an important land use within the watershed. To better understand the potential impact of agriculture on JBNERR, the watershed was designated as the first U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) tropical Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP). An agricultural field near the Mar Negro region of JBNERR was identified for detailed study. A series of piezometers were installed upgradient, within, and downgradient to study groundwater flow and agrichemical movement within the surficial aquifer. Continuous water table measurements were collected, combined with topographic data, and hydraulic gradients determined. Pump tests were performed at six wells to characterize saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat). Agrichemical concentrations were determined from monthly samples. Ksat data were combined with gradient data to determine flow rates. Concentrations were related to flow rates to evaluate dominant transport pathways from the field into the Mar Negro estuary area via the surficial aquifer.