USAID, Zamorano begin a program to confront the emerging water crisis in the Choluteca and Negro river basins

By SOBEYDA ALVAREZ

The continued deterioration of water sources and feeders in the Choluteca and Negro river basins endangers the health of the population, investments in these sectors, sustainability of economic and social development in the southern area, and the environmental stability of the “Golfo de Fonseca”.

Tegucigalpa, October 13, 2003

An agreement was signed for the management of water sources in the lower basins of the Choluteca and Negro Rivers in southern Honduras this week by USAID/Honduras and the Zamorano. The Initiative proposes the development of viable short, mid and long-term solutions to the emerging water crisis in the two basins or the rivers that flow into the “Golfo de Fonseca”.

The program anticipates that various scale producers in critical basin areas will achieve efficient farm water management systems by implementing water conservation practices. The management system will also allow the nine participating municipalities to work together more feasibly. This plan considers how to ameliorate water quality monitoring, municipal systems investment, and income generation in an efficient way.

In addition, a basin study based on existing information and field measurements will provide basic information for future management decisions.

“The public will become more conscious of current and future problems in the basin through their participation. Civilians will be able to identify and recognize their role and responsibility in the search for solutions to the problems,” explained Luis Caballero, project coordinator.

Zamorano will adopt a proactive strategy to furnish effective models of integrated and efficient water resource management for different users. Zamorano will also strengthen the communities’ and municipalities’ capacities, while developing inventories and exhaustive analyses of water conditions in the area, the specialist added.

This initiative is part of a program by USAID/Honduras for the whole basin of the Choluteca river which includes the participation of The Ministry of Natural Resources (SERNA), the Honduran Forestry Development Corporation (COHDEFOR) and the National Water and Sewage Service (SANAA). The technical personnel of Zamorano, which includes final year students participating in a work/study program, will operate from the city of Choluteca and participating communities. The students will live in these communities until the end of the project.

This modality guarantees high quality project completion and efficiency through direct contact with the communities and diverse participants. In addition it ensures sustainability of project actions. The team will reside in the basin area with a wide range of technical resources at their disposal.

The small producers in Güinope and Yauyupe improved their irrigation systems and achieved an efficient water resource management system with support from Project USAID/Zamorano in Yeguare. Similar results are sought in the southern area.

For Zamorano, this initiative is built on more than a decade of successful experience with its program PROCUENCAS. PROCUENCAS includes the projects “Post HuracAn Mitch” in Yeguare, Honduras and the EstelI river basin, northern Nicaragua, concluded Caballero.

The basins of the Choluteca and Negro rivers present an accentuated environmental degradation, a product of the excessive use of natural resources due to the high population density in that area. Its rehabilitation and management is urgent as it is an agricultural export sector of great social and economic importance for the southern basin area. The most important agricultural products are sugar cane, melon and watermelon; cattle raising, and shrimp farming.

• The USAID project contribution is $1.3 Million. The estimated amount of the Zamorano and local participants in the project is $354,000.
• Municipalities involved in the proposal are: Orocuina, Apacilagua, El Corpus, Santa Ana de Yusgüare, Concepcion de Maria, El Triunfo, Namasigüe, Marcovia, and Choluteca.
• The technical personnel of Zamorano, which includes final year students, will operate from the city of Choluteca and eight neighboring municipalities.
• The project is coordinated and executed by the “Carrera de Desarrollo Socioeconomico y Ambiente de Zamorano” (Course for Socioeconomic and environmental development) and will be in force until November 30, 2004.

For more information on the initiative please write:
Ing. Luis Caballero
Carrera de Desarrollo Socioeconómico y Ambiente de Zamorano 7766140/50 Ext. 2061
www.zamorano.edu