Monitoring of hydrological functions at different scales

This pilot project began in October 2013 with the objective of monitoring the impacts on the quantity and quality of water, on biodiversity and the social and economic impacts of the protection and conservation activities carried out by the Water for Life and Sustainability Fund (FAPVS) in the areas involved in the FAPVS.

Pilot Project Components

  • Socioeconomic, which is advanced by the FAPVS.
  • Biodiversity, advanced by the Center for research on sustainable agricultural production systems (CIPAV). It includes monitoring of aquatic macroinvertebrates, vegetation, forest cover, riparian forests and birds.
  • Hydrological, designed and executed by Cenicaña. This includes the measurement of variables such as water flow, water quality and precipitation, which help characterize the state of the hydrological system, identify trends and determine whether these trends are attributable to the activities of the FAPVS.

The Aguaclara sub-basin in the Bolo River was selected as a validation area to monitor the basins where the Fund carries out interventions. In this area four hydrometric stations were installed with continuous measurement of levels, flows and sediments, as well as a weather station. Water quality is monitored at different points of the streams, with measurements twice a year in season of higher and lower rainfall.

With the financial support of the University of Stanford (USA) through its Natural Capital project, in 2014, the extension of the pluviometric network (9 units), the network of weather stations (3 units) and the installation of a fifth hydrometric station, which materialized in the first half of 2015.

All these measurements will help to build the baseline to later analyze the progress and impacts of the actions implemented and to understand the relationship between the FAPVS actions and the benefit in the conservation and recovery of the basin.

Search