Environmental issues Water resources management in the Dominican Republic

1 environmental issues

1.1 water related risks
1.2 potential climate change effects
1.3 ongoing programs , initiatives

environmental issues
water related risks

upper watershed degradation, in form of soil erosion, has significant downstream effects. erosion rates have been estimated @ 4 times of 1980. across dr sedimentation has reduced reservoir capacity 10-25 percent, important economic effects hydropower industry (assuming loss of hydropower generation of mere 20 percent, cost of dam siltation in hydropower generation lost exceed us$10 million per year). in addition, watershed degradation increases costs of maintaining other water systems, such irrigation channels , water supply infrastructure, , affects coastal water quality. high turbidity land-based sediments prevents reefs forming in of dominican coast.

the dr exposed number of natural hazards, such hurricanes, storms, floods, drought, earthquakes, , fires. destructive force of these phenomena can enormous - in 1998 hurricane georges caused economic losses estimated @ us$2,193 (14 percent of gni), , 235 deaths. in particular, climate shocks have included dramatic increase in frequency of major weather events on past forty years, 491 recorded major weather events during previous decade, compared 126 1960 1969. flooding has emerged common recorded disaster during 1990s, replacing fires first time in fifty years. alarmingly, flooding due non-extreme weather events. out of recorded 464 major flooding events between 1966 , 2000, 33 caused hurricanes or tropical storms, while overwhelming majority of flooding caused precipitation during rainy season.

potential climate change effects

global climate change expected induce permanent climate shocks caribbean region, include sea level rise, higher surface air , sea temperatures, extreme weather events (such tropical storms , hurricanes), , more frequent , more severe el niño-like conditions. demographic growth accelerated environmental degradation, deforestation, , lack of mitigation measures intensify effect of disasters in future.

in terms of climate change effects on water resources, , according dr’s first communication, expected great decrease in spatial distribution of rainfall, , total runoff year 2100, demonstrating structural change intensifies transition humid zones driest , expansion of areas of country historically driest.

ongoing programs , initiatives

in may 2008 world bank has approved us$80 million loan restore , strengthen irrigation, electricity, water, , sanitation infrastructure damaged tropical storms olga , noel, enhance critical infrastructure reduce future storm-related effects, , strengthen basic capacity future risk management in indrhi , cdeee.