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8477748 
Journal Article 
HISTORIC WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT IN THE RIO FAJARDO WATERSHED, PUERTO RICO, AND POTENTIAL HYDROLOGIC IMPLICATIONS OF RECENT CHANGES IN RIVER MANAGEMENT 
Ortiz-Zayas, JR; Terrasa-Soler, JJ; Urbina, L; , 
2010 
NOVA SCIENCE PUBLISHERS, INC 
HAUPPAUGE 
WATERSHEDS: MANAGEMENT, RESTORATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT 
245-268 
WOS:000284344600007 
The Rio Fajardo watershed is an invaluable natural resource to Northeastern Puerto Rico. Recently, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico developed the Northeast Regional Aqueduct (NEA) and the Fajardo Regional Wastewater System (FRWS) to satisfy the water supply and wastewater treatment needs of the region through 2020. As designed, the Rio Fajardo watershed will supply raw water to the NEA and receive treated wastewater from the FRWS. This article summarizes the historical changes in river use that lead into the modern river management scheme. It also documents the main environmental issues associated with the development of the NEA and FRWS. As designed the combined operation of the NBA and FRWS will increase minimum flows in the Rio Fajardo and decrease the load to the estuary of total suspended solids, biodegradable organic matter, phosphorous, and nitrogen. However, to validate these predictions a water quality monitoring program must be implemented in the context of a watershed management plan. Such a coordinated effort shall restore the estuarine ecosystem which has been historically polluted due to inadequate management of environmental flows and poor treatment of wastewater. 
Vaughn, JC; 
978-1-61668-667-3