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Issues of water quality and scarcity are of great concern across the U.S. Caribbean. In recent years Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have experienced uncommonly dry weather that has caused moderate to severe droughts. In 2014-2015, severe drought in Puerto Rico required the implementation of water restrictions that affected millions of people. The summer of 2015 was the third driest period in Puerto Rico since 1898, forcing the strictest water rationing in its history. Emerging climate models for the region (Figure 1) predict an overall decrease in precipitation over the next century, but also to greater variance in seasonality and an increase in intense precipitation events. The temporal and spatial distribution of rainfall can have profound effects on the hydrology as well as the phenology and life-cycle of trees, rangeland species, pests and pollinators. Changing rainfall patterns will mean major adjustments in how working lands are managed by producers and planners.
The topography of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) is characterized by steep terrain and short distances to the sea. This means that freshwater runs off the islands quickly, coming into contact with seawater in coastal estuaries. The physical characteristics of estuaries change as the tides rise and fall, creating a wide range of habitats that support diverse plants and wildlife, including economically and culturally important native species such as cetí and land crabs, as well as game fishes such as snook and tarpon. These ecosystems are already heavily threatened by human activities such as urbanization, increased sedimentation, and pollution. Changing climate conditions, such as more frequent and severe drought, pose an additional stressor. Because rivers in Puerto Rico and temporary streams (known locally as "ghuts") in the USVI feed the coastal estuaries of the U.S. Caribbean, changes to streamflow can impact estuaries and the wildlife they support. For example, during prolonged periods of low flow, withdrawals from the Espiritu Santo River, which feeds into the Espiritu Santo estuary in northeast Puerto Rico, can reach 100% of instream flow and the river can run dry. This reduction in the amount of freshwater entering the estuary can increase salinity levels, altering habitat conditions and leading to declines in the richness and abundance of freshwater species.
Of the many climate events that threaten agricultural production in the region, increasing drought is one of the most devastating. The agricultural sector is typically the first to feel the impacts of drought, since the majority of crops in the U.S. Caribbean are rainfed. Drought conditions can quickly lead to reduced crop yield, desiccation, and crop losses island-wide, unlike other hazards such as floods and landslides that occur on a much smaller scale. As the climate changes, droughts in the U.S. Caribbean are projected to become more frequent and intense. Implementing the use of cover crops, water retention ponds, and drought tolerant varieties can help reduce the impacts of drought.
This fact sheet is part of a series examining what we know about the impacts of drought on ecosystems and agriculture in the U.S. Caribbean.
Healthy and functioning freshwater ecosystems are needed for successful conservation and management of native fish and invertebrate species, and the services they provide to communities across the U.S. Caribbean. Yet streams, rivers, and reservoirs are vulnerable to the effects of extreme weather, urbanization, energy development, and other environmental and human-caused disturbances. One major management concern is the impact of prolonged drought on freshwater ecosystems. Drought impacts streamflow, dissolved oxygen content, water quality, stream connectivity, habitat availability, and other characteristics necessary for sustaining fish and invertebrates. These changes can impact species interactions, abundance, life history events, and presence of native and non-native species. The U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) are particularly sensitive to drought, because almost all streams are ephemeral and typically only flow after rainfall. These intermittent channels, known locally as "ghuts", run down the surface of steep slopes, rather than through the ground, and are important sources of freshwater. Natural springs are often located in ghuts, and can form pools that serve as habitat for wetland and migratory birds, freshwater shrimp and fish, and amphibians.
Climate change poses many challenges that affect society and the natural world. With these challenges, however, come opportunities to respond. By taking steps to adapt to and mitigate climate change, the risks to society and the impacts of continued climate change can be lessened. The National Climate Assessment, coordinated by the U.S. Global Change Research Program, is a mandated report intended to inform response decisions. Required to be developed every four years, these reports provide the most comprehensive and up-to-date evaluation of climate change impacts available for the United States, making them a unique and important climate change document. The draft Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4) report reviewed here addresses a wide range of topics of high importance to the United States and society more broadly, extending from human health and community well-being, to the built environment, to businesses and economies, to ecosystems and natural resources. This report evaluates the draft NCA4 to determine if it meets the requirements of the federal mandate, whether it provides accurate information grounded in the scientific literature, and whether it effectively communicates climate science, impacts, and responses for general audiences including the public, decision makers, and other stakeholders.
This workshop was held in collaboration with the Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, North Carolina State University, the Integration & Application Network from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, and the USDA Caribbean Climate Hub. This report was made possible by support from NRCS Caribbean.