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Subject:
Date:
To:
Cc:
Thank you for your message. It is my understanding that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is investigating to determine whether the
work remains in compliance with the issued permit.
Dr. Lisamarie Carrubba
-Dr. Lisamarie Carrubba
NOAA Fisheries
Caribbean Field Office, PRD
P.O. Box 1310
Boquern, PR 00622
787-851-3700
787-851-5588 (fax)
On Tue, Mar 3, 2015 at 6:20 PM, Sonia Villaverde <gpsyblu@aol.com> wrote:
Dear Mrs. Lisamarie Carruba,
I am writing to report the impact of the erosion control methods that were implemented today, March 3, 2015 in the Puerta de
Tierra area. These photographs were taken between at 5:20 and 5:40PM at the area in front of El Hamburger. It looks like the
stone berm and trench are not working to prevent transport of sediments as there is a significant amount of sediment seeping
outside the beach area. The plume extends westbound along the shoreline. The Historic Wall on the east side appears to had been
impacted as part of it has collapsed into the ground.
The photographs that you mentioned previously were taken by Dr. Edwin Hernandez as part of his preliminary inventory that he
made were he determined the presence of A. Palmata.
Dr. Edwin Hernndez, in collaboration with his team from SAM and UPR-CATEC, found that there were multiple colonies of A.
Palmata located within 50 m or less from the shoreline. Preliminary observations suggested that, nearly the entire surveyed
segment dominated by colonized pavement and patch reefs constituted part of the Acroporid corals DCH. Though only one colony
of O. Faveolata was observed during the preliminary inspection, and though no DCH has been officially designated yet for this
species, this habitat represents also critical habitats for its presence.
As a very concerned citizen, I respectfully request that this is investigated right away as this seems to be an urgent situation. I hope
you act to remedy it immediately.
Sincerely,
Sonia Villaverde
On Feb 19, 2015, at 5:01 PM, Lisamarie Carrubba - NOAA Federal <lisamarie.carrubba@noaa.gov> wrote:
Sonia:
Thank you for your message and for the report you sent. I also received a message regarding this project from MaryAnn today.
For your information, this project is an erosion control project to address the severe landslide conditions that led to a portion of
the sidewalk collapsing. The stones that have been placed parallel to the coast were put there at our recommendation to trap
sediments as they are working, leaving the area behind them with a trench where the sediments accumulate and are then
cleaned out along with construction debris as work is done. The project is being undertaken by the Puerto Rico Highway and
Transportation Authority and is permitted by the Corps of Engineers. There will be a series of erosion control measures, including
vegetation planting, to try to prevent future landslides in this area that do lead to harm to the coral reef ecosystem just offshore.
Unfortunately, any projects of this type do lead to temporary impacts but, from your photos, it looks like the stone berm and
trench are working to prevent major transport of sediments outside the beach area.
-Dr. Lisamarie Carrubba
NOAA Fisheries
Caribbean Field Office, PRD
P.O. Box 1310
Boquern, PR 00622
787-851-3700
787-851-5588 (fax)
On Thu, Feb 19, 2015 at 3:45 PM, Sonia Villaverde <gpsyblu@aol.com> wrote:
Enclosed you will find a copy of the "Preliminary Determination of Acroporid Coral
Designated Critical Habitats Across Puerta de Tierra Urban Coral Reefs, San Juan,
Puerto Rico".
Please be advised that this document is a "Preliminary Report Submitted to the