Agua Clara Ciudadanos por Bacalar

Program

Monitoring the trophic status of Laguna Bacalar through water quality analysis:

1. Monitoring 26 sites along the length of Laguna Bacalar every 4 months during 2023, looking at 15 parameters. Physicochemical: pH, conductivity, temperature, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, oxidation reduction potential, salinity, turbidity. Nutrients: ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, chlorophyll, chemical demand for oxygen.
2. Use of a multiprobe data sonde HL7 Hydrolab and a spectrophotometer.
3. Sterilize materials and prepare the equipment.
4. Data collection at the sampling station.
5. Collect samples of water in polypropylene bottles of 1000 ml.
6. Label and conserve the samples correctly in coolers.
7. Conduct analysis of the results
8. Publish the data on the Agua Clara website.
9. Build a database of indicators of the water quality and eutrophication of Laguna Bacalar on a timeline.

Monitoring of Escherichia coli (E. coli) as an indicator of water quality for recreational use:

1. Take samples at 13 public access points every month as well as during peak tourism weeks and following intense rains.
2. Monitoring team: technical staff of Agua Clara, volunteers y trained local residents.
3. Required training: Know the Mexican norms for monitoring water quality, the characteristics and functioning of the equipment, and the steps involved in taking samples.
4. Sterilize the materials and prepare the equipment.
5. Data capture: locate the sampling site.
6. Collect the water samples in sterile containers of 100 ml.
7. Label and conserve the samples correctly in coolers.
8. Conduct the analysis using 3M Petrifilm Count plates for Colony-Forming Units
9. Evaluate the results in terms of the following traffic light coding for number of colonies formed:
   1. Excellent CF <100
   2. Acceptable 100< CF < 200
   3. Polluted 200 < CF < 1,000
   4. Very Polluted 1,000 < CF >10,000
10. Communicate results: Publish the traffic light images for the presence of E. coli for each site in Agua Clara’s social media feeds.

Pilot station for solid waste-recyclables segregation as a tool for environmental education:

1. Work with municipal authorities to obtain permits and define the station location.
2. Work with allies and collaborators to install the station and operate it.
3. Prepare the site: level the ground, design the structure and signage.
4. Install the station, with separate receiving points for 7 kinds of solid waste: Tetrapak, aluminum cans, paper, cardboard, steel cans, PET, and HDPE plastic.
5. Coordinate with environmental education leaders to give workshops at the station.
6. Put the pilot station into operation as of 2Q- 2023.
7. Maintain a permanent environmental education campaign on the correct separation of these solid wastes.

Mensajeros del Manglar (Mangrove’s Messengers/Ambassadors):

1. Provide training that strengthens the message of conservation that providers offer to tourists during their services.
2. Extend the training to other groups of service providers in hotels and restaurants.
3. Give talks on the importance of mangroves in schools in the Municipality of Bacalar and Othon P. Blanco.
4. Follow up on the activities of this group of water tourism service providers.

Capacity building on appropriate management of agrochemical containers for sugarcane producers on the Río Hondo banks:

1. Socialize the project with government entities, municipal authorities and producers.
2. Design the thematic content of workshops to be held with sugarcane producers, addressing the environmental situation and appropriate management and disposal of agrochemicals and containers.
3. Hold in-person interviews with the seven delegates of the communities where the project will be implemented: Javier Rojo Gómez, Álvaro Obregón Nuevo, Ramonal, Sabidos, Cacao, Pucté, Pedro Joaquín Codwell.
4. Distribute invitations to the training in the 7 communities.